Page 64 of The Rules of Dating a Younger Man
“Caitlin, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was checking out too. I haven’t spoken to him since—”
She held a hand up. “Stop apologizing. I just want to go home.”
Luckily, we only had to go down one floor. At the front desk, two clerks were waiting. Caitlin checked out with one while I settled up with the other. I looked around the lobby, anxious that Brayden might appear again, while trying my best not to look like I was scanning for anyone in particular. Probably didn’t matter though, as my daughter never glanced my way. After we were done, we walked to the parking lot together.
Caitlin pointed to the left. “I’m over there.”
I nodded. “I’m the other direction.” I stepped forward, engulfing her in a hug I wasn’t sure she wanted. “Thank you so much for coming all this way for my birthday. It meant a lot to me.”
She gave me a piss-poor smile. “No problem.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow? After work?”
“Sure.”
“Safe drive home.”
“You, too.”
A few minutes later, I watched Caitlin’s white BMW pull out of a spot and drive toward the exit. My hands were still shaky, and I didn’t feel ready to drive. But I was afraid she might check her rearview mirror to see if I was behind her. If I wasn’t, she might assume I’d stayed behind to wait for Brayden. So even though I could’ve used another minute to collect myself, I started the car and followed. A mile or so down the road, I got caught at the light before the highway merge while Caitlin kept going. Up ahead, she turned right onto the entrance ramp, and then I lost sight of her. My shoulders drooped with relief.
Since she would now be a few minutes ahead and always drove faster than I did, I doubted she’d expect to see me behind her anymore. So I pulled into a gas station and called Brayden. I was curious about the conversation they’d had while waiting for the elevator.
He answered on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
I smiled sadly. He had to be hurting, too, yet it was just like him to worry about me.
“Not really.” I sighed.
“I guess you told her?”
“She didn’t say anything while you were standing at the elevator?”
“Nope. I smiled when she walked up, but she didn’t reciprocate. She looked pretty pissed off. So I figured it was best to follow her lead. Neither of us said a word.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “It didn’t go so well at breakfast.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. She put up a giant wall. I’m hoping she comes around a bit after it sinks in. If she feels anything like we did last night when we discovered how we’re all connected, she’s probably still shocked.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“I’m still not over the shock.”
“Neither am I.”
We were quiet for a moment. Eventually Brayden spoke. “What are we going to do now?”
“There is no we, Brayden. Not anymore. There can’t be.”
I heard the sadness in his voice. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant what can I do to help? But…”
“But what?”
“Is this really the end for us?”
“You used to date my daughter, Brayden! You slept together!”