Page 11 of Happily Ever Never

“And I know you teach a few classes, do training, andcountless other things in the field. I read one of your papers.”

I blinked. “Seriously?”

Brian smiled softly. “I have. Which now makes me sound likea weird stalker.”

I shook my head, my mind going in a thousand differentdirections. This was the thing. That moment. The one that could leadto a second date because he wasn’t making me feel weird. Self-conscious. Orlike there was nothing more between us than friendship.

We talked some more, shared a dessert because we were too full from dinner, and walked to the park, whereold-fashioned light poles lit the walkway, and couples walked hand-in-hand.

“This has been a really great night,” he said after aminute, and my stomach filled with butterflies.

“I agree.”

We stood under one of the lamps, and he turned toward me,studying my face. Our hands were linked, and he looked down at them, then atme. He seemed to be waiting for something, as if he wanted an answer. Only Iwasn’t sure what the question had been.

Then he lowered his lips to a breath above mine beforecursing.

My stomach twisted, the butterflies escaping with an exhale.I leaned back, studying his face.

He cringed and took a step back.

Cringed? Why would he do that?

I swallowed, pressing my hands together in front of me.“What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

I didn’t think I had. Did my breath smell like grouper? Wasthat a thing?

Shame coated my tongue, and I ducked my head, my cheeksblazing red. He had nearly kissed me and cringed before stepping away.

He looked at me then, his arm outstretched as if he wantedto touch me but wouldn’t.

Couldn’t.

“I’m sorry. I’m doing this all wrong.”

I frowned. “Doing what all wrong? I thought tonight wasgoing wonderfully, Brian. You didn’t take advantage of me or anything.”

“That’s good to know. But I can’t do this, May. This was amistake.”

My heart shattered, though I knew that wasn’t quite right.Perhaps it was shame and horror that came instead. “What do you mean?”

“I’m in love with my ex. She looks a little bit like you,and I got my wires crossed. I’m sorry, May. I have togo.”

At that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving mestanding under the light, wondering exactly what I had done in a past life tobe cursed like this.

I looked around, grateful that everybody seemed to befocusing on their lives and not me.

Humiliation hit hard, and I just wanted to go home, duckunder the covers, and give up.

My aunt had set me up on this date. She likely would’veknown about the ex—ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, ex-fiancée. She was a hunter when itcame to information like that.

But she had missed the fact that he still loved her. I lookedenough like her that he had leaned into the date either to get over her orbecause he had misread the situation and thought I was a replacement for her.

I didn’t know. What I did know was that I was tired. Andalone in downtown Denver, though I was grateful we had driven separately. Ilooked around, clutching my purse tighter to me, feeling a little raw. I wasonly a block away from my favorite street in the city, the one with theoriginal Montgomery Ink and a few other businesses owned by Leif’s family. Iwould go there, find something familiar, and then go home.

Alone.

My lot in life.