AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You may have noticed that I don’t date,” she said.
Hehadnoticed that, even before he’d been interested in dating her himself. “Why is that?”
“Haven’t met a man I was all that interested in dating.”
Will wondered if he even had a shot. He really hoped that he did, but he wasn’t going to chance ruining their friendship by pushing her.
“And I guess that applies to me too, huh?”
Her silence gave him a spark of hope. “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought much about actually dating you.”
Will guided his car to a stop along the curb in front of the house. Putting the car in park, he shifted to face Janessa. “Will you think about it now?”
“I’m not really interested in being a rebound,” Janessa said. “A safe person for you to date while you get back in the saddle.”
“I would think that a rebound would take place closer to the actual time of the breakup, but don’t quote me on that.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Janessa hesitated. “I know you’re a great guy, and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t hurt me intentionally.”
Will was glad she knew that, because he definitely always tried not to hurt anyone, but most especially people who were important to him.
“Why?” Janessa asked. “Like… why me?”
He wished he could answer using numbers and equations because he was so much better with those than words. But since he couldn’t, he needed to figure out the right words to explain how—and why—he felt the way he did about her.
“You’ve brought me so much joy over the past couple of months,” he said. “I’ve laughed more with you than anyone else. I love how loyal you are and how you’re always there for the people around you. You’re strong and determined, and I admire that.”
The more he listed the qualities he appreciated, the more Will realized that it was possible that Janessa wouldn’t find as much about him to be attracted to. Since he’d never known her to date anyone, he had no idea what sort of man she was drawn to.
Janessa rubbed her palms on her jeans as she stared out the windshield. Will braced himself for a rejection. And if that was the case, he’d accept it graciously. He didn’t really have a choice, and he wouldn’t do anything to make things awkward between them.
Perhaps he should have gone with his first instinct to put off talking with her for a bit.
“Can I… can I have a little time?”
Well, that wasn’t a no, so he’d take it. It could be that she was postponing the inevitable rejection, but it was a risk he was willing to take.
“Take all the time you need. No pressure from me.”
“Thanks, Will.”
Opening the car door, Janessa got out. She hesitated for a moment, and Will held his breath, wondering if she had more to say to him. But then she shut the door, plunging the car back into darkness.
He didn’t leave right away, watching Janessa make her way to the porch. As she reached the front door, she turned and gave him a small wave. Will waved back, though he wasn’t sure she could see him.
After waiting until she was inside, he pulled away, questioning all the decisions he’d made when it came to Janessa. But he couldn’t change anything. It wasn’t like he could take back his invitation and ask her to forget what he’d said.
Her lack of enthusiasm didn’t fill him with confidence, but he’d continue to pray that God would guide them both.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Can I have a little time?
That was not a no, which is what she should have said. She shouldn’t have asked for time to consider his invitation. But it had just been such a shock.
But once the shock had worn off, her first instinct had been to say yes. Janessa had long ago accepted that her crush would never amount to anything, and it wasn’t just because she’d assumed that Will would never be interested in her.
“Everything okay?” Charli asked as she came out of the door that led to her and Layla’s rooms.
