She opens and closes her mouth, and I see her processing this information.
“I can see how it looks,” I say quickly, but not quickly enough. There’s a slow-building anger moving across her face.
“Is she a woman you’re in love with?”
“What? No, of course not. I mean…maybe I had acrushon her, but I’m moving on now, and?—”
“What did she send you? What has you this worked up?”
I rack my brain for a believable lie, but I’m so “worked up,” as Amber said, that I spit out the truth. “It’s a picture of her in a wedding dress.”
Her eyes widen. “Aweddingdress?!” She reaches down for her purse and stands.
“Amber, please,” I plead. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?! You’re ENGAGED to someone else!” Her voice is raised, and a few other patrons look over at us in alarm.
“No! I’m not engaged! She’s engaged to someone else!”
“You men are all the same,” she snaps, ignoring what I said. “I should’ve known better. IfChasesent you, you must be just like him.”
“Just like—what?”
She waves me off. “I’m out of here. And to think I actually thought we had a connection! Are you even really a surfer?”
“Yes! Amber, please let me explain. She’s engaged to this loser named Zach. We’re best friends, but there’s nothing romantic between us. You don’t need to worry.”
Finally she hears me. For a moment, her eyes turn soft. She takes a step toward me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “If she sent you that picture, she’s probably in love with you, too.” Then she smacks my shoulder so hard I wince, and as she walks away, she calls over her shoulder, “Tell Chase I still hate him.”
I watch her leave, completely dumbfounded. First of all, what is that about Chase? Second, what does she mean that Claire is probably in love with me? And third, am I forever doomed to be a failure at love?
Of course, the waitress appears right then with our appetizer. I heave a huge sigh and look up at her, about to ask for the check early, but she puts a hand on my shoulder and says, “These are on the house.”
At least someone believes my story.
“Thanks.” I pick up a chip and scoop some poke, then see a phone call from Chase. Furrowing my brow, I answer. “Hello?”
“What did you do?” Chase’s angry voice replies.
“Excuse me?”
“Why did Amber just leave? And text me ‘I hate you and always will’?”
I groan and put my head in my hands, looking down at the table. “It’s a long story.”
A person slides into Amber’s empty seat. I look up and see…
Chase.
CHAPTER 21
Ryan
“What are you doing here?”I ask Chase, the phone still up to my ear even though he’s sitting right across from me.
He makes a display of clicking to end the call and setting his phone down on the table. I mirror his movement and put mine down, too.
“I had to watch and see what you’re doing wrong on these dates. Because if you couldn’t hit it off with Amber, the problem has something to do with you. And clearly, youarethe problem.”
