Page 15 of Before I Lost You

“And is that person going to be you?” Kenneth asks quietly, voice barely audible over the music playing in the restaurant. His eyes are filled with something I can’t decipher. Sorrow, but also something else. Something more. Hope, maybe?

“If that’s what you want,” I say with a soft smile, squeezing his hand once in reassurance. In a promise.I’ll never leave you, just say the word.I don’t even know why I think it—it’s too soon.

Before he can reply, a server comes to our table and asks us what we want to drink. Kenneth doesn’t even look at me when he orders two of the same cocktails and two cups of water. She nods, giving him a flirty smile, and I narrow my eyes at her. She walks away without one glance in my direction. Rude as hell.

“Don’t be jealous, babe,” Kenneth says softly, letting go of my hand and turning it over, then trailing his finger over the palm of my hand, following the lines carved into my skin. It tickles slightly, and I shift in my seat. Somehow, the touch feels erotic in a way I know it shouldn’t. “I’m not attracted to women.”

I look at him with a grateful smile. I needed to hear that. I don’t particularly like the idea of him flirting with someone else while we’re on a date, or ever again, really. My brain catches one word, though—babe—and runs with it. My grateful smile turns into a grin now, and he rolls his eyes. I’m glad for the lighter mood, happy to have his flirty banter back.

“I wasn’t jealous.”

“You’re not a very good liar.” Kenneth snorts. “Your eyes say a lot.”

“And what are they saying now?” I raise an eyebrow, looking into his deep blues.

“That you like me way more than you’re letting on,” he says thoughtfully. “And you don’t want to scare me with it.”

“And are you scared of it?”

“Yes,” he answers seriously, not missing a beat.

“You shouldn’t be,” I reply, and he continues tracing his finger over the palm of my hand. “I’ll always catch you.”

His face contorts into a wide smile, and he laughs, shaking his head. “Are you always this intense?”

“Rarely.”

“So you’re saying I’m special, then?” he asks me, his voice small.

“Do you want to be special?” I tilt my head to the side, and he looks away.

“I don’t know,” he replies. “I don’t think I’ve ever been special to anyone before.”

His vulnerability hits me like a punch to the chest, and my breath rushes out of me. “I doubt that.”

“You don’t understand.” He smiles, but it’s a sad curve of his lips. “I’ve only ever given one person a chance. Never again after that.”

“So give one to me,” I rush out, voice small just like his. “Give me one chance. I’ll show you it’ll be worth it.”

Kenneth looks down at my hand that he’s been tracing, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Your heart line is chained, indicating a tumultuous emotional life. It makes sense. You feel deeply.” I frown at his sudden change of subject. “And here”—he traces said line and shows me where it divides at the end into a fork—“you have a choice to make. Two paths to choose from. Does that resonate with you?”

I shake my head, thoroughly confused. I have no idea what two paths I’d ever have to choose from; it’s not like I’ve had another love interest or anything along those lines. “No,” I say. “It doesn’t.”

He smiles shyly. “Well, maybe I’m reading you wrong.”

I grin. “Are you a romantic, Kenneth Dunn?”

“No way.” He snorts, and I laugh. “I’m a skeptic.”

Before I can reply, the server comes back and places two cocktails on the table, one in front of each of us. I look at them, down to the little umbrella, and look at Kenneth curiously. But he’s looking at the server as she speaks animatedly.

“Are you ready to order, darling?” she asks him, laying it on thick.

He smirks at me and shakes his head.

“No,darling,” I say pointedly. “We’renot. Please give us a few more minutes.”

Her eyes widen, but she nods, then walks away quietly. Kenneth’s loud laugh bursts out of him, continuing until he’s clutching the table, and I roll my eyes. I guess I can’t help my jealousy after all. I’m proud of the fact that I can make him laughthis way in the first place, though, and when he finally quiets, he stares into my eyes with a smirk.