Matched For Love(19)

“That’s good.” Jason nodded as he finally turned his attention back to their table to study his menu. “And never having to worry about money again would be great too, am I right?”

“I suppose.” She wasn’t sure what Jason meant by that, but maybe he was just as nervous as she was. When she looked up again to ask Jason another question, her stomach dropped.

Melanie, former best friend, and the woman who’d slept with her husband stood at the bar. Flirting with a man. Much like she used to flirt with Joe. Lori had been a trusting idiot to think it’d been harmless.

Seeing Melanie again brought back a tsunami of painful feelings. But mostly betrayal. She felt as if she really might be sick if she didn’t leave. She couldn’t deal with a first date and seeing Mel again for the first time since Joe’s funeral. “Jason, I have to apologize. My daughter had been sick last week, and I’m afraid I might have caught her bug. I’m not feeling well, suddenly. May I have a raincheck?”

“Oh. Sure, I understand. I’ll walk you out.” The relaxing of his shoulders and the relief on Jason’s face made her feel even sicker to her stomach. She’d taught clients to read body language cues, and his showed that he clearly wasn’t interested in her. Or so nervous he was relieved he wouldn’t have to go through the paces?

Dammit. What a nightmare. Maybe Deek had just been being nice about her appearance earlier.

She stood. “No. Stay and enjoy your…drinks. I’m good.” She slipped into her coat as Jason continued to watch their waiter. “Good night.”

Jason finally turned his attention back to her. “I’ll be in touch in a few days. I’d like to see you again.”

Sure he would. “Sounds good. Take care.”

Lori hurried toward the front door. As she weaved through the busy restaurant, a delicate hand landed on her arm.

A familiar voice said, “Lori? Can we talk? Please?”

She sucked in a deep breath and slowly turned to face Mel. “There’s really nothing—”

“I’ve tried texting and e-mailing, but you’ve obviously got me blocked. For good reason. But if you could find it in your heart, could we please meet for coffee one day? I miss you so much. And I’d like the chance to explain.”

The tears burning in Lori’s eyes wanted to fall, but she refused to let them. She’d loved and been best friends with Mel since elementary school. Her betrayal was in some ways worse than even Joe’s.

As she gazed into a set of remorseful brown eyes, all the love Lori used to have for Mel came rushing back. But how could she ever forgive her? “I don’t know… I’ll think about it. But I have to go.”

Mel blinked back tears and nodded. “Thanks. For at least considering it, Lori. My number and e-mail are the same when you’re ready.”

“Okay. Bye.” Lori pushed on the heavy front door of the restaurant, bracing for the slap of cold air freezing the tears to her cheeks as she hurried toward her car.

After she’d started the car and cranked the heater, she headed for home, destroyed by the lack of interest from Jason and the olive branch Mel tried to hold out to her. Why should she meet with the woman who claimed to be her best friend, who’d flown into the town they’d been stationed in, to betray her with Joe?

But Mel had seemed genuinely upset and sincere.

Her traitorous heart was trying to tell her to hear Mel out, but what could she possibly say to excuse her behavior?

Lori’s stomach was either really upset now, or she was famished. She laid the back of her hand on her forehead. No fever, so she was just hungry. And way off-kilter.

She spotted Papa G’s restaurant ahead and blamed what she was about to do—eat pointless carbs and cheese she didn’t need after all the cookies—on Deek’s T-shirt. She’d wanted pizza ever since she’d read it. Or maybe she wanted the man who wore the shirt, but that she couldn’t have, so pizza it was. Hopefully, hot dough and delicious red sauce would drown out all the hurt she’d endured in the last half hour.

Jason, who wasn’t interested in her, and running into Mel, the woman her husband had turned to for something Lori apparently couldn’t give him, was just the icing on the crappiest day she’d had in a long time.



Deek was hooked. Who knew the silly animated movies Emily and Asher loved to watch were so good? He enjoyed the adult humor slipped in that went right over their heads. Hopefully, Lori was having enough fun on her date that he’d have an excuse to watch the whole movie. The kids had retreated to Emily’s room to play video games, so he looked forward to sitting back and enjoying the show in peace.