The driver took us to the restaurant in Boston where I’d made a reservation. When we got inside, I found it to be very busy. Not what I was going for, but it was too late now. The host seated us, and the awkwardness began to creep back in.
“I’m sorry. I booked this restaurant based on reviews, not personal experience,” I said. “I was hoping it would be a little more private, so we can talk.”
“The food is very good, and I can listen and eat at the same time,” she said. “Besides, I don’t think we talk much when we’re alone.”
“Good point. I guess I’ll start at the beginning.”
“Or maybe I ask, and you answer?” she suggested.
“That works too. What do you want to know?”
“How come you didn’t let me know you were leaving?”
That’s where I thought she’d start. “First, let’s get one thing clear. I am not putting any blame on you.”
“Good.”
“When you canceled, I fully intended for us to touch base the next night. I never thought Finn would inform you that I left.”
“That doesn’t really answer my question. I wanted to know why you didn’t tell me before you left. Or even better, why didn’t you tell me before you had sex with me?” she asked.
“Kyleigh, I didn’t have any intention of leaving so quickly. My plans were to stay around until after the wedding. Finn asked, or pretty much begged, me to go immediately. I knew something was going on that had you cancel, and I didn’t want to add to your stress. I can see it didn’t come across, but I was trying to be nice.” Reaching across the table I added, “I should’ve warned you that I suck at relationships.”
“Is that what that was? A relationship? Because we hardly know each other, Liam.”
“And proving my point even more. Let me start again. I don’t know where this is going to go with you and me, but I’d very much like to date you. That is, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being…stupid. I’d like to promise that it won’t happen again, but I know that’s not accurate. All I can say is that I’ll try my best.”
Kyleigh said, “It’s not all your fault. I overreacted. You were right. If you’d told me you were leaving that night, I would have been upset. Not that you were going, but that I couldn’t see you. Your brother gave me a lot of material to read through and he wanted my decision in the morning. That’s why I had to cancel. Guess your brother was busy keeping us busy.”
“I am beginning to wonder if he suspected that we were seeing each other.”
“Would that have been a problem? I mean, I know why I wanted to keep it a secret, but not sure why you would,” she said.
“Finn gave me very strict instructions not to get involved with women from Tabiq.” A shadow crossed her face and she narrowed her eyes. “I…I figured it was because of my reputation…” I stammered. Nice save, dumbass.
“What reputation?” she asked.
Damn it. I opened that door.
“It’s not really important,” I said.
“You said I could ask anything. I’m asking about your reputation.”
“And I promised to answer. Not that you will like what I say. I may have a reputation with the ladies back home. One of not getting serious. It sounds bad, but I haven’t met anyone that I wanted to get that close to.”
“Are we talking about sex or knowing things like their type of music and favorite foods?”
“We are talking about an emotional connection.” It made me sound like an ass, a player, and it was probably accurate. “I was always honest up front about what I was looking for.”
“Except with me,” she stated.
Fuck. That’s true.
“The night we were intimate, it hadn’t been planned.” I wasn’t proud of my actions, but I couldn’t take them back either. I can only try to be a better man. I’m far from perfect, but at least I am a work in progress.
When I think of Kyleigh, I am not just thinking with my cock. I have feelings for her.
Coming here to fix this was my way of asking for a second chance to explore those feelings.