Page 72 of Before I Lost You

“No,” I reply bluntly. “You already said yes to our date, so the phone number is a given. I have to text you the address somehow.”

Kenneth grins and grabs my phone, saving his number in it, then raises it and takes a picture. He updates his contact photo right before my eyes, then hands the cell phone back. I’m speechless for a moment, but then I grin triumphantly. It feels like the best thing I’ve ever accomplished, getting this from him. It’s stupid, I know that, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is the start of something incredible.

Life-changing.

Mind-blowing.

Ireallymade this happen.

I almost don’t believe it.

But then I do.

Because, of course, I fucking made this happen. Kenneth and I are meant to be. In this lifetime and every future one, too.

Forever.

Chapter 28

LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT

My hands shake violently as I stand outside the art studio, debating when I should go in. I’m almost late, but I can’t shake the feeling that I could royally fuck this up. I almost have my shit together when I remember this is our second first date—and it makes me freak the fuck out all over again. What if he doesn’t like me? What if he spends time with me and decides this isn’t for him? I wouldn’t know what to do. I desperately need him to stick around, but I can’t force it either. I just don’t know how to make it happen.

I grab the door handle and pull it open, looking around quickly when I enter. He’s not here yet—thank fuck for that. I pay for us and sit down to wait for him, my leg bouncing quickly as the minutes pass me by. Is he even coming? What if he stands me up? Fuck, that would ruin my entire life. I don’t think I’d be able to take that. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, and when I look up, the young woman at the front desk gives me a sympathetic look.

“Five minutes until class starts,” she says softly, and I nod. “You might want to go in if you want the good seats.”

I shake my head. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Okay,” she replies with a smile.

I wring my hands in my lap and look at them, praying he shows up. I don’t even believe in a higher power, but right now, I’d pray to the fucking devil if it got me my fiancé back. That thought scares me. What lengths would I go to in order to have him back in my life? But I know the answer to that. There is no limit to what I would do. Whatever it takes—that’s the only right answer.

The door opens, and I look up, breath escaping me when Kenneth walks in, cheeks flushed and hair a little disheveled. He’s dressed casually in medium wash straight-leg jeans and a fitted blue T-shirt that matches his eyes almost perfectly. It makes him look ethereal, the blue so much brighter somehow. He runs a hand through his hair when his gaze lifts to mine, and he grimaces as he walks towards me.

“S-sorry.” He shakes his head, “I couldn’t find the place and—”

I smile at him softly. “It’s okay, Ken. You’re here now.”

He returns the smile and offers me his hand, squeezing tightly when I take it and get up from the chair. The lady at the front desk points toward a set of double doors to our right, and Ken pulls me after him, tugging on my hand until we enter the room. He cranes his neck, looking around until he finds us a table near the front of the classroom, and then he squeezes my hand once again and steers me in that direction.

There’s a look of wonder in his eyes as he takes a seat, and I plop down onto the chair next to him. It’s a paint and wine night, and we have canvases in front of us, paint supplies arranged neatly on our table. There’s a cup of water on each side of us, and he looks around, taking it all in, before he brings his eyes back to mine. They’re wide, and there’s an undercurrent of excitement flowing through him. When someone brings a bottleof white wine to our table and two wineglasses, he grins so big it threatens to stop my heart.

“You really know how to plan a first date, don’t you?” Ken smirks.

“Did I do a good job?” I ask with a raised eyebrow, fishing for praise. “Better than all your other ones?”

“I wouldn’t know.” He shrugs. “I’ve never been on a date before.”

My eyes widen, but then I tilt my head questioningly. “What about the guy from the bar?” I sound jealous. At least I feel like I do, but he doesn’t seem affected by it. Or at least not in a negative way. He definitely doesn’t look annoyed by my line of questioning.

“I wouldn’t call that a date.” He smirks.

I purse my lips at the jealousy clawing through my soul. “Oh?”

“I’d call that—never mind.”

“No, go ahead. Finish your sentence.” My body is tense, but when he puts his hand on my thigh and squeezes once, I relax slightly.