Page 14 of Forever Only Once

I shook my head. “No, she’s not.” I didn’t really want to get into the whole date pact thing that my friends and I had come up with. It sounded a little silly outside of the four of us.

“Anyway, back to the family thing. I have three brothers, all younger, all pains in my ass. So, no, I don’t think I’d want them to set me up.”

“I can see that being a problem.”

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“No, I’m an only child.” My stomach clutched again, but this time not from heat. “My parents died a few years ago. It’s just me.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s been a long time.” Not long enough, but I didn’t think it would ever truly be long enough.

“Anyway, I have a good group of friends out here. That’s why I’m on a blind date.”

“You keep dodging the subject, even though you’re talking about it. I feel like there’s more you have to say about this date of yours. I mean, we may never see each other again after this. What’s so mysterious about it?”

I studied his face, the strong line of his jaw, that little bump on his nose from where I was sure he’d broken it before. I realized I wanted to tell him. What was wrong with me?

“It’s not entirely my story to tell,” I said, surprising myself with the words.

His eyes widened. “So, there’s a story.”

“My three friends and I decided that it was time for us to actually start dating again. Meaning, setting each other up on dates. We decided to push each other in the right direction. I’m not quite sure how it’s going to go with the rest of them, but I drew the short straw.”

“Why do I feel like you’re talking about literal straws?”

“Because I am. Paper straws that were cut. I drew the short one. That meant I was the first to be set up. My friend Paris knew this guy named Stavros. She thought he’d be perfect for me.” Cross tilted his head, studying my face. “However, I don’t think it’s going to work out. There seemed to be some tension with his ex-wife,” I added at Cross’s look.

He winced. “That’s never a good thing to get in the middle of. But with so many people on so many different relationship tracks these days, sometimes, you can’t avoid it.”

My brows rose. “Have an ex-wife then, do you?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No, never got that far. But I dated a few women in the past who had ex-husbands that weren’t really keen on having their exes out there finding someone new. I mean, I sort of get it. When you say your vows, you form a connection with someone. When that’s suddenly gone, you’re a different person. Not everybody knows how to walk away.”

My skin chilled, but I did my best to keep the smile on my face, even as I sipped at my drink.

No, not everybody did understand how to walk away.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, I was just seeing if I could get you guys something to eat,” the waitress said. I met Cross’s gaze.

“It’s up to you,” he said, and I took a deep breath. Then, I leapt. Because that’s what tonight was about, right? Taking a leap. “I’ve already looked at the menu. How about I order while you look?”

Cross nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful plan, Hazel.”

I loved the sound of my name on his lips, and that worried me. I shouldn’t love it. I wasn’t going to see him again after tonight. Right?

We talked about our work and a little bit more about our families and friends. We talked about nothing of importance, and about sports. We talked about Stavros and the fact that I probably wouldn’t go on a date with him. And then we ate and laughed. I didn’t think I had ever laughed so hard in my life.

Cross reached out and brushed his fingers along mine every once in a while, and my breath caught every time, making me wonder exactly how this had happened.

This was a date that wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t even know this man. For all I knew, everything he said was a lie. Maybe he was a serial killer. And although the thought of that chilled me, knowing what I did about others, especially those from my past, I kept going. Maybe this was a mistake, perhaps I was being that woman in the horror film that got murdered later because she was an idiot. But I wanted to believe, just for a moment, that things could be worth it, even for the moment.

When the bill came, Cross reached for it at the same time I did, and I shook my head. “Down the middle?” I asked.

“Really? Sharing the bill?”

“It’s a date that isn’t a date. We might as well continue on that path.”