Page 28 of I Choose You

“I’m not interested in that.” To hell with what he wanted.

“All right, but this could be an opportunity for you to talk things through with him.”

“About what he did back then?”

She nodded.

I grimaced, both from her suggestion and the indigestion from the tacos. Why did getting old have to suck? I used to love these so much. “I’ve moved on from high school. I’ve put all of that in my past, and I think it should stay there.”

I hadn’t convinced her. “Okay, but you’re clearly thrown off by him coming back in your life now. You’ve got to see him again. You’ll have to talk to him for work. It won’t be easy if you’re still bothered by him for something that can be buried in the past.”

What she suggested was unearthing it all.

Her lips tipped up in a sly grin.

“Well hello there, devil’s advocate,” I said.

She giggled. “Or you could use this as a way to get back at him for what he did senior year.”

“What, lead him on? Mess with him?” Those appealed to me. Revenge sounded tasty—so long as I didn’t complicate the business end of it.

“Something. Anything. It’d beat you holding on to it and not knowing what to do about him.”

But now that she’d laid it out, I couldn’t dismiss the allure. What if I did hear him out? He could have my full attention outside of the office. No obstacles like needing to discuss a contract would interfere. I’d be all ears. Over a drink or sharing a dinner, he could explain what he did to me. I hadn’t been waiting all these years for an apology. Hell, I’d never expected to see him again. Now that I had, I deserved a reason for the way he’d treated me.

“I do want to talk to him.” If I didn’t, our past would remain wedged between us, fodder for more awkwardness and antagonism. I preferred to avoid both of those on the job.

“Don’t wait to burn the fancy candles,” Rena sing-songed it and winked.

Time’s a wasting. I get it. Inspired by her encouragement, I bit my lip and reached for my purse. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it?” Rena giggled.

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “What do I have to lose?” Kaden Wagner couldn’t hurt me anymore.

“Damn, you already put his number in your phone?”

I didn’t face her as I unlocked the device and went to my contacts. “I didn’t want to lose the card.”

“Mmm-hmmm,” she teased.

“What should I say?” I asked as I opened a new text box.

“Did you overuse it jerking off?”

I tossed my balled-up napkin at her and read as I typed. “Dinner sounds like a great idea.” After I sent it, I set my phone on the table, screen down. “There. Done.”

“Not the most original greeting, but I’m sure it’ll do.”

“I’m sure he won’t reply. And I won’t be waiting for it.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the phone buzzed.

She grinned. “Famous last words.”

I picked it up and read, “Giovanni’s. Eight sharp. See you there.”

“Well.” Rena crossed her arms, looking too smug for my liking. “That was fast.”