I stared in shock at the sign. What had Rodrigo’s intention been bringing me back to this place? Was Juliana right and he was trying to romance me?
If so, this was a terrible move. Thanks to how things ended between us, I now had terrible associations with every place Rodrigo and I had ever been to.
“I hope it’s all right,” he said.
I bit the inside of my cheek and considered it. I could ask to go somewhere else, but this place had amazing food and whatever Rodrigo was trying to do, it was probably harmless.
“I like this place.” I smiled. “Good choice.”
He opened the door for me, and a hostess led us into the dining room. I held my breath. Actually being in the restaurant was bringing back some long-lost feelings. If she were to place us at the same table Rodrigo and I sat at all those years ago, it would be too much to handle.
As it turned out, the tables had been rearranged anyway. There was no longer a two-top by the window.
“Thank you,” I told the hostess as she left us at a table along the wall.
Before I could even consider what to do with them, Rodrigo took my crutches and leaned them against the wall.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, annoyed that he was being so kind and helpful. It was getting awfully hard to continue hating him.
And hate him I had. The last eleven years, I’d blamed all my bad luck in the dating world on him. The cause of my inability to get close to men was no mystery. Rodrigo had burned me badly and, left without even an explanation, I’d spent the ensuing years ricocheting in and out of unfulfilling relationships like a pinball.
If he’d been a jerk, it would have been easy to turn my back on him and move on. But the Rodrigo I knew, save for that night we broke up, had always been kind and empathetic.
The man sitting across from me seemed no different.
Unless he was just that good at hiding who he really was.
“Should we not have come here?” he asked.
I met his gaze. Had my inner turmoil been that obvious?
“No. It’s fine. I like it here.” I forced a smile. “So I thought youworkedin that building Sebastián pointed out. I didn’t know you owned the whole company.”
He smiled shyly. “Yes.”
“Impressive.” I sipped my water and wondered how much of his family’s money he’d used starting the company.
“You have done well for yourself as well. Your show has the number-one news ratings in Baltimore.”
I felt my eyebrows arch. “You looked me up.”
“Yes.” He didn’t shy away from my gaze. “Should I not have?”
A tingle traveled through me, and my skin flushed. “It’s what everyone does.”
He blinked, and I didn’t know what to say, so I picked up the menu and hid my face behind it. Instead of reading the descriptions, though, I stared at a white spot as my eyes burned.
How well could this evening really turn out? Rodrigo and I would never be friends. The past was too big of a weight. I’d spent years lugging it around, and now that I finally had him in front of me nothing was different. I was still as confused as I’d been that night that I slammed the door to his apartment.
No, not just confused. Heartbroken as well.
I’d never fully grieved our relationship. Instead, I’d spent each day trying to escape the pain, trying to hide in work and adrenaline. Meanwhile, I ached for answers.
Sitting across from Rodrigo now, I saw that they weren’t coming. Our time together would never be wrapped up with a pretty bow.
Taking a shaking breath, I put the menu down. I could leave right then, but I’d have to stand outside with a broken leg and wait for a taxi. I might as well stay for an hour and enjoy a drink. Or two. Or three.
“Georgia.”