Page 16 of Left In The Dark

“That’s the best way to discover what you didn’t realize you were looking for.”

“Yeah.” He licks his lips, sliding them up and down his straw.

My skin grows tight and I avert my gaze, letting it fall everywhere but him. “Let me guess, an underwear ad?”

Shaking his head, a laugh bubbles out of him. “No, but close. An alcohol ad.”

“How the hell is that close?” I sputter, feeling more at ease in a conversation than I have in a long time. Again, what the fuck?

“I don’t know.” His eyes lift and he laughs again. “I guess it’s not really, but I was in my underwear when they had me shoot the photos, so it could count.”

“I see. Because no one can enjoy a shot of vodka fully dressed.”

He spits his drink, eyes watering as he laughs harder. We talk some more and the conversation dies down when the food comes. Other than a few comments made and him asking to steal from my plate, we’re mostly quiet while we eat.

At the end of our meal, he reaches for the check, and I place my hand on his. “You don’t really have to pay for it all.”

His eyes hold onto mine and he tugs the check harder, breaking away from my grasp. “Yes, I do. I invited you here and this is supposed to be me making it up to you, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember.” I just wasn’t sure if I needed it anymore, as I consider leaving the past in the past for good when his foot hits mine again, this time sliding up my ankle.

“You doing anything this Saturday?” His blue eyes sparkle.

“Yeah . . . I mean no. I’m not.”

“Would you let me take you to a make-up movie then? You can pick everything again.”

I might regret this later. “Okay, but you can choose everything this time and I’ll meet you there.”

“I can pick you up,” he offers.

Agreeing to hang out with him again is dumb enough as it is, no way am I going to allow myself to be trapped in a car with him on top of that. Not to mention he’ll have the upper hand, and what if that’s when he decides to show his true colors again, dumping me off in the middle of nowhere. “I’d prefer to take my own car.”

“Okay. No big deal. I’ll text you the info when I know it and you can meet me there. I’ll need your number, though.” He nudges at my phone as I’m pulling it out to check the time.

“Oh, uh . . . yeah, okay. Add yours and I’ll text you when I get home.”

“You sure this isn’t your way of getting out of it?”

I roll my eyes, sliding the phone across the table. “I’m sure. I’ll text you before we leave the restaurant.”

After typing in his number, he gives me back the phone, and I text him. “Told you I was sure.”

That earns a smile from him, and when the waitress brings him back his card, we walk out of the restaurant together. Standing in front of one another on the sidewalk, we share an awkward stare, and his face flushes as he moves forward with a hug. His arms fling around my neck as he stands on his tiptoes and I don’t remember him being so much smaller than me. To think I once found him so intimidating and scary. To think I thought he could actually have the upper hand while we were alone.

Whether he’s changed or not, I have, and I’ll be here to remind him if he needs me to. His little friends also. Hayden may be the same size as me, but there are plenty of ways for me to make him feel like nothing.

Four

Logan

“You beat me this time.” Blake joins me by the front entrance of the theatre wearing a tight pink sweater and faded blue jeans.

“Yeah, I was close by, and it didn’t make sense to go home only to come back this way.”

“I see. So what movie did you choose and why is it such a big secret?” He bounces on the balls of his feet, wrapping his arms around himself.

“It’s not really. I kind of didn’t decide until last minute,” I admit under my breath, and he laughs, stepping closer.