The Assignment

I took a long sip of my wine and set the glass down. “There is. But I’d prefer not to get into it right now.”

The conversation temporarily moved off of Troy until I noticed him at a new table, diagonally across from me. He’d moved! And now I was facing him. So much for switching seats. I wasn’t about to play musical chairs, either. Poor Shala would think I was nuts.

This time, Troy was alone with a woman, and the other people were nowhere in sight. They were chatting away, and unfortunately I now had a front-row seat to it all. It was still unclear to me whether this was someone he’d just met or whether he’d planned to meet her here.

“What’s wrong?” Shala asked.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry. Troy just moved seats, so he’s facing me again. He’s sitting over there with some girl. And I’m a little distracted.” Downing the last of my wine, I slammed the glass on the table. “I’m the worst person to be out with tonight.”

“No worries. I’m actually finding it amusing.” She turned around to look at Troy and the girl, and when she faced me again, she examined my face. “You’re turning red as a beet, Aspyn.” She chuckled. “You have it bad, don’t you?”

Her words were humiliating. Mostly because they were true.

I wiped my forehead with a napkin. “I’m sorry. I think I’m losing my mind.” I cleared my throat. “There’s no doubt he has an effect on me, but I wish that weren’t the case.”

“Please don’t apologize. You’re human. He’s a very attractive man, and clearly you two were getting on pretty well for a while there.”

“Nothing happened between us.” I felt the need to clarify. “But it felt like things were starting to cross a line, and I told him I thought it was best if we didn’t hang out anymore. That’s not what he wanted. It’s not really what I wanted either, if I’m being honest. But I thought it was the right thing to do. Seeing him here tonight is getting under my skin a little.”

She nodded. “You like him.”

“I don’t want to like him, Shala. He was such a dick in high school. It hasn’t been easy for me to accept that he’s changed. But I do think he has. Even so, he’s still not right for me. What I’m feeling is just an intense, mostly physical attraction to someone who’s all wrong. He’s my friend’s ex, on top of everything. He doesn’t even live here. And he doesn’t want to settle in Meadowbrook. There are so many reasons to stay far away.”

She smiled knowingly. “But you haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. Sounds like you’re using every excuse in the book to justify your decision. But feelings don’t lie, Aspyn. You tried to write him off, but he’s still in your head.”

“Much to my dismay, yeah. Tonight was supposed to help me focus on something else.” I glanced over in Troy’s direction. “And now he’s here. Just my luck.”

Somehow, after all this time, Troy still hadn’t seemed to notice me. When Shala got up to use the restroom, I opted to stay in my seat so as not to draw attention to myself.

About a minute later, from the corner of my eye, I noticed Troy’s date leave their table and head toward the bathroom.

A few seconds later, my phone chimed.

Troy: Is this an eye for an eye?

I looked over at him.

Aspyn: What are you talking about?

Troy: You thought I was spying on your date that one time, so now you’re spying on mine?

My fingers hit the keypad harder.

Aspyn: You’re kidding me, right?

Troy: Yeah, actually, I am. But did you think moving earlier was going to keep me from noticing you? Even if you hadn’t moved, I’d know it was you from the back of your head. I know your entire backside pretty damn well.

Aspyn: Well, aren’t you talented.

Troy: You’re like a laxative-filled Boston cream donut. You stand out in the bunch.

Aspyn: Thanks?

Troy: You look nice. I hope you’re having fun. You deserve to let loose. Glad to see you out and about.

He thinks I’m a hermit.

His date returned to the table, and Troy put his phone down. I tried to ignore the burn of jealousy I felt at having his attention taken away from me so abruptly.

Shala returned to the table. “Did you survive without me?”

“Yeah.” I breathed out.

I could see from the corner of my eye that Troy had now gotten up from the table.

A moment later, my phone lit up again with a text.

Troy: Meet me in the stairwell through the door in the far-left corner of the bar.

I kept staring down at my phone.

“What’s going on?” Shala asked.

“Nothing.” I looked up, my heart racing. “Actually, I have to…use the bathroom, too. Be right back.”