Page 34 of Dibs
He grabbed my hand and led me out to the dance floor. While I didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable with the gesture, I also didn’t feel that thrill I usually felt when touching someone I was into.
I continued to feel the same way throughout the song. His arms weren’t the ones I wanted wrapped around me. Instead, my thoughts drifted back to the one man who’d actually made me feel something. When the song was over, we returned to our table and ordered another drink. We talked for a while longer, but about an hour or so later, I was ready to call it a night. So, after settling our bar tab, we walked to the parking lot.
“I had a lot of fun tonight,” Steven admitted as I stopped next to my Toyota Camry.
“Me too. Thanks again for inviting me.”
I noticed he glanced at my lips, and then he stepped forward. Instead of leaning in, I gave him a one-armed hug and backed away, because I realized there was only one guy I wanted to put my lips on.
Too bad that ship had sailed years ago.
11
CHASE
Present Day
On the wayto the billiards hall, I found out that Gage hadn’t played pool in several years, either.
“And you think we can win?” I laughed.
“Worth a shot.” He shrugged.
“I don’t know. Not really looking forward to getting my ass handed to me tonight,” I admitted.
He chuckled slightly. “Well, I can just drive you home.”
I looked at the time on my phone. “It is getting late.”
“Need to get up early tomorrow?”
“No, I’m just old.”
“We’re the same age and if you’re old, I’m old. But last I checked, thirty-five wasn’t old.”
“Tell that to our boys.” When I was their age, I thought anyone older than sixteen was old.
“True.”
We were quiet as he drove toward my place and it was on the tip of my tongue that maybe it was a good night to havethe talk. The one about that damn elephant.
“What if …” He trailed off.
“Yes?” I probed, looking over at Gage. The orange streetlights lit up his face with each one we passed.
“Never mind.”
“Just say it.”
“You wanna talk about that night?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
He cut his eyes to me. “You do?”
“Is it weird we haven’t?” I questioned. It had been two months since we had come back into each other’s lives, and while we hadn’t been alone except for now, I still felt the uneasiness when we were together. Plus, if he told me that night was only mere college experimenting, then maybe I could stop thinking about his damn arms.
Or would I?
