Our Way

I frown. “What did you say to her?”

“Nothing. I ran.”

“So, you let a woman suck your dick, you blew in her mouth, and then ran out without saying anything?” I gasp.

He puts his head in hands and chuckles, as if embarrassed. “Oh my God, I’ll never get over the horror.”

I put my hand over my mouth, shocked to the core. “She must hate you.”

“Undoubtedly.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Have you spoken to her since?”

“No. I texted her the next morning and apologized. I hope to never see her again in my life. I’m mortified.” He takes my hand over the table. “I saved myself, Eliza. I only want you.”

“A head job is not saving yourself, Nathan.”

“That’s all that happened; I swear.”

“That’s a fucking lot Nathan,” I whisper angrily.

He takes my hand over the table. “Please, just give me a chance.”

I exhale heavily. “I need to think about this.”

“Take all the time you want. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”

I press my lips together as I try to think of the right thing to say.

“What if we try and it doesn’t work out? Where will our friendship be then?” I ask.

“I will always be your best friend, Eliza, and we need to promise each other this won’t affect our friendship at all and separate everything. I’m not taking this lightly. I know the risks, but I think we’re too close for that to come between us.”

“But does that ever really work?”

“We go away this weekend. Majorca, remember?”

I shake my head in disgust. “If anything were to happen with us, it would have to be like we’d just met. I don’t know you romantically. I need some time to think this over.”

He smiles. “Okay.”

“I mean it. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t give you any guarantees.”

“Okay.” He holds his glass up. “A toast.”

I put my glass to his.

“To starting again.”

I clink my glass with his.

His eyes glimmer with something I haven’t seen before. A naughtiness. “Can I stay over tonight?”

“No.” I smirk. “You cannot.”

* * *

I stand in the café and look at the menu board.