"Right," I say. "Your place. Her place. Lots of places."
He laughs without seeing the edge in my voice. "You get it. See, I told my dad I'm looking to settle down, and he said you'd be perfect. He said you're smart and steady and not the type to get emotional. And you're pretty. More than pretty. Honestly, you're lucky someone like me is still single."
My fork freezes halfway to my mouth. Lucky.
Across the restaurant, someone laughs loudly. It carries over the hum of dishes clinking and plates sliding. That sound reminds me of Gabe too. The deep laugh he let out when Jace called the banana peel a monster. The way his eyes warmed at me over breakfast, even when I was snapping at him. Even when he knew I was crumbling inside.
I am sitting across from a man who calls himself a prize, while the man I want is probably pacing his Airbnb right now trying not to lose his mind.
Leo launches into another story about how tough he is. "Marvin says you're shy," he says. "Don't worry. I can get you out of that shell. Women relax around me. Something about my energy.Dad always said the world is better when a strong man takes the lead."
My mouth tastes like regret.
I nod once because I cannot trust myself to speak.
"Anyway," he says, reaching for his water. "Dad also said you're a good girl. Reliable. The kind of woman who understands her role in a relationship. Not needy. Not dramatic."
I blink slowly. "My… role."
He smiles at the straw in his cup. "Men lead. Women support. It's simple."
My brain begins constructing an escape plan. Set wallet on table. Pretend bathroom break. Sprint.
He leans in again. "So, what are you looking for, Lena? You want a good man? You want stability? I can give that to you. A woman like you deserves to feel chosen. And I'm a guy who knows how to choose right."
A woman like you.
I hear Gabe's voice instead. The low, steady one from this morning when he asked, "Why does this bother you so much?"
The voice that cracked when he saw how shaken I was.
The man who held my son's shoe like it was a fragile thing.
The man who looked at me like he wanted to put down roots for the first time in his life.
I know I should not think about him. I know why I told myself to come here. Let the gossip die. Keep the peace. Prove nothing is happening.
But something is happening. It has been happening since the day I walked away from him, and it never really stopped.
I clear my throat. "Leo, this has been?—"
"Great," he interrupts with a wink. "I knew we'd click."
"We didn't."
He laughs like I made another joke. "You're funny. You know, most women are nervous on first dates with me. It's fine. It'll get easier."
I exhale slowly. "I'm going home."
He stares like he didn't hear it. "Already? Come on. Let's get one last drink at the bar. I know the bartender. He'll give us something strong. We can sit close. Talk real. You and me."
Every part of me tightens at once.
"No," I say. "I'm calling it a night. I'll pay for my half."
He frowns, confused and insulted. "You're serious? I cleared my night for this."
"I didn't ask you to," I say as I reach for my purse.
