Page 45 of Trial and Error

I copy her movements, removing my shoes and placing them on the doormat. Bridget hangs her jacket and bag on the rack at the door. She stops in front of me and reaches up to place her hands on my shoulders. She keeps them there for minute, her blue eyes latching onto my own as she slowly pushes my jacket off my shoulders.

I remain still, my eyes locked on her as her hands brush down my arms. A smile makes its way to my face as the tips of her cheekbones turn a soft pink. Bridget hangs my jacket next to hers and then reaches forward to take my hand. She pulls me toward the couch, moving some of her decorative pillows to make space for us to sit.

“Are you all right?” I ask once we’re sitting.

Bridget pulls her legs up to her chest, and I have to fight every urge in me to see where her dress has hiked up to her hips. She rests her head on the back of the couch and sighs, a sad expression on her face.

“I don’t know,” she whispers, her voice wobbling.

She looks up at the ceiling, blinking away the tears beginning to form. I reach across and place a hand on her knee and squeeze.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She sighs, her hand moving to cover my own. “I’ve been best friends with Imani and Malik since high school. Back then, I had feelings for Malik, and he admitted to his after high school…but neither of us were in a place to start a romantic relationship. Malik has been asking me out for years, and a few weeks ago I finally agreed. We went on a date and hooked up but it was missing that spark or connection or something.”

Bridget looks up at me briefly before continuing. “Then this whole thing happened with your mom, and I wanted to help, so I called things off. I told him there was someone else and that it was complicated but if I had thought for one second he would be that hurt, I’d have been more honest. But I wasn’t sure how much of this you want to be common knowledge, and I got overwhelmed.”

I hate seeing her this way and knowing it’s because of me and it makes me feel ten times worse. “Do you want to be with him?” I ask, knowing I’m not going to like it if she says yes.

She looks up at me from under her lashes and slowly shakes her head. “I don’t feel that way about him.”

A wave of relief hits me, but I feel like an asshole.

We barely know each other, yet the thought of her being with someone else causes an uncomfortable tightness in my chest.

“I’m sorry.”

She smiles softly. “What are you apologizing for?”

I shrug. “I feel like this is all my fault.”

“Elias, I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I didn’t want to, but I do think we need to get our story straight—you know, how we met and all the small details.”

“It makes most sense to have our story line up with how we actually met, but sooner. We met at Natalie’s party,” I say, watching as she nods along in agreement.

“We both locked eyes across the room and there was an instant spark,” she continues.

“That’s the truest thing about this whole story.” A light blush covers her face, and I bask in it. “I don’t know if you saw me, but I saw you at a club before the charity gala and I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”

“I saw you too,” she admits. “I was attracted to you as well.”

I lean back on her couch and her eyes follow the moment. “Can I ask you something?” She nods. “Do you think that we would’ve run into each other eventually?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“Me too.” I let my eyes dip down and wander over the curve of her legs. “I don’t know if I mentioned it, but you look beautiful tonight.”

“You did, but I’ll happily accept another compliment from you.” Her smile then drops and she reaches over and places a hand on my forearm. “How are you doing, though?”

I shrug. “I’m all right,” I say honestly.

I haven’t really had a chance to sit down with my thoughts and process everything that’s happened, and while I know it’s not healthy, I’d rather wait until Mom’s gone before I even open that can of worms.

“I don’t really want to think about it at the moment, you know?”

Bridget nods. “I understand that. I’ve never lost a parent so there’s nothing I could say that could compare to how you’re feeling, but I lost my grandmother in my early twenties. She was my best friend so I know how it feels to lose someone who means a lot to you.”

I place my other hand on top of hers and give it a squeeze, appreciating the piece of her that she’s offering me. “How did she die?” I ask. “If you don’t mind me asking.”