As time passed, we sat there talking. He told me about Leo and his latest obsessions. I commiserated with how many times I’ve watched Nightmare Before Christmas in the past month. Things were easy. I can’t remember the last time I connected with someone with this amount of ease.
It felteasy.
It feltsafe.
And underneath it all, it felt like the start of something dangerous in the best possible way.
Alex took a sip of his coffee, setting the mug down carefully before saying, almost too casually, “So, um . . . I was wondering.”
I looked up, pencil still in her hand. “Yeah?”
“There is an art show on Friday. It is one of the women on the reapers, and she has an art show in the back room of Bread Zepplin.”
“Bread Zepplin?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s a bakery, but in their back room, they have a little open mic area, and they showcase local artists. I thought you might like to see it. Friday, maybe?”
The words landed between them, warm and careful.
“Yeah, I’d love to see some local art. That sounds amazing.”
He stopped and picked up his phone to check the time. “Well, I’m on snack duty after rehearsal, so I have to head over. There will be mutiny if there are no snacks.”
I smiled as a little laugh bubbled out. “Well, we can’t have a mutiny.”
“No, we can not,” he said, tucking his phone into his pocket and clearing the empty dishes from the table.”But I’ll see you Friday.”
“Friday,” she confirmed, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest.
“Seven?”
“Seven sounds perfect.”
He smiled, eyes soft and hopeful. “Then it’s a date.”
I froze and watched him carry the dishes to the tub next to the trash can by the door. He turned and smiled and waved before he headed to the community center for the end of rehearsal.
I sat there frozen.
A date. I had not seen that coming.
The emotional storm in me kicked up. I was not ready for a date . . . was I? I mean, if there ever was someone whom I would want to date again, it would be Alex. But I didn’t know if I was ready. How does one even know? Just the thought of being with someone else felt like a betrayal to Ethan, but I also knew Ethan would want me to live my life. He would not want me to be alone forever.
Maybe it was time for something new.
I guess I will find out on Friday.
13
ELEANOR
Istood in front of my mirror, eyeliner in one hand and nerves in the other.
I hadn’t done this in years. My hands felt unsteady, and I’d already changed shirts twice.
Behind me, Ava sat cross-legged on the bed, watching like it was a nature documentary.
“Why do you keep making your eyes smaller?” Ava asked.
