Page 32 of The Tryst List
She laughs. “Yeah. Eating pizza.”
Inside, the place smells like heaven. Jordan and I on a date feels…normal. We order a Truffle Shuffle, a Cup & Char, and a couple of Cokes and take a seat across from each other at a window table to wait.
I can’t stop staring at her beautiful face, wise but vulnerable. Kind but tough.
She catches me staring and blushes but looks up at me with a hint of desire I recognize from the night we met.
For the first time in years, I feel like I’m right where I belong.
Chapter twelve
Jordan
A Few Minutes Later
My mind whirls with confusion.
Every emotion inside me is jumbled like a tangled string of Christmas lights. On one hand, I’m furious. A simple, “I need to leave because I have a family issue,” would have saved me—and him, it sounds like—years of frustration, anger, and hurt. On the other hand, I’m a big believer in fate and timing.
Was this meant to be our path?
What blows me away is that he came to find me. How could I have known? To think he saw me with Cameron…
How much time have we wasted?
Life is weird. You really have no idea what’s going on with anyone, do you?
“What thoughts are reeling in that gorgeous head of yours?” Peter bites into his pizza and moans. “Good God, the hype is real. This is the best thing I’ve eaten, ever.”
I quirk a brow and catch his eye. Smirk. Can’t resist the opening he’s left me. “You’re sure about that?”
He nearly chokes on his pizza, but wisely doesn’t answer.
After a few moments, he resumes our conversation from earlier. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened with Cameron? Why didn’t you guys marry?”
“Cameron was…someone I thought would be safe.” I decide to be honest without throwing Cameron under the bus. After all, I don’t really know Peter. “On paper, it seemed like a match. In real life, we essentially existed. Different sets of friends. Different interests. It was comfortable, but it wasn’t right, and I let it go on far too long.”
Peter is thoughtful, probing. “You were together for many years.”
“Yeah, we were. It went by quick. I was focused on the shop. He was focused on impressing my pops.” It’s hard not to feel annoyed at myself for staying with a man I didn't love. “He’s not a bad guy. He’s definitely not the guy for me. What about you? After Vegas, did you ever get married or settle down?”
He lets out a chuckle. “God, no. I’ve been building my business too. There wasn’t any time for anything serious. Or complicated.”
“Maybe everything happened the way it was supposed to.” I take a swallow of Coke. “I’ve thought a lot about the 'what-ifs' of it all. After Cameron and I broke up, I decided to reclaim some of my youthful perspective. Open myself up to new things.”
Something passes across Peter’s face when I’m speaking, it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking. He reaches across the table. “Well, I may not be a new thing, but I’d like to date you.”
A lightning bolt shoots through my body. Despite everything, his words are what I've yearned to hear, but I can’t tell if what I’m feeling is excitement or fear. “I don’t know.”
“Okay.” He holds his hands up, but smiles. “I’ve been patient this long. I have a meal and boat ride to Seattle to convince you…”
He changes subjects and before I know it, we’re talking like long-lost friends. Mostly about work and the trials and tribulations we’ve endured over the years with vendors, employees, and clients. I find him to be insightful and fair. He’s surrounded by loyal employees who share his vision.
“God, it’s strange to learn that you’re the Vander in VA/VT.” I lean back and pat my full stomach. “Your company has such a stellar reputation in the community. My pops is a huge fan. You’ve done well for yourself.”
Bit by bit, I realize how wrong my assumptions have been about him. Sure, what he did wasn’t cool, but we were kids. At his heart, he’s a good person.
Maybe my gut instinct was trustworthy after all.