Page 20 of Certified Heartthrob

“Thanks. Shut the door on your way out.”

She spread her arms and dropped them to her sides. “What...you’re not even going to tell me who they’re from?”

“Nope! Bye!” I stormed over, pushing her out and slamming the door behind her myself.

Turning back to the bouquet, I narrowed my eyes at it and marched forward for the card. I fully expected it to be some snotty, gloating remark. This whole thing had to be planned. He got some kind of ego boost from pulling this thing over on me, and now he was going to rub it in with roses.

I yanked out the envelope, which was thankfully sealed against snooping eyes, and tore it open.

Camille, thanks for agreeing to consider my invitation to dinner. It’s more than I deserve after how I’ve behaved. I know I can’t force you to forgive me, but I was hoping these might put you in a good mood...and nudge you towards saying yes. Here’s hoping. See? Even a jaded, bitter guy like me still has a little romance left in him for the right woman.—Mark Silver

I erupted into a flabbergasted, screaming growl and tossed the note onto my desk. The nerve of this guy! Did he honestly think I wouldn’t find out about his date from the night before? The one he managed to sandwich in between sleeping with me and inviting me to dinner again? Of course, I wasn’t going to say yes now!

I was already determined to confront him, but the flowers set off a new, blazing flame beneath my feet. I stuffed the card into my bag, chucked the flowers into the trash, and stormed out of the office.

10

Mark

Iwas in the gymnasium of the community center, shooting hoops with some of the boys. They lined up and took three-pointer shots one by one. I watched as one of the tallest boys stepped forward to the line and tossed the ball towards the basket. It teetered on the edge for a moment and then swooshed through the net, prompting us all to clap and cheer him on.

“Good job!” I shouted out. “That’s how it’s done! Okay. Next up.”

The next boy stepped forward and went through the same motions, but this time when the ball teetered on the edge, it fell down on the other side and went bouncing across the floor instead. The boy’s head dropped with a groan.

I patted him on the shoulder. “Too bad. Better luck next time, though.”

As soon as his shot proved to be off, we heard the gym door open, followed by heels clacking along the shiny wooden boards. As the boys shifted around in their line so the next could step up to shoot, I turned towards the echoing footsteps and was surprised to see Camille marching towards me. I smiled at her, but she didn't smile back. She looked pissed.

“Take five, guys.” I waved to them before stepping off to the side to talk to her.

“Hey, you.” I smiled, despite her icy expression. I leaned down to try and steal a kiss, but she awkwardly dodged it. “Did you come to discuss our dinner plans?”

“Yes, actually,” she answered tightly. “I came to tell you I won’t be having dinner with you. Not now or ever. In fact, this should be the last time we see each other.”

I stammered for a moment with my mouth gaping. “Is something wrong?”

Her eyes lit up with anger. “I’m surprised you even have to ask that.”

“Well, you could have called or texted to say you never wanted to see me again,” I suggested. “Something tells me that’s not actually what you want at all.”

“I didn’t say I never wanted to see you again. I said we shouldn’t,” she admitted, but it seemed to only make her angrier. “But you’re right. I guess a text would have sufficed. Either way, there you have it.”

She spun around on her heels and started off towards the door. I hung back just long enough to tell the boys to play a few practice rounds and then took off chasing after her.

“Camille! Wait!” I caught up with her just outside the gym door. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Let me buy you a drink. I should be done here in about fifteen minutes.”

“There’s nothing to talk about!” she hissed, not breaking her stride. “I thought maybe things had changed between us after the other night, but you’ve proven me wrong on that in more ways than one.”

“Okay...I don’t know exactly what you mean, but that’s exactly why we should talk. Please?”

She let out an exasperated groan under her breath, but kept walking. I could tell she wanted to talk. Why else would she have tracked me down here? But something was keeping her from giving in.

I reached out and placed my arms on her shoulders, forcing her to turn around and face me. “Look, if you’re not going to see me anymore...I’ll have to deal with that. But at least talk to me first. If you feel the same way after, I’ll leave you alone.”

“And you’ll leave my company alone, too?”

“You have my word.”

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