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“Dylan, it took me a long time to get past everything and move on. From you. From Todd. I don’t want to go back to the past. We need to face it. You and I were just never meant to be.”
It felt like someone took a battering ram to my chest.
I didn’t think about how hard it might have been for Lana after she’d left. I always imagined that she moved on happily with her new life.
She sniffed, and I realized how emotional she suddenly was.
Lana put her hand over mine this time. I used my thumb to brush a tear from her cheek as she said, “Our timing has just always been horrible. Haven’t you ever noticed that? We’re like some kind of star-crossed lovers, never quite getting to the same place at the same time.”
I did notice it, but I also noticed how we always found our back way to each other.
I shook my head. “I don’t believe that.”
“Todd happened to show up right when I saw your ring. And I move away after… after that night. Now you show up again, and I have a boyfriend.”
“I don’t believe in fate, Lana. I think we choose what we want and who we want to be with,” I replied softly. “But if you do believe in fate, let’s talk about the times it brought us together too. Haven’t you thought about how we met? We happened to park next to each other and get out at the same time. How about the time I had a date at the same restaurant you were at? And how we ran into each other again the day before you moved. And we’re here now… together.”
Lana stared at me, processing all the times that we saw each other.
She bit her lower lip, brows drawn together like she was torn on what to believe.
“It still doesn’t change our circumstances, Dylan.” Lana sighed, eyes downcast. “I think we should just be friends.”
Just friends? I shook my head, trying not to look wounded.
"I don’t want to be your friend,” I replied bluntly.
Lana shifted in her seat, conflict plain on her lovely face. "Dylan..."
A server came to our table then, but Lana shook her head and said she was ready to leave.
She was quiet in the car, and I didn’t feel like pushing the issue was going to help while she was still upset.
But I thought I’d see if I could get her to invite me in when I dropped her off so we could talk more in private. I wanted to get to the bottom of thisnot meant to benonsense and convince her otherwise.
A car I didn’t recognize sat in the driveway. Obviously, her boyfriend was there waiting for her.
I’m still not giving up on you, baby.
She thought we’d been star-crossed lovers, and maybe we were. But that didn’t mean things couldn’t change.
When I pulled up behind the car, a man got out. The Austin she’d spoken about. Before I could say anything, Lana got out and headed toward him after a quick goodbye.
I watched them walk in together, his arm around her waist. He glanced back at me, recognizing me seconds after I recognized him.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Of all people, she was dating that asshole.
I hadn’t given up on having Lana in my arms again. But I knew that even if she never looked at me again, there was no way that bastard was ever going to win her heart.
Not if I had anything to say about it.
* * *
The restaurant wasn’t too packed for a Saturday, which was a relief. I spotted Todd as soon as I walked in, so I brushed past the hostess and sat down. Todd and I did the usual catch-ups and chatted about the sales he’d made over the last few weeks. He asked about Brent and the brewery, and I told him about the ad agency.
I didn’t mention Lana. I didn’t think he knew she was back in Everbrook. If he did, he hadn’t mentioned her, and I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up.
Shortly after our food came, Todd handed me his phone. A pretty woman with a bright smile and incredible green eyes was on the screen.
