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After unpacking her things, she glanced over at him. He cursed at himself for looking at her from the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t help it. “You’re kind of quiet tonight. What’s up?”
It wasn’t time for that conversation yet. He had to avoid it until they’d eaten a good meal. “Just listening.”
Emilie shot him a skeptical look. She wasn’t buying it. “How’s work? Did you get enough done?”
He bit his lip. Work talk was ordinary enough. “Bought a new net this week, repaired another one, and found some new business partners in the Boston area.”
“Does that mean you’ll be gone a lot more?”
That was exactly what it meant. Since the fishermen in Boston charged more, most restaurants preferred to get their fish from outlying cities. In two weeks, he’d have regular shipments to bring once or twice a week. He looked forward to the chance to get away, but he wasn’t going to tell her.
“Maybe,” he mumbled.
They were quiet the rest of the way to the restaurant. Dean steered away from Ava’s restaurant and picked the only other decent place in town. Pizzazz Pizza. It was a mom-and-pop spot they both loved, but was crowded enough that he could talk to her about his frustrations and not make a huge scene.
Luckily, the dinner rush hadn’t started, and he steered them toward a booth in the back. Instead of sitting across from Dean like she usually did, Emilie slid in next to him. He waited until she was settled and then scooted further away from her on the long bench. What was her deal? Right when he was throwing her back, she was reeling him in.
They ordered drinks and their favorite Hawaiian pizza before she started the conversation.
She turned to him, her knees closing the gap he’d created. “Ava’s texted me about the wedding all week, even though I told her I was done helping. You’ll never guess what kind of cake Ava got for Finn.”
Dean discreetly backed against the bench, moving further away from Emilie. “Probably not. What did she get him?”
Emilie smirked. “A chocolate fondue fountain. He doesn’t like cake, so he wanted something else.”
The mention of Finn reignited the fire inside him, but he ignored the flames. Still not time. “Who doesn’t like cake?”
“Right?” She laughed. “Remember when I made him a cake made out of marshmallows? The whole thing practically melted before he could blow out the candles.”
Annoyance crept up his spine. It had happened a week or two before Finn broke her heart, but he was sure she didn’t remember that little detail. “I didn’t go.”
Her mouth twitched. “You’re jealous, aren’t you? This is about the other night, right, seeing me with Finn on the boat. It’s all a misunderstanding. I don’t have feelings for Finn, not even an inkling.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but the waitress interrupted them with drinks and appetizer salads. After she left, Emilie turned to him and waited. Only when he looked at her did she open her kissable, pouty mouth.
“We haven’t talked in a week, and I’m not perfect, but I don’t think I deserve the silent treatment.”
Dean spun his salad bowl around. How could she have him doubt himself in less than a few words? “I saw you with Finn on the boat.”
Emilie picked up her fork and stabbed her salad. “Yeah, I told you about that.”
“You had that look. The one you get whenever you’re around him.”
Emilie picked up her drink and downed half of it before answering. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s like you’re pining after him.” Time for the dreaded conversation. Pizza eaten or not, it needed to happen. “I’ve only seen you like that with Finn. What are you thinking, Em? He’s engaged.”
Her face reddened, and she slammed her drink on the table. “You think I don’t know that? Since returning home, it’s the only thing that’s been jammed in my face. That and you thinking I still have feelings for him. He was alone, and I sat with him. Nothing else. You talk with Ava on the phone. Why can’t we sit together and talk?”
Dean swallowed a sip of soda. “I d-don’t like Ava. No feelings for her at all. You, on the other hand…” He softened his voice. “I care about you a lot.” He reached for her hand, but her eyes narrowed and she moved her hand away to pick up a fork.
“Finn is getting married, and all of our history together is in the past. If you don’t trust me, then we should be having a different conversation.”
Her words ripped through him like a knife. “He’s hurt you before and—”
Throwing down her fork, she yelled, “I’m aware, Dean! Let’s just change the subject.”
Other couples around them stopped talking and stared. Somewhere he’d taken a wrong turn. Was he so sure she flirted with Finn? If not, Dean deserved a punch in the gut. He ducked his head and spoke softer. “I’m sorry. This conversation didn’t go the way it did in my head. I trust you. I do. And if you say you have no feelings for Finn, I’ll believe you. I really need to talk to you about something else. I’m sorry if I—”
