AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, how is her wedding planning going?” Gina asked.
I told her about being a bridesmaid, and everything else I knew, and that took us halfway through eating our salads.
“How is work?” Dad asked. “I know you said there are some things you’re not allowed to tell us.”
“Yeah. I can’t talk about any of the people who use GoWithFriends because of our privacy policy. And it’s extra hard for me because I’ve been going out to meetups and seeing them in person.”
Gina’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s great.”
“Yeah. I’m learning how to talk to people I wouldn’t normally go up to. It helps that I have a partner with me.”
I shoved my hands in my lap. I hadn’t even mentioned Denver’s name and already I felt myself clamming up.
“That would definitely make it easier.” My dad looked over at Gina and smiled. “I didn’t realize how much I needed a sounding board until I had one again.”
Their happiness had always made me uncomfortable, but considering I’d just spent time with Denver’s lovey-dovey parents, the sensation felt unfair. I wasn’t unhappy that my dad had found someone after being a widower for so long. I liked Gina. They were good together. And I barely remembered my mom, so I wasn’t jealous on her behalf.
What was it, then?
“Sadie, is everything okay?” Dad asked.
I looked up. “Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t bring a side dish or anything.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that.” Gina waved me off.
“I know. Next time I’ll bring muffins or something. I didn’t have time today, and I’ve gotten out of the habit because I have this neighbor who always brings them over and hers are so much better than mine.”
My dad nodded. “Sounds like a good neighbor to have.”
“Yeah. Sort of. Except it’s awkward now because I’m dating her ex.” Wow, I was really bad at small talk. I had just laid that out there.
My dad stared at me and handed over the rolls. I took three.
“You’re dating her ex?” Gina leaned forward. “That sounds like a good story.”
“It is.”
So, I told them. It didn’t come out chronologically, but out it poured, starting with Makayla coming over with Denver, going back to meeting Denver last year and hating him, and ending with realizing I had feelings for him. It was a lot to unpack, and for some stupid reason I couldn’t leave my heart out there for them to examine, so I ended with downplay. “We’re just trying the dating thing. I mean, why not? I’m pretty sure we could still be friends either way. We’d have to since we work together.”
“So, it’s not serious?” my dad asked.
“No. Not really.”
The words felt untrue and awful, except for the staying friends part. I knew Denver would be nice about it no matter what happened with us, but that didn’t make me feel better, so I shut my mouth after that and let Dad and Gina congratulate me on trying something new and keeping a good perspective on it.
Knitting was trying something new. Hot yoga. Tennis. Swapping out zucchini noodles for pasta. Falling for Denver was not something I could just try out for the fun of it. Maybe other people could. But not me.
I thought about the last thing Denver had said when he dropped me at my door earlier tonight. “If we don’t talk again until tomorrow, it’s okay. I know you need time to think. We can meet up before work.” And then he’d kissed me for a long time, slow and unhurried. I shivered, remembering.
I had planned to see him again after this dinner. But now I didn’t want to face him with all the doubts in my head that were nobody’s fault but mine. I did need time to think. He knew me and he’d offered it, so I should take it.
Yeah, after this I was going straight home and getting sleep.
Chapter 38 – Denver
After not hearing from Sadie Sunday night, I was a little bit worried I’d come on too strong. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her. I’d known from the beginning that Sadie was cautious about us.
Still, it was hard to see the obvious hesitancy in her face when she climbed into my Jeep on Monday morning in the parking lot of work and shut the door.
