Chapter 6
SIX
WREN
“How should I take this?” While sitting on the couch in my apartment, I read the card Eli had given me. Was tonight a date or not? If it were, should I have agreed to it?
“Good Lord, Wren. You’re overthinking this.
” With a huff, Grace fell in beside me. “Here, let me see it again.” She examined the card and read the front aloud.
“You are special to me.” She opened the card and continued.
“Wren, we meant something to each other once. I’d like to show you the man I’ve become.
Can you give me a chance? Please let me know if you’ll accept my invitation to dinner this evening at Kabuki in the Tempe Marketplace.
I know how much you love sushi, and this is my treat. ” She set the card on the coffee table.
“Well?” I crossed my arms and tapped my index finger on my elbow. If he was paying, it sounded like a date.
“I think he’s still trying to make amends for what happened. I don’t see this as a date necessarily.” She shifted to face me. “You’re meeting him, right?”
“I am.” I pressed my lips together. I didn’t know what I wanted right now. It was so confusing.
“I think you’ll have to play this by ear and listen to him. It seems to me, you two haven’t spoken much yet. This is your chance to figure out your feelings.” She grabbed my hand. “Wren, if you both still care about each other, it’s worth it to give it a shot.”
“What if he breaks my heart again?” I clutched my t-shirt over my chest as an ache permeated me. He could destroy me if I let myself open to him again.
“What if he doesn’t? Suppose he’s your person, and the universe brought you together again in this time and place?” She raised a brow.
“You’ve been reading too many romance novels. That doesn’t happen.” I glanced at the card. Eli had put a lot of effort into showing me he’d changed.
“Do you really think this is a coincidence?” She came in close, locking her gaze on mine.
“This is no coincidence. This is the universe giving you a second chance.
For fuck's sake, take it.” She freed my hand and hopped off the couch.
“Go with an open mind and an open heart.” She strolled into the kitchen.
“If you’re meeting him at six, you'd better get ready.”
“Shit.” I hopped off the couch. I needed to shower. I wanted to look my best for this, whatever it was, even if it went nowhere.
I was a bundle of nerves. Why had I agreed to this?
I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs and strode to the sidewalk between the squat, squarish buildings, tall palm trees and modern fountains.
As I approached the iron door under the metal awning for the restaurant, Eli waited with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his designer jeans, his button-down shirt pulling tight across his shoulders and open enough to expose the groove between his pecs.
As a shy grin formed on his mouth, he dipped his head and stepped toward me. “Hi, Wren.” He held his arm out.
God, he was dressed up and looked amazing. I side-hugged him. “Hi, Eli.” I didn’t need to start this off with one of his tender bear hugs. I had to keep my wits about me.
“Shall we go inside? I got reservations.” He opened the door and waved me in.
When had he gotten reservations? Surely, he hadn’t gotten them before I’d answered him. Or had he been so sure I’d agree, he had? I watched him speak with the hostess, who showed us to a booth along the wall.
I slid across the beige vinyl seat and scanned the restaurant.
It had a modern Asian vibe with large red pendant lamps hanging overhead.
The room was quickly getting full, with only a few tables left.
I pulled my menu close. I’d eaten sushi with Eli in high school, and we’d always shared the menu items. Was he trying to recreate that?
“Want to share some rolls and nigiri?” He picked up his menu, obscuring his face.
“I suppose so.” I reviewed the menu, noting the rolls that sounded interesting.
“You always liked the spicy scallop hand rolls.” He set his menu down and offered a warm smile. “Do you still?”
“Uh, yes.” If I were a dog, I’d have raised hackles. I had to relax. Eli hadn’t invited me here to hurt me.
“Are you drinking tonight? Should we share one of those big Japanese beers?” He rubbed his chin.
“Sure.” Maybe a little alcohol could ease my tension. “Whichever one you want, I’m not picky.” I sipped the water set on the table.
When the server arrived, we ordered our beer, a few rolls and some nigiri.
I threaded my fingers across the table’s honey-colored wood. It was time to talk. My gaze crept to his. “What did you want to discuss?”
With a shrug, he said, “I, uh, wanted to get to know you again.” He unwrapped his chopsticks and pulled them apart. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s fine. Her real estate business is having record sales. I guess a lot of people from California are moving into Oregon.” Okay, this was easy. I breathed in deeply as the server set our beers on the table with two glasses.
