Page 88 of Miss Typed

“Three of you for dinner tonight?” the hostess asked.

“Yes,” Matt said easing my fears that Aiden might have cancelled.

We took our seats and made small talk while I tried not to stare at the elevators, waiting on Aiden.

After ordering drinks, Matt checked his phone. “Guess you’re stuck with just me tonight. Your boss just texted to say he’s stuck on his call.”

“Oh.” I tried to pretend it didn’t sting that when I checked my own phone, I didn’t see anything from Aiden. Was it possible he was stuck on a call? Yes. But it was also possible he was still upset from earlier.

“You don’t mind dinner with just me, do you?”

Yes. But that wasn’t Matt’s fault. “No. Not at all.”

Matt was pleasant during the course of dinner. He chatted easily about his childhood in Montana, about going to university in the South, and then his complete culture shock upon moving here last year.

I shared the surface stuff with him, too. But I kept glancing at the elevators in the lobby, hoping Aiden would join us any minute.

“So. How was your meal?” he prompted after getting the bill.

He was so eager to please that I felt terrible he’d had to prompt me for the good manners to thank him for my delicious pasta dish. “Dinner was lovely. Thank you. I had a great evening.”

He flashed a brilliant grin. “Me, too. How about we make another night of it—in Dubai next time? I’ll be there next week. There’s a great seafood place down in the marina I’ve been wanting to try.”

Crap. Was he asking me out? “Uh, as a work thing with Aiden?” I needed to clarify.

His cute face blushed. “No. I was kind of hoping it would be more on a personal level. Just the two of us.”

Double crap. “I’m sorry, Matt. I have a boyfriend and don’t think—”

It was his turn to apologize. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Aiden told me you were single, and I apologize for not asking you directly.”

The blood drained from my face.

Thankfully, just then the waitress interrupted Matt for his credit card. He didn’t notice.

“I don’t tell my boss everything. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

He got up to help pull out my chair, ever the gentleman. “No, no. It’s my bad. And if anything changes, or if you want to hang out as friends, I’m in Dubai normally twice a month. It’s not a far drive.”

I forced a smile. “I appreciate it. And thanks again for tonight.”

He gave me another smile and then a brief hug before waving goodbye and walking out the lobby doors.

I stood there trying to get a handle on my emotions. Did I go upstairs to confront Aiden? Or did I simply go to bed and pretend the man I loved hadn’t set me up with someone else?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Aiden

The Scotch burned like acid going down my throat, but the golden liquor wasn’t the problem. Self-loathing, insecurity, and jealousy were to blame for ruining the taste.

I sat on my hotel room bed, the bottle on the table, a glass in my hand, and pictured Chloe with Matt. He was a nice guy who was successful and easygoing. She’d laugh at something he said over dinner. He’d open up to her about all of his faults. Probably all two of them. She’d share where she got her love of McDonald’s cheeseburgers. It would be easy. Natural. Same as it had been for them to take the tour together this afternoon. Same as it would be for him to take her skiing or the beach. Or pick her up and carry her into the shower.

Going without shoes used to be such a simple activity. But now if I didn’t wear shoes, I was unbalanced. I could manage for a short distance but not for a lengthy tour, and certainly not when my leg was still healing.

I couldn’t blame Matt for asking me if Chloe was single, taking the opportunity when she’d been readying her outfit at the mosque. I couldn’t fault him for wanting to take her out and get to know her better.

Now I was making a match possible by ensuring they had dinner together. I’d never felt worse. But in my heart, I knew it was for the best. A guy like Matt could give Chloe things I couldn’t. I’d been fooling myself over the last couple weeks, thinking we had a chance at a future together, but today had been a cruel reminder of what life would be like for her with a handicapped partner. She’d been willing to sacrifice something I knew she’d looked forward to doing just because she’d felt sorry for me.