She answered freely, her voice tinged with humor. “I’d have to be in a relationship for that to happen.”
“So, you’re not seeing anyone? Not even casually?” Bryce asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Beth laughed. “No. I don’t date. Period.”
“Why not?” he asked, sounding more curious than judgmental—though she heard a thread of relief in his voice.
“It’s simple. I don’t want to be the one to ask a guy out,” she said, slightly embarrassed.
“I don’t get it. Why would you have to ask?”
“Because, aside from the occasional weirdo at a drive-thru, no one’s asked me out since my high school boyfriend.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Bryce said, his surprise genuine. “You probably just didn’t realize you were being asked.”
“Really?” she said flatly. “Like all those times you asked me out and I just missed it?”
There was a beat of silence before he replied, sheepishly, “Okay, fair.”
“Whether you believe me or not, it’s the truth. For whatever reason, guys just… don’t ask me out.”
Her words made Bryce wish he could see her face—read the emotion behind the humor. On impulse, he tapped the FaceTime button.
She tapped the ignore button.
“Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to sound like I thought you were lying. I guess I just figured you’d be annoyed by how often it happened—not that it never did.”
He pivoted. “You mentioned a high school boyfriend. Was it serious?”
“He thought so. But even that kind of just… happened.”
“How does one just kind of happen into dating someone?” Bryce asked, chuckling.
Beth gave a small laugh of her own. “We were best friends. Then, toward the end of senior year, as everyone started pairing off for events, he suggested we just go together. And then somehow, we were dating—holding hands and all that.”
“Teenage romance at its finest,” Bryce deadpanned, using her words from the plane.
Beth laughed. “Exactly.”
“So, how did that ‘unplanned relationship’ end?” he asked. The irony of the question hung heavy between them—realizing she once again found herself in an unplanned relationship.
“We went to different colleges and drifted apart. He wanted to get more serious—I didn’t. I cared about him, he was my best friend, but I’d just signed up for a year-long missions’ trip, and he wasn’t okay with it. So, he ended it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. We’re okay now. I only ever loved him as a friend, which is good because he’s happily married with two kids. They live up in Denver. I see them occasionally when they visithis parents.”
Beth glanced at the clock. They’d been talking for over an hour.
“It’s getting late,” she said. “But before I go, I wanted to tell you a little more about what my parents said. Mostly what my dad suggested.”
“Right. What did they say?”
Embarrassment washed over her, replacing the relaxed peace of their earlier conversation. Her thoughts scattered again, tumbling over themselves. She tried to organize them—compartmentalize—but her mind spun.
“Well… they weren’t thrilled I didn’t let you come. They asked me to invite you over tomorrow. I’m not sure if you’re working?”
“I’m off. Just tell me when and where.”
