Her lips pressed together, her gaze dropping as she shook her head.
“What is it?Did I say something wrong?If so, I’m sorry.”
She blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear tears.
“Gen.”He touched her arm.
She flinched.
His heart fell, and he immediately dropped his hand.So she really didn’t want anything more to do with him.Okay then.He guessed this was God saying no.He stepped away.“Sorry.I don’t want to bother you.”
Then she shook her head and whispered, “No, I’m sorry.”
Something tugged within that he should stay.Regardless of whatever else was going on, right now she looked like she needed a friend.Or at least a listening ear.He inched closer.“Gen?Are you okay?I’m happy to listen, if you need to talk.We could get a coffee.”
Her lips twisted.“Acoffeewith you?I didn’t think you did that.”
His heart eased.She couldn’t be feeling too bad if she could still tease.“Okay, well, how about I get a chai latte, and you get whatever you like.If you have time.And only if you want,” he added uncertainly.“No pressure.”
She shrugged, her lack of response fueling disappointment, like a snowball of dismay fast gathering pace and size.
“Okay.No worries.I guess I’ll see you around.Unless you see me first and hide.”
Her mouth parted, but he didn’t want to stay for more rejection.God bless her, but he’d done all he could and she still wanted nothing to do with him.Definitely sounded like a heavenly no, then.His throat tightened, and he moved to the exit.
“Kyle?”
He paused, heart thudding.Then slowly turned.
“I… I do have a few minutes.If you want.”
He suddenly wanted this more than anything.His eyes found hers, locked.“Ireallywant.”
She held his gaze, and the noise and bustle around them diminished.
And he was reminded of all the times they’d shared, all the times they’d stared at each other, of that moment that had possessed a similar fraught tension before he leaned forward for the first time and brushed her lips—
“Kyle?”
He blinked.Whoa.The hospital lobby was not the place to be indulging in reliving certain memories.“Ah, do you like the café here or is there someplace nearby you can recommend?”
“Um, someplace nearby is easier.”She offered another twist of lips.“I’ll be less likely to be interrupted that way.”
“Fair enough.Well, lead the way.”
He caught a few raised brows and smiles and smirks from passing staff as they exited, and he gathered this wasn’t usual for her.Hey, it wasn’t usual for him, either.But this felt like he was walking in an answered prayer, a second chance, and he wouldn’t let embarrassment persuade her to cut this short.Not when this might one day lead to his second shot at love.
* * *
Nerves rippledthrough her as she sat opposite Kyle.The coffee shop’s ambience was all west coast cool, with white walls offset by rustic exposed bricks, all decorated with hanging plants and bric-a-brac like one might find in a granny’s closet.Well, what she imagined a granny’s closet to be like.She’d never known her grandmother.
She sipped her green tea nervously, her gaze darting up to meet Kyle’s like a nervous butterfly before instantly veering away.Why was she here?This was so awkward.
Except she knew why.It was because she’d made that promise to herself.To not live in regrets.And ever since she’d let him walk away before, she’d regretted it.Both ten years ago, and seven weeks ago.
She peeked up, met his gaze again.
He smiled.“Gen, it’s okay.You don’t need to be worried.”
