“Say Bethany,” Reggie leaned a little closer. “What are you doing this Friday? We could have dinner.”
Bethany tried not to lean further away from him. If she did, she might fall off her chair. Reggie had no idea of personal space. “I’m sorry Reggie. I’ve made plans.”
“Really? What about Saturday?” he was persistent as always.
Bethany took a deep breath as she remembered what she and Dr. Urshman had talked about. She needed to set boundaries in her life. For her parents and for Reggie. “Reggie, you and I are good friends.”
“Sure,” Reggie grinned his toothy smile.
Bethany nodded. “I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that friendship by becoming further involved.”
Reggie frowned then smiled as a thought came to him. He adjusted his glasses. “I’ve always thought that friendship was a firm foundation for building a relationship.”
That made senses. However, Bethany didn’t want to build a relationship with him. Reggie was not the sort of man that she longed for. Bethany didn’t know if she would ever meet the sort of man that she hoped to spend her life with, but it certainly wasn’t this odd fellow beside her.
The conductor entered the room and the entire orchestra stood up in deference to him.
Reggie leaned over again. “What do you say about Saturday?”
Bethany looked down at Reggie. He stood a full five inches shorter than her. “I’m very sorry Reggie. I’ve neglected to mention that I’m seeing someone.”
“Really?” Reggie looked at her with disappointment. “Who?”
“You don’t know him,” Bethany said a little desperately as they took their seats again. She was a poor liar.
“I hope he’s not like that Ramesly guy,” Reggie groused. “Asking you to marry him and then dumping you for another woman just like that.”
“Noah was in love with Elle,” Bethany responded. “I was happy that they were able to get together.”
She had been happy for the couple. They were wonderful together and had a love that she envied. Bethany wanted someone to love her the way that Noah loved his wife.
“It was deplorable,” Reggie insisted. “You’re beautiful, talented, amazing. How anyone would let you go is beyond me. If I had you, I would treat you like a queen.”
Why couldn’t Reggie be someone she could like in return? Bethany bemoaned the fact that he just wasn’t attractive, had annoying habits like neglecting to respect personal space boundaries, and was a cloying little man.
“Thank you,” Bethany said politely. This was her problem. She’d read far too many romance books and wanted someone to walk off a cover to love her. Real life simply didn’t work that way.
“Who is he?” Reggie asked, leaning in and almost taking out her eye with his bow. His violin wavered alarmingly off balance on his knee.
Bethany tried not to jerk away but carefully moved the bow back with a hand. Her mind drew a blank. “Just someone I recently met.”
“It’s not serious then?” Reggie sighed in relief.
“He’s different. I like him. Very much,” Bethany tried to think. “You wouldn’t know him as he doesn’t run in our circles.”
Considering he was entirely fictional, he certainly didn’t belong in their social world.
Reggie looked like he was going to say something when the conductor tapped his music stand to get everyone’s attention.
Thank goodness, Bethany thought fervently. She had no idea how to answer Reggie’s questions. If he had kept it up, Bethany might have started talking about the latest romance character that she was reading.
Bethany was pretty certain there was no way she could be dating a highland soldier from the fifteenth century. However, no one else was coming to mind to use as a template.
She really needed to get out more often.
The orchestra went through scales, practiced certain pieces and a person was picked to be the second in case John was too under the weather to perform his solo on Thursday.
Bethany was glad they hadn’t chosen her. Now she wouldn’t have to endure Reggie’s congratulations. As it was, she quickly packed up her music and violin, hoping to get away from him before he began to ask more questions.
