Heart Shaped Spotlight

"Yeah. It was getting a little like a fairytale obsession. For the record, we teased him mercilessly about it."

I nodded very seriously. "Well, that was likely for the best."

Her easy smile was contagious. “You know, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with you. I try to have no expectations so that I’m never disappointed. But after hearing about how amazing you are, I was totally prepared to be underwhelmed. I’m not.”

“Wow. Um, thank you. I always feel like I don’t make much of an impression.”

“Ah, you need a big sister ass kick.” She took a sip of wine. “Alright, coming up.”

Lora laced her fingers in front of her, cracking her knuckles until I flinched and laughed. “You were sent to another city to set up their systems. That means that you’re one of the best at what you do.”

I shrugged, but she snapped her fingers in my face. “You say, ‘yes’,” she demanded.

Her ridiculous bullying was hilarious. “Okay. Yes.”

“You’re smart, determined, and hard-working.”

My shoulders tightened, but I didn’t want her to snap again and draw attention to our table. “Yes.”

“You’re gorgeous, but not snotty about it. When you’re not fidgeting nervously, you’re very graceful.”

I hesitated, but she raised her thumb and middle finger. “Yes?”

“You’d be an amazing girlfriend for any guy, because you’re sweet, and you seem to enjoy listening to people.”

“Yes?”

“Okay, I’ll chill,” she giggled. “But I’m sure your boyfriends over the years have told you you’re a catch, right?”

My gaze dropped to my water glass, and I took a sip while desperately trying to figure out which excuse would help me change the subject.

Lora exhaled heavily. “Nate’s the only boyfriend you’ve ever had?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.” Her silver nails tapped lightly on the tablecloth. “Were you hoping to find him again?”

“No. I mean, I didn’t…” I sighed. “Okay, this is just between us, right? Because this is going to actually hurt to say out loud.”

Lora nodded, lifting her glass. “I swear on my wine.”

I snort-laughed , but continued. “Nate was the first person to really listen to me, and never judge me. He made me feel like it was okay to be who I was. My father was truly an asshole, always ordering me around, trying to shove me into business courses so that I could become an office assistant. My mother was practically invisible, only obeying dad’s commands.”

“You were under his thumb,” Lora said softly, nodding.

“Yeah. But Nate made me feel like it was okay to nerd out and learn as much as I could about computers. Even though he didn’t understand it at all, he gave me space. He respected me. He never judged me. He treated me like… like he was honored to be near me. I couldn’t even believe it.”

Lora’s bottom lip stuck out. “I’m melting from the cuteness,” she said, wide-eyed.

“So I guess I didn’t want to bother putting myself out there with some guy who was… you know. Just some guy. If nobody incredibly special happened along, I’d rather be alone.”

“But he's back in your life now,” she said. “You must be over the moon.”

“I am. I just hope that he doesn’t have expectations I’ll never live up to.”

Her hair swung under her chin as she nodded. “I don’t think he does. You guys need some quality hangout time, I think. Many hours just lounging around, cooking, interrupting movies to tell stories, that sort of thing. My prediction is that in a couple of months, you’ll settle in.”

“I hope you’re right.”