“I never asked her to go with me to Jake’s wedding. That was all my father. He suggested it, and I just ignored him, so he made assumptions.”
“You should stay. I can call an Uber. No reason you shouldn’t catch up with an old friend. Besides, it’s late. I should get home.”
Blair is backing up and trying to walk away; I can tell she is rattled. Stepping toward her—I have no intention of letting her escape—I place my hand on her hips and bring her close.
“I’m sorry. Would you believe me if I say it all sounds and looks way worse than it is?”
Her eyes narrow, and her head tilts as if she’s saying it’s exactly what it looks like.
“Truth?” I say, throwing out our favorite peace treaty.
“Always the truth,” she replies.
“Bethany is someone I was seeing casually before I saw you at the studio lot with Sophia. She’s from New York, but her firm has an office here in LA, so she travels back and forth. It was a convenient setup for both of us, but it’s over.”
Blair doesn’t say anything, and I can see her mind spinning as doubt about being with me creeps across her face. I realize that it’s going to take more than a drive to my house for her to recover from that interaction. It’s like a spotlight has just landed on how much we still don’t know about each other, on how much time has passed.
Fuck.
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
She’s quiet on the drive to her house. I walk her to her door, but before she goes in, I pull her back to me. When I tip her chin up, a small sigh passes through her lips.
“I’m sorry. I have a past. But so do you,” I tell her. “But there’s been no one serious and nobody in quite some time.”
She nods but doesn’t look away.
“This is moving a little too fast for me,” she confesses. “I like you—you know I do—but I need a minute.”
I tangle my fingers through hers, not wanting to let go. Then I lean down and kiss her gently.
“Ok. I’ll follow your lead.”
thirty
. . .
BLAIR
JESS
You’re not even going to give me an update on the date? I didn’t text last night so I wouldn’t interrupt anything.
ME
Nothing to report. Oh, except I met his situationship.
JESS
???
ME
As we were leaving the restaurant, Bethany (also known as Firefly girl) said hello with a kiss and hug
ME
While I stood right next to him.
