Page 76 of Only You

Kayla shook her head.

“Just the bill, please,” Jack said.

“One check?” the server asked.

“Yes,” said Jack.

“No,” Kayla inserted.

“Two bills then. Be right back.” The server scurried away like he was afraid to get caught in an impending storm.

Jack eyed her intently. “Why won’t you let me pay?”

“You never paid for my meals before I moved in.”

“That’s not true.”

“We treated each other on our birthdays and special occasions, but this is just a friend date.” His expression told her he was tired of the reminder, and so was she. The sooner this friend date was over, the better.

When the server returned with their bills, they each handed him their credit card, and he went off again.

“Do you still want to go to Barnes and Noble?” Jack asked.

Kayla rarely turned down a trip to the bookstore, even though she had a backlog of books to read. Now, she just wanted to go home, and put as much distance between her and Jack as possible. “No, thanks.”

“But you love the bookstore.”

“I have plenty of books at home.” Home. Where was that anymore? Kayla’s belongings were split between Jack’s house and her apartment. After this was over, where would she go? She hadn’t intended on returning to the apartment, even though she and Josie were on better terms now. Besides, Ryan often stayed overnight with Josie now, and she didn’t want to interfere with their budding romance.

After the server returned their credit cards, they left the restaurant, each lost in their own thoughts. What had begun as a perfect distraction from her worries had become a stark reminder of them.

Driving home, they were quiet, until Jack broke the silence. “I don’t know what you want from me, Kayla. No matter what I say or do, it doesn’t seem like the right thing.”

She flinched at his honest assessment. “I’m sorry.”

“We only have a few weeks left. Let’s just try to make the best of it, okay?”

Jack was calm and logical as usual, but her emotions were flitting all over the place. “Okay,” she said. Make the best of it. If only it was that simple.