Page 61 of Unforgettable Player

She’s squinting at me now. Mild suspicion is about to turn into full-blown distrust.

“Let’s go and see Gabe,” I blurt.

It works. She relaxes, her face softening into a smile. Phew.

I had hoped today might be Gabe’s day off, but when we enter the bookstore, there he is behind the counter, reading something with his feet up.

He looks up over the pages of the hardback and the second he sees me, his face spreads into a shy smile. God, I am such a jerk. I literally went on a date with the guy and had sex with someone else last night. While I haven’t exactly promised to be exclusive with Gabe or Connor, I’m still pretty sure Gabe would be upset if he found out.

“Hey, Gabe,” Scout says. “Anything new?”

“Um.…” He keeps glancing at me while answering Scout’s questions. His admiring glances should feel good, but they just make me feel like shit. I need to have a talk with him, pronto, before I hurt his feelings any more than I probably already have.

Scout smiles. “I’m gonna go and browse.”

I hang back as Scout heads straight for the horror section, still not sure what I’m going to say to him.

Gabe wipes his hands on his jeans. He looks nervous. How can I tell him I’m not really worth it without making it sound like I’m saying, ‘It’s not you, it’s me?’

“So,” we say at the same time.

Gabe laughs, his nerves showing in the way he keeps touching the back of his neck. “I had a good time the other night.”

Fuck. Just say it, tell him you’re not compatible.

I glance over at Scout and catch her watching us with a big, silly grin on her face.

While I try to think of a kind way to let him down, I contemplate whether I’m doing it because I don’t like Gabe or because my stupid brain has latched onto the teenage fantasy of Connor.

Either way, being upfront with Gabe is the right thing to do. He’s a nice guy and he doesn’t deserve to be led on.

“I, um …”

He watches me, waiting. I see the nerves. Can imagine the inner dialogue going on behind his eyes right now, because it’s a dialogue I’ve had with myself so many times.

Please like me, please say you want to go out again, please don’t break up with me already.

I suddenly have more sympathy for the guys who have let me down gently in the past—there have been a few. Usually it’s, ‘You’re not my type’ or, ‘We’re just not compatible,’ then I see them a week later with someone who’s like me, but not me. I’m not used to being on the receiving end of this conversation.

Before I can say anything, Gabe jumps in. “Me and a few friends are going to the arcade tonight. I know it’s lame, but we’re gonna go see a band after. It’s just a local band, but they’re supposed to be good. Like an early New Wave sound, sort of like Sonic Youth mixed with Talking Heads.”

“It sounds fun,” I say.

His face lights up.

“Sounds like something Scout would like—” I’m about to add, ‘Maybe we could all go together? You know, as friends,’ when Scout appears.

“What sounds like something I’d like?”

“Gabe’s going to the arcade, then to see a band later. He invited us to come.”

Gabe blinks, looking owlish before recovering. “Oh, sure, yeah, you should come, too. The more the merrier.”

“Awesome.” She puts her arm around my shoulder. “We’ll be there.”

We leave the bookstore, heading in the direction of our favorite coffee shop. “So, tonight sounds fun,” Scout probes.

“Yeah, should be good. We haven’t been to the arcade in years.”