“Paige, Christian’s here,” I hear Emmie’s voice carry up the staircase. I click the top button on my phone and glance down for the time. Eight o’clock on the nose. Apparently, punctuality is also something new and improved about Christian Bennett.
I stare at my reflection for a moment longer, then with a deep breath, I turn and make my way out of the room and down into the kitchen, where Emmie, Colin, Olivia, and Christian are all standing. Everyone stops and stares at me. I suddenly feel very self-conscious.
“You look incredible,” Christian says, smiling. I notice he’s wearing blue jeans and a button-up plaid shirt. I sigh a breath of relief to know I’m not underdressed for the evening’s plans.
“Thanks, shall we go?” I ask immediately. I want this date to get started, so I can let Christian down gently, and then finally be able to move on with my life.
“Oh— sure,” he says, a little surprised by my forwardness.
“You kids have fun,” Colin says is his best elderly voice, waving to us as we walk out the door. From the corner of my eye, I see Emmie give her husband a swift elbow to his ribs. They really are cute—almost annoyingly so.
“Everything okay?” Christian asks as we approach his truck. He opens the passenger door, awaiting my answer.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Seemed like you wanted a quick exit back there. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I don’t know, I guess I’m just eager to get this show on the road,” I reply, climbing into the truck.
“Missed me that much, huh?” he says and then closes the door before I have a chance to reply.
He walks around and climbs into the driver’s side. I decide to attempt small talk. “So how was your trip?”
He smiles. “Really good, but I missed you like crazy.”
At his admission, I can feel the butterflies start in the pit of my stomach. Focus Paige, you’re going back to New York, and you’re going to marry Henry.
“Wow, nothing, huh?” Christian jokes, apparently surprised his comment doesn’t elicit more of a reaction. Knowing it will only encourage his persistence if he has any indication I might be struggling with our current circumstances, I don’t take the bait.
“Did you get what you wanted out of the trip?” I continue.
Christian looks at me, examining my face, but I simply stare straight ahead, watching the yellow road lines coming at us, one two-foot dash at a time.
“Something seems off, are you sure everything is okay?” he asks me again.
I laugh, trying to convince him that he is being silly for even asking. “Of course. I just wanted to know if you got what you wanted out of your trip.”
Christian furrows his brow, and then his expression shifts into one of acceptance. “Actually, I think the guy’s going to be able to help me out.”
“Oh really?” I prod, hoping to talk about anything except the hope he has of a possible relationship resuming between us.
“Yeah.” There’s excitement in his voice as he talks to me. “He was really impressed with the work I did for him, and he said he’d like to come and take a look at my project after New Year’s and see if he can help out.”
“What project?” I ask, realizing nobody has given me details about this big important thing Christian is working on.
“You’ll soon find out,” he taunts.
“What? Where are we going?” I inquire. I’d assumed we would be grabbing a bite to eat at Roadhouse, but it just registers that he didn’t take the turn he needed to a half-mile back. We’re going somewhere else, but where I don’t know.
“It’s a surprise.”
I’m starting to get frustrated. I planned on a quick dinner, letting him down gently, and being in bed early tonight. “No, please, no surprises tonight. I’m exhausted. I worked all day long, and I thought we were just going on a simple date.”
Christian doesn’t look at me—just stares straight ahead. We begin to slow, our headlights pulling to the left-hand side of the road. At last, they shine onto a gravel drive, and Christian breaks his silence. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you’d be so tired. This is our last date, and since there’s a good chance you’ll be going back to New York for good, I wanted it to be special.”
Did he just say what I think he said? Perhaps Christian is starting to come to his senses. Maybe he realizes there’s no chance I’m ever going to leave Henry for him.
“I don’t understand, where are we going?” I ask.
He seems nervous. I have no idea where he could possibly be taking me. I look out the right window; the landscape is shifting, the trees increasing in density all around us.