AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Of course I forgot about one thing. Even though I have a key, it’s still not okay to simply barge into someone’s house like I did. This whole scenario would’ve been more believable if I had knocked. Or at least he would be less pissed right now than he is.
As it is, I have screwed up, I have more than screwed up, and so all I can do is duck my head and push my stupid hair behind my ear. “Right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t…” Swallowing again, I risk a glance at him. “Thinking.”
He runs his eyes over my features for a few seconds before saying, “No, you weren’t.”
And I wasn’t prepared for that.
For this kind of scrutiny.
All intense and fierce.
“I think I should go,” I say finally, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, you should.”
Oh Jesus.
He is mad.
Mad.
I blush even harder. “Right. Okay.” I duck my head again. “Sorry.”
And then in front of his eyes, I collect my things hastily and of course clumsily.
I drop my car keys twice. On thefloor. Then I can’t seem to find my phone, which I realize fifteen seconds into the search is in my hand. Then I go to put that in my purse that’s sitting on the counter and I can’t get the zipper to work. Finally when I’ve collected everything, I start to leave and remember that I need my coat — my puffy bottle-green coat to protect me against the harsh weather tonight — which I’d draped over the bar chair and then the struggle commences of me getting my arm into the sleeve.
All in all I think I take eighty-four years to get everything together instead of maybe a couple of minutes like I should have.
And all the while, he hasn’t spoken a word.
All the while, he watches me and watches me make an ass of myself, and almost makes my heart explode in my chest.
But it’s okay.
It’s done.
I can finally get out of his hair.
Only in order to do that I have to walk toward him.
Because that’s where the hallway is, and that’s where I need to turn left so I can find the front door.
And as soon as I make it within ten feet of him, he steps away.
He steps awayso muchandso far backthat I feel like he’d rather walk through glass than have me walk by him. Which makes me wonder if that’s why he sometimes can’t bear to be in the narrow hallway of his house at the same time as me.
Because he doesn’t.
If by chance we ever find ourselves wanting to walk down the hallway at the same time, he always steps back and motions his hand in a silent and worldwide gesture forladies first. I always thought how gentlemanly that is. But apparently, it’s also a sign of his revulsion for me.
I didn’t think anything could hurt me more than knowing that he’d finally found someone worth going on a second date with, but I was wrong.
This,thishurts more.
God, I can’t wait to get out of here. So it surprises even me that halfway down the hallway, I stop and turn around.
He’s standing at the same spot, his dark eyes still watching me in that fierce way.
