“Ethan, it’s been too long.” She looked between the two of us. “Why don’t you and Amy come for dinner tonight?”
“We aren’t together,” I said quickly, mildly mortified.
She paused as if confused, like she fully expected we would be together. “Oh, well it doesn’t matter.” She flicked her gaze between the two of us before finally settling back on me. “Please come anyway. It would be our pleasure to have you.”
I didn’t want to go. I could tell her I was busy, except she’d know I had no friends, nowhere to go to.
“Well I, for one, would love to,” replied Ethan, looking straight at me and putting me on the spot. I could hardly say no now. I visualized kicking him in the shins, hard. Not enough to disable him, but just enough to cause some pain would be extremely satisfying.
“That would be lovely, thank you.” I directed my comment to Katrina, trying to hide the reluctance in my voice.
“Fabulous, we will see you both at, say . . .” She glanced at her gold wristwatch. “Seven thirty. Oh and ask Bob and Marg too,” she sang out with a flick of her hand as she left.
“Well,” Ethan called out over his shoulder as he headed toward the door behind her. “I’ll pick you up at seven, Happy Endings.”
“I can drive—” The ring of the door indicated he was gone. “Myself,” I muttered. Another person who knew where I lived.
“Katrina’s an exceptional woman,” Bob said, having emerged from the back room. “She’s a kind and genuine lady—extremely popular around town. She won the mayor race by a landslide a few years back, just after the interest rates sky rocketed, placing financial stress on half the town. She’s worked tirelessly to get it back to its former glory, even contributing some of her family’s own finances, and she’s made some headway, but it isn’t an easy fix. Everyone loves her and her husband, Robert. She puts on a good spread too.” He rubbed his flat stomach.
I didn’t really want to go but couldn’t tell Bob that. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with him or Katrina; it was the car ride with Ethan that filled my stomach with apprehension. I sighed and set about finishing the shift.
When it was time for me to leave, Bob called out cheerfully, “See you tonight, Amy.”
Damn. Even if I knew Ethan’s number, I couldn’t really cancel now.
Chapter 18
Legend Has It
It was strange to feel so apprehensive about going for dinner. I deliberated over how to wear my hair—up or down? I pulled it up a dozen times before finally settling on down. I put way too much makeup on and then rubbed it back off again. I didn’t know what to wear. No doubt it would be a casual affair, but how casual was too casual? Given Katrina’s daytime attire, somehow jeans and a T-shirt didn’t seem right. And I certainly didn’t want to look like I was trying to impress anyone. It was quite the pickle, this non-date thing.
I bit my nails and stared at the different outfits laid out on my bed.
Calm down. It’s not like you care what anyone—particularly Ethan—thinks.
I chose my green paisley dress with a pair of tan ankle boots. Reapplied makeup and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face looked much healthier now, at least. My skin had gained color and had its glow back. My eyes though, looked different, darker, as if the hurt had shifted something deep inside, like a shadow blocking out the light. That thought churned against my chest, made me feel weak, made me feel like I had no power. Made me feel like a victim.
I drew in a deep breath, straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin, staring at the shadows. It was then I decided perhaps the darkness wasn’t blocking the sun, it was armor, so no one could ever hurt me again.
It wasn’t long after a vehicle rumbled to a stop outside. I opened the door and went out. I’d expected him to drive a convertible sports car or something else cheesy, but it was a large, shiny black SUV with windows tinted so dark you couldn’t see in.
He was leaning on the hood of his car, wearing jeans and a black shirt. The sun was half-cast over the mountains, sending a warm glow across his face. I couldn’t help the flutter that filled the pit of my stomach. Why was it that “good-looking” always came paired with “conceited asshole”?
His gaze swept over me, drinking all of me in. “You look beautiful.”
I strode down the steps and kept my chin high. “Ethan, flattery will get you nowhere.” My response was blunt, rude actually. It was bad enough he was picking me up; I didn’t want to encourage him.
His lips twitched up. “Really? What works for you, Happy Endings?” He opened the car door for me.
“Stop calling me that,” I ground out, climbing in.
He chuckled, clicking the door shut behind me. The interior was all black, with leather seats, a racing car shifter, and the latest gadgets across the dashboard.
“So, what brings you to Church Heights?” he asked, glancing at me as we bumped down the gravel road. “And don’t tell me it’s beautiful here and you needed a change.”
“How did you hear what I said?” I asked, taken aback. “You were at the other end of the bar.”
“I have superman hearing.”
