We stare at each other, and it’s there between us, the crackle in the air. That spark of possibility. An attraction I can’t deny.
“Come on,” he says, pulling me out of my little daydream. “Let’s go meet your colleagues.”
“You’re just my friend, remember?”
“How could I fucking forget? How long for, anyway?”
“Until I say so. With your track record . . .”
“Why does it matter now?”
“Because it does, that’s why. If you think I’m trusting you not to do that again on a whim, you are sadly mistaken.” I weave through the tables, leading the way until we get to my friends. “This is Nathan,” I introduce him. “We are friends from San Fran.”
“Hello.” He smiles at everyone.
“Take a seat,” I say.
He pulls out his chair and sits opposite me. “How is everyone?” He smiles at them.
They all break into chatter with him. A new hot guy at the table seems to be very exciting.
I sip my drink as I watch him. He’s being friendly and nice, answering all their questions and trying really hard to make conversation.
So un-Nathan-Mercer-like.
“So, what do you do, Nathan?” Annie asks.
“I’m a cardiologist,” he says.
I can almost see the girls’ eyes lighting up.
“And do you have a partner Nathan?” someone asks.
“Yes, I do. A beautiful girlfriend, very much in love.” He smiles.
I watch him command the table as everyone hangs on his every word.
“How long have you been with her?”
His eyes flicker to me. “Ten years.”
My heart swells.
“Ten years?”Annie gasps. “And you haven’t married her yet?”
“Ah.” He smiles and drops his head, as if embarrassed. “We took the long way around. Maybe one day.”
His eyes come back to linger on me.
“If I can talk her into it,” he adds, we stare at each other across the table.
What am I doing?
I love him. He loves me…
But I don’t trust him, and the hurt still lingers.
I don’t want to jump back into a relationship. I can’t go through that again.