Page 11 of Sparks Fly

Sawyer: That sounds like a you problem.

I smiled despite myself and tucked my feet beneath me on the couch.

Me: It absolutely is a you problem.

Sawyer: I didn’t make you open Instagram, Sunshine.

Me: You kind of did…

Sawyer: Oh yeah, how is that?

Me: You asked me to hang out…

Me: And then you posted a thirst trap.

There was a short pause before her reply appeared.

Sawyer: That was not a thirst trap.

Me: Your tank top would disagree.

Sawyer: Careful, Sunshine.

Heat crept up my neck at that.

Me: I’m just making observations.

Sawyer: You’re doing more than observing.

I stared at the message for a second, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I typed.

Me: Maybe.

The typing bubble appeared again.

Sawyer: So, you never answered the question… I am in my workshop now, but probably going for a drink this evening. Wanna join?

My heart skipped hard enough that I felt it in my throat. The answer that jumped into my head was an immediate yes. I could picture it too easily… sitting across from her at Blake’s, the easy way she leaned against the counter, the way her voice would drop a little when she’d say, ‘Sunshine.’

Then reality followed right behind the impulse. Dinner with Jason.

I stared at the screen for a long moment, my stomach twisting with the kind of disappointment that felt bigger than it probably should have.

Me: I have a dinner tonight…

Sawyer: Rain check then?

Relief and regret tangled together in my chest.

Me: Rain check for sure.

Sawyer: Deal, sunshine.

I would have said yes without hesitation if Jason didn’t already have a reservation with my name on it. I set my phone down beside me on the couch and tried my best to do a little more work.

* * *

By the time I got to Back Bay, the sun had dipped low enough that the city had started to glow in that soft early-evening light that made everything look a little more expensive than it actually was. I paused outside the restaurant for a second, smoothing a hand down the front of my dress before stepping inside.