“You might run into some of your viewers,” I told him so he wouldn’t go out looking like a hitchhiker. Whatever his feelings for Elizabeth were, he’d never forgive me if I let him run into her in his ratty hoodie.
“I’m still an ordinary citizen until Monday.”
“You’re Evan Spurlock at six and eleven at Charlottesville’s favorite news channel. You might get recognized.”
A grin broke across his face. “Not until Monday.”
“So you like it there?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. The current meteorologist is great, but he’s leaving.”
“And Elizabeth?”
He sighed. “And Elizabeth.”
“So, what, you don’t like her now?”
“I don’tknowher. I feel like an idiot for believing her lies, and now it’s just confusing. I’m not sure how not to be angry about it.” His shoulders sagged. “And yet…”
“And yet?”
“That was a surreal night. I have to confess I still think about it.”
“Yeah.” Major understatement. “I never would have thought I’d be the one still in the saddle after all this time.”
“Seriously. It’s been four weeks, Easy Lover.”
“Dude.”
“C’mon. You usually move on by now.”
I sucked on my teeth. “That’s not what I meant. And this is different.”
“It always is.” He laughed. “Until it isn’t.”
I focused on filling one thermos with coffee and the other with hot apple cider. The least Evan could do was pretend I was capable of a long-term relationship.
“In case it hadn’t slipped your notice,” I said, “I’m still in the game. You took your balls and went home.” I leaned against the counter to face him. “What’s the real reason you blew her off?”
“Self-respect? Self-preservation?”
“Because you don’t like her?” I crossed my arms. “Or because you do?”
“Because I don’t like being used.”
I noticed he didn’t dispute liking her. “Maybe if you took the time to know her, you’d find out she wasn’t using you.”
He scoffed. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Flirt so easily, like there’s nothing at risk. You fall in and out of love before you have a chance to get your heart broken, chasing after the next challenge like you’re bulletproof.”
I resented his assumptions about me.
Yes, flirting came easily to me. Yes, I was thrilled by delicious banter and got butterflies from kissing. Of course, I loved sex with a beautiful woman. But I never intended my interest to flame out after a few weeks. I wanted to build a deep connection that would outlast the novelty, but so far my relationships skittered across the surface, nice and easy, and my love life was a disappointment like every other avenue of my life.
But I wanted romance. I wanted to be loved and to love. I believed in the possibility despite several failed attempts.
