I could feel a but coming. Not about me, but about him standing there, looking appetizing, and not staying. I sighed. “And you have to go?”
He nodded. “I do. I’d like to see you again. Tonight? We’ll stay for dinner this time.”
I almost smiled. Almost. “No running today?”
“Not today. Seems my little vacation is over. I’ll be gone all day.”
“Okay.” I rubbed at my forehead. “It’s Saturday. I won’t have anything going on tonight.”
The chuckle grew to a soft laugh. He crossed to me and leaned close. I closed my eyes just as his lips touched my lips. That felt nice, nicer than it should’ve. He rested his lips there, then pulled away. I could feel his reluctance.
“Tonight.” He didn’t move all the way back. He gazed down at me.
“Do you know what time?”
“Not yet, but when I do, I’ll call.” He frowned again. “And if you want to make plans, go for it. I can wait to see you another night. I understand.”
“Yeah. Sure.” That wasn’t going to happen. “Me, social creature here.”
The corner of his mouth lifted again. “I’ll see you.”
“Tonight.”
He began walking backward. “Tonight.”
Then he turned the corner. I heard the elevator take him away, and I was back to being alone.
Well.
To say I had things on my mind would be an understatement. There was a complete hurricane in my mind—but no. I’d promised myself last night that I wouldn’t regret anything, and I was sticking to it. I’d just also chosen this time to finally finish the last of my unpacking. Anything that wasn’t put away already got a spot, and was categorized. Then color-coded.
I didn’t regret my night with Cole. It was the opposite.
I kept glancing at my phone. I told myself it wasn’t because of him. This wasn’t high school. This wasn’t a crush, but the fluttering in my stomach didn’t reassure me. The other person I kept expecting to hear from, which was more logical since I’d texted her the night before, was Sia.
She’d stood me up, and it had been crickets since. That wasn’t normal, even when she was enthralled with a new boyfriend. She’d only forgotten me one other time, and the apologies had started immediately, with flowers. I was going to ask for chocolates this time, but evidently I wasn’t going to have the chance.
My phone was silent.
It was a little after noon when I ventured downstairs. My body was exhilarated, but exhausted at the same time, so no exercise for me. I planned to head out for a little exploring. I hadn’t felt like meandering the streets since I’d moved in, and it was past time for that to happen. I was coming back from the mailroom when I saw Dawn peeking through the door. She was watching someone in the lobby, so I cleared my throat.
She didn’t startle, but turned her head. Her eyes went flat. “Oh. It’s you.”
I gave her a look. “I thought we were friendly…ish?”
She looked back, raising up on her tiptoes. “I’m mad at you.”
Huh? “At me?”
“Yeah.” She gave me another dark look. “You.”
“Why?”
“You introduced them.”
“Who—” Sia and Jake. The light bulb clicked on as I heard laughter coming from the lobby. Male laughter. Female laughter. Laughter I recognized. “Sia and Jake are out there?”
“Things were going according to plan until you brought her to the dinner.” Her nose wrinkled. “Thanks a lot for that.”
I blinked. “I had no idea, Dawn. I thought you liked Sia.”
She lifted a stiff shoulder, peering through the door again. “I was seduced by her. Not many understand the frustration when you don’t use a stitch square. The results can be catastrophic. Sia understood.” Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to me. “But I’m on to her. Did you bring her intentionally to take him away?”
I had no words for a moment. “Uh.” I shook my head. “Dawn, you’re a little scary right now.”
“I’m the building’s shut-in. I have a lot of time on my hands.” She looked back for a moment and then announced, “We have to hide.”
“Wha—”
She grabbed my shoulders and pushed me backward, steering me along the way. We were moving fast, then we stopped.
“Wher—”
“Sssh!”
“…I don’t know where it is. I didn’t check it after the game, but I brought it down when we were swimming. I know I did, but I don’t remember having it after that.” Sia’s voice grew clear as she walked past us. “I should stop and see Addison. I have this feeling we were supposed to do something together this weekend.”