Tilting the glass, he poured a beer, placed it in front of me and then poured his own. “I hope this isn’t too touchy of a subject, but how is your dad?” His brow ticked.
My chest pinched for a second. “Fine, as far as I know. I haven’t seen him since the time I visited him during Christmas in high school.” Me and Eli had been together then. He understood how awful the trip had been. In fact, he knew all about the drama between my mom and dad.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’d hoped you’d been able to repair that relationship.” He tensed the edge of his mouth. “My dad was livid when I came out to him, but he accepts it now.”
“Yeah?” His father had been the primary reason we’d dated in secret. I sipped my beer, letting the cool bubbles soothe me. “Tell me more about it.”
“Like I said, I told them when they dropped me off at the airport for my trip to ASU in freshman year.” His lips grew thinner. “They wanted to see me off, so right there before security, I told them I had something important to say.”
I widened my eyes. “You had an escape if it went badly.” He really had been a coward in high school. Could I believe him when he said he’d changed?
“Yep.” He inhaled deeply and then sipped his beer. “I just blurted it out, and neither of them believed me. Then Dad got mad. His face was so red, I thought he’d have a stroke.” Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Mom just stared at me.”
“Did you explain yourself then?” I leaned forward as if I could hear him better. Maybe he’d had good reason to hide us in high school. “Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?”
“It was about what I expected. I didn’t wait for them to say anything.
If my dad had said something derogatory, it would have crushed me.
” He huffed. “Especially after losing you. I was already heartbroken.” His gaze landed on mine, and his brows wrinkled.
“I left them there and walked into the security line. Thankfully, hardly anyone was in it, and I pushed my way through in five minutes.”
I drank some beer, thinking about his words. He’d run from everything when he came here and made a new start. “So, they didn’t call you or text you while you waited to board your plane?”
“Nope.” He fingered the condensation on his beer glass. “They were stunned. I don’t know, maybe they figured I’d pulled a stunt on them and if they left me alone, I’d come to my senses.”
Narrowing my eyes, I said, “Have you ever told them about me? About us?”
With a shrug, he said, “Sure, after we started talking again.” His gaze crept to mine.
“We didn’t speak for about six months, and I didn’t go home for Christmas break.
It wasn’t until the bowl games were over and I’d secured my place on the team as one of the better linebackers that they called me. ”
My heart ached for him. What would have happened if he’d come out in high school the way I’d wanted?
Would he be here right now, or would his life have changed for the worse?
“I’m sorry I pushed so hard for you to come out in high school.
I really didn’t think they’d be that upset about it. Especially your mom.”
“It was my mom who pushed my father to accept me. When we spoke for the first time, she did a lot of talking. She said all the right things—that she loved me no matter what and would always support me.” He drank some beer.
“Dad had been quiet on the first call. All he said was, me too, but I could tell his heart wasn’t in it. ”
“So, but he accepts you now, right? What changed?” I spied a food runner with a tray of sushi. “Hey, the food’s here.” I leaned back while they set the sushi on the table.
Licking his lips, Eli gazed across the food. “Looks good, doesn’t it?” He unwrapped his chopsticks and pulled them apart.
“It does not answer my question.” Was he dodging it? I poured soy sauce into a small dish and mixed wasabi in it.
“He told me that a guy on his crew is gay. Dad always thought he was a great worker, one of the best. He was unaware the guy was gay until they were all out having beers and it came out.” He made his soy sauce mixture and dunked a roll in it.
“Your dad is still a lumberjack?” I chuckled. The man was a stereotype of one, always wearing flannel and tough as nails.
“He is.” A grin flickered across his mouth.
“Anyway, I think it all put it in perspective for my dad. His crew accepted Gary with no issues, just like anyone else. Dad was the odd man out.” He took a bite of sushi and hummed.
“Damn good. Try it.” He pointed his chopsticks at the roll with raw tuna and sauces slathered over top.
“So that’s it? He found out a work buddy is gay, and everything was cool with him?” I grabbed a piece of the roll he’d pointed out and stuffed it in my mouth. The creamy and sweet flavor exploded on my tongue.