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Please don’t be watching me through the window.
As if sitting in my car for a solid few minutes to psych myself up isn’t embarrassing enough.
I make it inside the nearly empty place, and immediately my eyes shoot to him. He has a view of the windows in front, and I try not to get in my head about that fact.
Try and fail.
He stands as I approach, a warm smile on his face. I’m not sure if I should hug him. Iwantto hug him, but suddenly I can’t remember if I put on deodorant today. I’m definitely starting to sweat, and it would be a tragedy if he got a whiff of my armpits.
I shouldn’t be as nervous as I am, but there’s no easing it. This might as well be a date. By the time I reach the table I’ve subconsciously decided Iamgoing to hug him, and I’m grateful that he goes right in and hugs me back. It’s probably the best hug I’ve had all year, thanks to the familiarity of him. Something I’ve really missed.
He even smells the same: slightly citrusy, fresh, and clean.
I’m seventy-five percent sure I have deodorant on.
“Hey! You look great,” he says as he pulls away. I blush at the small compliment, and hope the makeup I’m wearing is enough to hide the evidence.
“Oh,” I start. “Thanks, so do you.”
We sit on opposite ends of the booth, and I notice waters are already on the table. His is half empty, and mine is covered in condensation.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“Not at all, a couple minutes maybe,” he says with a wave of his hand. I know he’s lying, being courteous. I spent more than a couple minutes in the parking lot, and I wouldn’t have missed him walking inside.
When the waitress appears and asks if we want anything else to drink, I barely glance at the menu before deciding on one of the fruity cocktails pictured at the top of the page. I think reconciling with your ex-boyfriend’s brother calls for a drink.
I’m surprised when I hear him say he’ll have the same.
“I wouldn’t have guessed that’s your thing.”
He laughs, and the sound alone makes me feel more at ease. “It’s not. I’m sort of,” he pauses briefly, searching for the words. “I’m trying new things lately.”
Right, like leaving the house to go to the grocery store.
“Mid-life crisis already?” I joke.
“Not quite. I— well.” He shoots me a strained smile, conveying how uncomfortable whatever he’s about to say makes him. “I’m actually…. newly divorced. From Kara.”
My jaw drops before I can stop it, and I immediately feel like an idiot. I close my mouth and try my best to give him a sympathetic look.
He sees right through it and shakes his head. “You don’t have to feel sorry for me. It’s been a really good thing.”
I’m not sorry for him, I’m more relieved than anything. I’ve thought getting away from her would be what’s best for him foryears.He’s always been too good for her. Too kind when she was too cruel.
“I’m still sorry you had to go through a divorce. I’m sure the details have been stressful.”
“You have no idea.” He sighs. “But let’s talk about something less depressing. What have you been up to all this time?”
I’ve never been good at talking about myself, so I’m grateful when our drinks are placed in front of us. I take a sip to killa second while I think of where to start. It’s great, the perfect combination of sweet and strong. A glance back up at Miles and his facial expression tells me that he disagrees. I hold back a snort as I watch him continue drinking with a grimace.
“I don’t know where to start. Some of it hasn’t been too great either,” I admit. I keep my tone light, and give him a shrug.
“What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since the last time we saw each other?” he asks with genuine interest.
“Probably the birthday party I went to this weekend. Not a lot going on since last Friday,” I say with a smirk, surprising myself. I know what he means.
Miles chuckles.
