“I don’t want to talk about Doug anymore,” I say, trying to stay in the moment despite the irritation that the mention of my ex always provokes in me.“I’m sick and tired of thinking about what he wants.It’s all I’ve done for years.Not anymore.”
Seth is still holding my hands in his.He scans my face, his gaze intense and searching.“So what happened?Were you the one to break it off?”
I sigh.“It’s a long story, but the short answer is yes, it was me.Anyway, we should probably get inside.It’s getting cold.”
“I don’t want to rejoin the others.”He squeezes my hands, his voice pleading.“I want to talk to you.Just you.”
“Let me grab my purse and we can go somewhere else.”
He nods.“I will wait for you here.”
I go back to the table to retrieve my coat and purse.Edie and Javi watch me with matching grins.
“What?”I frown.“Why are you two being so weird?”
Edie throws her hands up in the air.“Finally!”
“My boy has made his move.I’m so proud of him,” says Javi, a smile splitting his face ear to ear.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.No one’s made any moves.”I mean, sure, Seth’s been a bit strange about my ring finger and my divorce, and I’m feeling things that I probably shouldn’t, but absolutely no moves have been made.No moves whatsoever.
Edie claps her hands.“Now that you’re free—”
“There’s nothing stopping you anymore!”Javi finishes.
“Pass me the purse, please,” I say, opening my palm toward Edie.“You’re both imagining things.We’re just going to catch up.”
Javi wags his eyebrows.“And why can’t you catch up here, with all your trusty former lab mates in attendance?”
“I don’t know.Maybe he feels bad he’s been out of touch with everyone.Feels out of the loop.”That’s totally what it is.Even I don’t believe the silly lie, but I’m a little impressed with myself at how easily it slips off my tongue.
Javi sighs and rolls his eyes.“All right, whatever,” he says and motions me away.“Go have fun.”
I say quick goodbyes to everyone at our table, and then I’m off.
“I expect you to be in my talk tomorrow!”Edie shouts from behind me.Without turning around, I raise my arms above my head and give her a thumbs-up.
****
“Okay, now what?”Iask when I finally rejoin Seth back on the patio.
“Now we find somewhere to talk in private.”
“Like another bar?”
Seth watches me, waiting for something.
“Seth?Where are we going?”
He shakes his head, as if trying to wake himself up.Then he cranes his neck through the door and peeks inside to make sure the coast is clear.I squeal when he pulls me from the patio and into the hallway, then drags me into a small corridor leading toward a separate breakfast area.Which is now closed.Very closed and very dark.But apparently not locked, because Seth gives the glass door a push and it opens.
I follow him into the shadows.My mouth feels dry, my throat tight with confusing emotions.
He pushes my purse off my shoulder.It falls to the carpeted floor with a soft thud.
I feel the beats of my heart in my neck.
Gently, he nudges me toward the wall and puts his hands on either side of my head, caging me with his body.There’s only an inch of space between his chest and the tips of my breasts.His breaths are coming in as fast and shallow as mine.A sheen of perspiration gleams on his forehead in the faint light coming from the hallway.
