Sophia waves as he reaches us.
“Hey,” he calls out, his eyes on me.
“Brayden, take my seat,” she encourages him. “A guy just showed up that I used to date.” She nudges me. “Wish me luck, Lei. If I don’t come back, I’ll call you later.”
She jumps up and waves goodbye.
“Thanks, Sophia.” Brayden smiles and puts down his box before he sits next to me. “Hey, Leleila.”
“Hi. How was the game?”
“Great. We won by three touchdowns.” His blond hair peeks out from underneath his cowboy hat, and his piercing blue eyes focus on me like nobody else is around. His blue eyes have a hint of gray in them—that must be part of the reason they look so unusual. His mouth turns up in a half-smile, and he looks genuinely happy to see me.
“Congratulations.” I decide to tell him the truth. “So in answer to your question the other night, here’s the thing: I don’t think we can be friends once I’m married because my fiancé’s career is all-encompassing, and I’m expected to play a big role in that. He’s a professor at the university, and as his wife…” I trail off.
Brayden nods. “I understand. You’ll have a lot of expectations to live up to.”
Yes. My hands clench into fists. “But leading up to our wedding, which is in October, Phillip is super busy. So busy that he’s decided he can’t take the dance class with me.” I lift my chin and look Brayden right in the eyes. “He suggested I ask you to be my partner for the class.”
Brayden’s eyes widen. “Whoa.”
My cheeks blaze. “I can introduce you to him. He’s right over there.” I point to Phillip by the food bins. “He knows you work at June’s store, and he trusts her judgment. And I’ve always wanted to learn to dance. It’s been a bit of a dream of mine to have a fun first dance at my wedding. Phillip doesn’t want to let me down.”
“What’s he so busy with that he can’t be your partner?” Brayden says. “Dancing’s very erotic. I would think he’d jump at the chance.”
My stomach does cartwheels. “Our honeymoon is tied in with his research on ecosystems, so he has a lot to get done beforehand. We’re going to the Galapagos,” I add politely. “Anyway, he doesn’t have the time.”
Brayden’s gaze seers into mine. “How do you feel about his request that you dance with someone else?”
I stare at him. He’s the first person to ask me that, to actually care how I feel about my fiancé telling me he would prefer I dance with someone other than him.
“I’m not…sure,” I admit. “I just wanted you to know that we can hang out and dance if you’d like, and Phillip won’t care. In fact, he’ll probably be relieved of some of his guilt.”
Brayden’s eyes fill with concern. “I’m sorry, Leleila.”
Okay, this is not how I thought this exchange was going to play out. I didn’t expect pity.
Brayden tugs at the brim of his hat. “Does he, um, know we met back in high school?”
“No. I never told him,” I say in a bare whisper.
Brayden leans closer to me and lowers his voice even though no one’s within hearing distance of us. “You never told him about what happened to you?”
“Almosthappened,” I say quickly. “I defended myself.”
“I know.” His tone is gentle. “I just meant…that must have been pretty terrifying. I thought maybe you would have shared the story with the man you’re going to marry.”
Yes, that would make sense. But I’ve never wanted to relive the memory of that night. I told Sophia the one time she and I got drunk off tequila shots together, and I was horrified when she brought it up to me the next morning.
“Let’s just say I haven’t really wanted to discuss that night again.” I swallow hard.
“Leleila. I’m not turning you down.” His gaze flicks over to mine, and I swear I catch something else in his eyes, something close to heat, before he shutters his reaction. “I’d like to hang out.”
“Lei!” Sophia calls out as she bounces back over to us. “Guess who’s got herself a date for tonight?”
I smile. “That’s awesome.”
Brayden stands up and grabs his box off the ground. “I’d better drop this donation off.”
