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Just unrequited love from a silly girl—that would be me—toward a broody guy who keeps his heart away from everyone.
And the reality settles in like a cold shower on a hot summer day. He’ll never be in love with me and this isn’t a date, no matter how desperately I wish it were.
The waiter arrives, thankfully interrupting my thoughts. I exhale a silent breath of relief.
Gabe asks for a bit more time with the menus. I take a sip of water, attempting to cool the flush in my cheeks. Get a grip, Ameline. This is just going to lead to heartache.
I take a deep breath and turn my focus outward. The restaurant is bustling with people enjoying their meals, soft clinks of silverware and the murmur of conversation surround us. The savory scents of garlic, rosemary, and butter waft from the kitchen. I wish we had gone for a burger and fries. It’d be less . . . date-like.
My gaze drifts back to Gabe, who’s bathed in the restaurant’s soft, warm lighting. His longish hair falls just right over his forehead, and his eyes hold an easy confidence that’s so very him. He looks completely at home.
I wish I could be that comfortable in my own skin. Here I am, wrestling with uncertainties about my future, while he just seems to belong. Deep down, I know I want to carve my own path, to live boldly, and find my purpose. And somehow, being here with Gabe feels like a step in the right direction even if it’s fraught with unrequited feelings.
“See anything that looks good?” Gabe’s voice pulls me back, his eyes meeting mine over the top of his menu.
In my head, I think, You. But I quickly squash that thought, focusing instead on the menu in my hands. “The pasta Bolognese sounds amazing, but I think I’ll go with lasagna,” I say, trying to sound casual.
“Excellent choice,” Gabe replies.
The waiter comes back to take our order. I notice his gaze lingering on me slightly longer than necessary before he turns to Gabe. “Are you ready to order?”
“The lady will have the lasagna,” Gabe says confidently. “And I’ll take the grilled salmon.”
He hands both menus to the waiter, who scribbles our order on his notepad.
“Excellent selections,” the waiter comments, but his eyes are still fixed on me, making me feel slightly uneasy.
As the waiter departs, he winks at me. I shift in my seat, a bit uncomfortable with the attention. When I look back at Gabe, I see his eyes are narrowed slightly, a hint of something unreadable in them.
“Is everything okay?” I ask concerned about his sudden shift in mood.
His jaw twitches but he nods. “I should have ordered the chicken,” he remarks out of the blue. “Salmon always gives me horrible breath.”
His comment catches me off guard, and I burst into surprised laughter. The tension that was building up vanishes in an instant.
“I’ll be sure to keep my distance later then,” I joke back, and Gabe’s grin broadens, lightening the mood even further.
Our conversation flows effortlessly as we talk about the college tours I had today. Gabe listens intently, giving me suggestions on which dorms I could live in and places I could hang out—and even work—at.
It’s easy to talk to Gabe, to share my dreams and fears about college and the future. I find myself opening up more than I usually do. When the food arrives, it looks absolutely delicious, steam rising invitingly from the plates. Yet, somehow, the aroma and appearance of the food become secondary. I’m completely captivated by Gabe’s presence—the sparkle in his eyes, the warmth of his laughter.
Moments like these make me wish time could stand still. That there could be something between us, but it’s better that I remind myself where I stand.
He’s not into you, Ameline.
He’ll never be.
Ever.
And yet a little voice whispers, But what if?
Chapter Fifteen
Ameline: Dad’s happy with poli-sci. I really don’t know how I’m going to pull this off.
Gabe: What exactly are we talking about?
Ameline: After college I need to have a job and a way to tell him: sorry, but I’m not going to become a lawyer.
