Her cheeks heated.Why had she ever lied?Oh, she knew why.She had to protect herself.Except right now, with vulnerability shining in his eyes, she didn’t feel the same need to protect herself anymore.“I, uh…” How could she explain?
He arched a brow.“Isthere a boyfriend?”
“No.”
He grinned, sparking butterflies within, but it quickly faded.“Then when you said you had one before…?”
“It’s, uh, actually a family member I have to support.”
“Your mom?”
Sort of.The easier answer, anyway.She nodded.Had to change the subject.His earlier reaction suggested the answer to this next question was obvious, but still, she’d rather have things made plain.“Is there a girlfriend?”
“No.I had a few first dates and tried a dating app, but it didn’t work.Nobody compared to the one I let get away.”
Her heart fluttered.Did he really mean to imply he wanted her back in his life?Oh, she knew this was dangerous, but hadn’t expected just how difficult this could be.“Kyle.”
“Look, I know it’s awkward and we can’t change what’s happened.But I know I could’ve handled things better and I’m sorry if my actions have caused you pain over the years.”
Her eyes blurred, and she blinked hard, hiding her emotion behind sipping her drink.Thank goodness there was still some liquid in the bottom.“We both could have probably dealt with things a little differently,” she admitted.
Her phone buzzed a reminder that she needed to catch the next bus.
“Do you need to go soon?”
She nodded.“But I’ve enjoyed our catch-up.Thank you for the drink.”
“Any time.And I mean that.Any time.I’d like to do this again.”
He would?
He reached across, clasped her hand again.“Do… do you think we could get together again?I feel like there is still a lot more to say—”
Oh, there was.
“—and I’d love to spend time with you again.Only as much as you’re free to, of course.”
She mentally revised her upcoming calendar.Now Bella had finished school for the summer she’d be spending more time at home, which meant spending time with Kyle would be even more fraught with difficulties.But she had a window of spare time this weekend.
“I have a big week of double shifts, but I’m free this coming weekend.”
His face fell.“I’ll be away then for a friend’s wedding.I won’t be back until Sunday afternoon.”
“Oh.”
The irrational part of her, the part often guided by her evil angel, whispered that if he was that desperate to reconnect then he should make time for her, before being shushed by the good angel who reminded her that he’d obviously made these plans months ago, and couldn’t discard a friend’s wedding just because they’d happened to bump into each other.
“But when I get back we could do something.Maybe have dinner together.Really talk.”
How could she do that with Bella at home?Mom wouldn’t want to babysit, especially if she knew it would enable Gen to spend time with Kyle.Maybe she could pay for a sitter.Except even that would mean having to choose the time when Mom was sure to be out so she didn’t raise any questions.
“I, um, will have to let you know.”
His face fell slightly.“It’s okay if you don’t want to.I mean, I’d be disappointed, don’t get me wrong, but I understand if all of this feels a bit too much.”
“No, I’d like to.But I just need to, um, check my shifts.”That was true.“Things can get a little tricky sometimes.”
“Things can get a little tricky a lot of the time,” he said dryly.“But hey, I’ll take what I can get.Apart from Mitch’s wedding, and my captain’s baby christening, I don’t have a huge schedule of social events lined up.I think my parents are planning to come over again at some point at the end of the month, but you don’t need to worry.I definitely won’t be inflicting them on you.”
