“Yeah, yeah. Call me after the date.”
Despite the impending snowstorm,I showered and shaved, cleaning myself up for the date.
What am I doing?
Why did I let Elena convince me?
While I didn’t expect anything, I couldn’t show up looking like I just rolled out of bed, so I dressed in a pair of nice jeans and a button-down shirt. I debated on a tie or jacket, deciding not to use either, and instead opened the top buttons, going for a more casual, relaxed look.
I arrived at the mountaintop restaurant ten minutes early, grabbing a table in a back corner and ordering a round of waters. I sipped on it, my eyes flicking towards the door every second, my heart rate increasing beat for beat.
This was a dumb idea. I should just order a to-go meal and head home. Share it with Otis and call it a night.
Relax. Five more minutes and you can go.
“Wilde?”
The sweetest voice landed on my ears, and I froze in place. My eyes searched for the sound and found the source instantly in the form of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen before.
Oh…my…God
I swallowed hard, a sudden lump in my throat.
“I’m Reagan.”
In that moment, I became certain- my life changed forever.
CHAPTER TWO
Reagan
I paced backand forth in front of my bed, my hands wringing together. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
I walked over to my vanity and picked up his picture for the millionth time and stared into his deep blue eyes once more.
He looks so much like Randy…
Walking over to my bed, picture still in hand, I collapsed into a heap and stared at the picture once again.
How? How am I supposed to navigate all of these feelings?
It’s been two years…you’ve grieved. It’s okay to love again.
Then why did it feel so wrong?
My sweet co-worker, the one who made me feel less alone, less scared, in a new town, new job, newlife,and someone I trusted with my soul, insisted I go out on a date with her older brother and I relented. Eventually. And after a lot of convincing, I might add.
Once she showed me his picture, I couldn’t say no. That became the deciding factor. Because with eyes like his, I knew he was special.
Which also scared the ever-loving shit out of me.
I couldn’t make it through another loss.Wouldn’tmake it through another one.
Checking my reflection once more, I smoothed down my dress, slid on my jacket, and reapplied one last coat of lip gloss. With a deep breath, I left my apartment and headed to the restaurant, the snow already falling in a slow, but steady pace.
I pulled into the parking lot ten minutes later and my stomach instantly took a freefall dive to my feet. It’s just one date. I could survive. It wasn’t a big deal. If it went badly, I’d never see the guy again, so no loss.
Inside, the restaurant was dim, the low lighting giving off a relaxing type of vibe. A fire roared in the main fireplace, couples sitting on the couches and enjoying drinks while others dined around them. My eyes naturally scanned the place, as all the blood in my body seemingly rushed through my ears.
