I shot him a sharp look at his choice of words, so close to my thoughts when I’d heard his knock.
“I had an unusual phone call last night. Once I would have talked to Brandon, but I want your opinion.”
At the mention of Brandon’s name, the world closed in and it became difficult for me to hear the rest of his words. Maybe there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room. I had trouble concentrating and my vision blurred. My face burned and I willed myself to keep the tears at bay. Christopher continued talking but trailed off when he realized I wasn’t listening.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. I’ll explain then.”
I wanted to refuse his invitation, but I was too upset to protest.
His expression was thoughtful, as if I’d said something he hadn’t expected, though I hadn’t said a word. Maybe my discomfort was written on my face.
I expected him to mimic my daze or pretend to dab at imaginary tears, but he didn’t.
“You okay? Do you need to sit down?”
I shook my head. My palms were sweaty, and I crunched them into balls and shoved them deep into the pockets of my white lab coat. I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t spend that much time with Christopher. Trying not to be obvious, I took calming breaths.
“Look Lizzie, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Please?” All traces of his usual jokes were gone.
I’d have done anything for his brother at one time—before he’d disappeared from my life without an explanation. For Christopher too.
“I know you don’t like me,” Christopher said.
At that, I looked up and tried to focus. Not that I didn’t likehim. I didn’t want to like anyone.
His voice was quieter and less abrasive than usual. His pale blue, almost silver eyes looked sincere.
“But I’m out of options. Please eat with me.”
I panicked again and shook my head. Eat? That wasn’t a meeting. It sounded more like a date. I glanced down at my jeans, comfortable walking shoes, and lab coat.
“You don’t have to change. It’s not a date,” he said, interpreting my glance.
He’d said‘Please’twice. I couldn’t recall hearing that word cross his lips before now. Maybe I hadn’t paid attention. Despite my feelings, I was the slightest bit curious. I shrugged and nodded. Sighing would be rude, so I kept it to myself.
“Thanks, Lizzie. I appreciate your overwhelming enthusiasm. I’ll see you at seven.” His blue eyes twinkled—his good humor restored.
What had I gotten myself into? I already regretted my decision.
When he showed himself out, I moved into the lab and retrieved the most recent box of fossils to arrive. I wanted to forget Christopher, banish him from my mind. Dr. Maeve said my favorite coping mechanism was avoidance. With a hint of defiance, I opened the box and sorted the contents. Most were casts of bones or bone fragments, but one box contained original fossils from the Middle East that were close to a hundred thousand years old. The Middle East’s proximity to Europe, western Asia, and Africa made it the perfect place to find evidence of mixed populations of early humans and some of the rarer species that had become extinct. This Mesolithic study was for the next exhibit I was developing.
I stayed in my lab for the rest of the day, removing Christopher from my thoughts, until my phone chimed with a notification.
“Ready?”
I didn’t know he had this number. He’d never used it before, as far as I could remember. I’d changed my number because Eric used to scroll through my messages, looking for reasons to be angry. It had been easier to start fresh. This number had been for family and work only. How could I reply and get out of dinner?
Christopher tapped on the window.
He was in my office. There was no escaping.
I shrugged and rotated my neck, the muscles tight from the precision of measuring, labeling, and identifying the fragments of fossilized bone. I glanced at my phone—seven-ten. How did that happen? I was late. He’d been patient. Leaving the box, so I could resume tomorrow, I jotted a few quick notes, shut off my computer, and turned off the lights before I joined him in my office. I needed a few minutes for my brain to change gears.
As I locked the door and joined him in the hall, my unasked question about his brother returned to my mind. Something he’d said had stuck with me all day and I wanted an answer.
“Why can’t you talk to Brandon?”I texted while we waited for the elevator. Once upon a time, he and Brandon had been so close.
A strange look appeared on Christopher’s face. I couldn’t decipher his emotions, and his usual smile disappeared.
