Page 22 of One Drink

Thankfully, the waiter came by to take our order giving me a chance to settle my nerves before we continued this conversation. But it was only a temporary reprieve. Dad’s brows were furrowed, and the look in his eyes suggested I was about to get one of his famous lectures.

“You’re too serious. Always have been. I hope you don’t act this way around that little lady, or you might lose her. You did the same thing with Laura. She was a nice girl and you pushed her away because you’d convinced yourself she didn’t really like you. Remember? Don’t push this one away. We like her.”

“Dad, please don’t.” I didn’t have the bandwidth. I got that he and Mom wanted me to settle down and get married. I wanted that, too. Stephanie was the right woman for me, and I had no intentions of pushing her away, but I couldn’t force her to want me in return. “I’m not pushing Stephanie away. It’s just ... I can’t rush her. This is new, and I’d rather you not go out of your way to pressure her.”

“Is that what you think I did?” Dad sat back in his chair and glared at me. “Son, give me a little more credit than that. I had a meeting on Friday with the owner of the art gallery that’s hosting the fundraiser. Turns out your magazine is doing a feature on the new space and the event. Stephanie was there.”

“Shit,” I mumbled and dropped my head into my hands. It never occurred to me that the event Dad was here supporting was the same one we were featuring. I should have put two and two together.

“Are you ready to tell me what’s really going on?” Dad’s voice softened, and he squeezed my shoulder.

There was no way I could talk to Dad about this. I didn’t understand it enough myself. “No, not really.”

“Whatever it is, it’ll work out. That girl cares about you. I saw it in her eyes. Plus, she agreed to dinner. She could have said no, but she didn’t. So, tell her we’re having dinner on Wednesday at seven.” Dad smiled and cleared his throat. He started updating me on people back home that I hadn’t seen in years without another word about Stephanie. I was glad for the change in subject.

I was only half listening, though, my mind preoccupied by Stephanie and what he said. I knew she cared. I didn’t need Dad to tell me that but hearing him say it had a different effect. Maybe I was wrong to hide from her today. Hiding wouldn’t get me any closer to having her in my arms again. Robbie’s words rang through my ears—show her how you feel. I wasn’t showing her anything by hiding.

***

MY EGO WAS HURT, ANDit was time to wrap a bandage around it and face her. She may not be ready for me and a relationship, but she was too important to me to give up on. I wouldn’t pressure her, but I wanted her to know that I’d be there for her when she was ready.

If Dad was correct, and she willingly agreed to dinner with my parents, then she was ready for something. She’d never agree to going to dinner if she didn’t want to go. That wasn’t who she was. Either she was ready to restore our friendship or willing to consider me as more than a friend.

At this point, I’d take either option as a win, but I really hoped she was ready for more.

I didn’t bother going to my office when I stepped out of the elevator. Instead, I went straight to hers and shut the office door behind me.

“Jake.” Her voice squeaked. “I thought you were sick or something.”

“I never said I was sick.” Now that I was here, all the nerve I built up on my walk back to the office was slipping. “I was just working elsewhere.”

“Is everything okay?” Her expression was filled with concern, and it made me want to pull her into my arms and hold her until the concern was gone.

“Yes ... I mean, no.” I had to be honest with her. I couldn’t push these feelings aside any longer. I let out a long, deep exhale before I continued. “I tried to stay away from you—to give you time to figure out what you want—but I can’t. I will never think of what we shared last weekend as a mistake. Nothing you say will ever change my mind about that or how I feel about you. But I can’t stand this distance between us. Tell me what to do, so we can fix it.”

“Jake.” She dropped her head into her hands and sighed before she stood and walked around her desk. The way she said my name hit me right in the gut. It solidified her pain in my mind, and I hated it. “We can’t forget what happened between us. No matter how our relationship moves forward, it will always be there.”

“I agree.” I thought the way she said my name was bad. The words that followed were a hell of a lot worse. I tossed my laptop bag on a nearby chair and moved further into the room until there were a few feet between us. “Nothing will ever get me to forget that night.”

“Jake.” Her voice cracked.

“Stop saying my name like that.” I raised my voice, and she cringed. I didn’t mean to, but the sadness in her voice was too much. “I’m not just some random guy. You know me, so please stop acting like I’m going to hurt you or shatter the world around you that you’ve worked so hard to create. I’m not that guy, and the fact that you think I am is killing me.”

“I don’t think you’re that guy. It’s just—”

“Just what?”. I took a step closer until we almost touched. “If I’m not that guy, then what am I? You think you’re the only one who’s ever been hurt before? The only one who’s ever been used by the opposite sex? Trust me when I say I’ve been manipulated into relationships, and I know how much that sucks. I’d never do that to you.”

“I know that.”

“Then tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m scared, okay?” She slammed her fist into my chest, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m terrified that if this doesn’t work between us, then I’ll lose my best friend. I can’t lose you, Jake. I don’t know that I’d survive that.”

Seeing her this upset sparked my carnal need to hold her and make it stop. I pulled her to me, crushing our bodies together, and pressed my lips against hers. There was a moment of surprise from her, but she didn’t resist or withdraw. Instead, she parted her lips and hungrily kissed me in return. My head spun, and every bad thought and horrible memory from this past week vanished. There was just Stephanie and this kiss.

She parted her lips again, and this time I ran my tongue along her bottom lip. When her tongue met mine, it sent a shudder throughout my body.

I broke our kiss, and we both gasped for air.