Chapter 5 #2
I was going to have fun tonight. I was allowed to date and figure out what I wanted. I was young, smart, attractive, and liked sex.
The hostess seated me near a window, and I watched people pass by, going from shop to shop and into restaurants for dinner.
When the waiter stopped and asked if I wanted a drink, I ordered sparkling water, not sure if I should have alcohol tonight or not.
I was only a couple of minutes early, so I smiled and said yes to bread but no to anything else as I waited.
I pulled out my phone and rechecked the time, knowing he would likely be here any minute.
The restaurant was beautiful with soft lighting.
People were laughing, but it wasn’t too loud.
Couples and groups were here on dates, enjoying themselves, though it was late afternoon on a Wednesday, so it wasn’t like it was hopping with evening activities.
Still, it was nice. Busy in the sense that people seemed to like the food and the ambiance.
But not so busy that the waitstaff was running around without breathing.
Another ten minutes passed, and I looked down at my phone, realizing he was late but only by a few minutes. That was fine. He was allowed to be late.
I opened my reading app and continued a romance I had started the night before, smiling as the hero groveled because he had done something stupid to the heroine. Nothing violent, nothing cruel, just something foolish. But he groveled well.
What would it be like to be in a relationship where the hero made a mistake and figured out how to make up for it?
Maybe that would be me someday. Or maybe I would grovel. Either way, it would be nice to get to that point.
I rechecked my phone and saw that another twenty minutes had passed. Dread began sinking into my stomach. I opened the app and looked for a message from Theodore, but I didn’t see anything.
I frowned, my fingers hovering over my app, and then I said screw it. I would just check on him. Maybe something was wrong.
I went to text him, but it didn’t go through.
He had blocked me.
Humiliation settled over my skin like an ice-cold blanket, and I pressed my lips together, holding back a sob.
I would not cry. I would not feel like I had done something wrong.
He’d stood me up. He wasn’t coming.
Thoughts assailed me, and I told myself I was only imagining it. But what if I wasn’t?
Maybe he had come and seen me and decided to walk away. Maybe he had just been playing with me. Enjoyed fucking with me because he wanted to see what he could get away with.
It didn’t matter, though, because he wasn’t coming.
I was sitting alone in a restaurant, hungry. The waitstaff kept coming by, offering me more sparkling water, sad expressions on their faces.
Because they knew that I wasn’t just sitting here waiting to suddenly be hungry. No, they knew I was waiting for someone.
And I’d just been stood up.
I cleared my throat, put my phone into my bag, and got a twenty out of my wallet. I set it on the table and smiled as the waiter came by.
“Miss? Did you want to order now?”
“My sister decided to stay home with a stomach bug. She texted me. I’m so sorry. But I’ll pay for the sparkling water and your time. Again, I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know if my lie had worked. I didn’t want pity, so I just went with it. I hated to do it. So, I made my way out of the restaurant and got into my car. My hands shook, and my stomach hurt.
Fuck him. Fuck him hard. I was so done with this. Done with dating, done with people.
I pulled out my phone again before I started the car.
Me: He never showed. I’m done.
Lake: May? I can’t talk right now, I had to do a late, overnight meeting. Oh, my God. Are you okay?
Me: I’m fine. Just thought I’d let you know. I’m safe. Headed home.
I stuffed my phone back into my purse, started my car, and pulled out of the parking lot.
I was hungry, but I didn’t feel like stopping for anything. I should have stayed there and eaten, but I didn’t want to deal with that. I didn’t want to deal with anything.
Instead, I made my way home.
Everything hurt. I was done.
I took a right at the light, headed down the main road in my neighborhood, and stopped at a stop sign.
So close. I was so close to being home. And then I wouldn’t have to think about this anymore.
I wouldn’t have to think about dating or Theodore or being hungry.
I would be home. I could get into comfy pajamas and get ready for tomorrow.
Life didn’t end when someone stood you up. That was the least of my problems.
I looked both ways and then turned right. I kept going past a two-way stop sign where it was a straightaway for me. And then I screamed.
A car slammed into my driver’s side, the sound of metal twisting and scraping echoing in my ears. I spun in a circle as the car kept going as if he hadn’t even felt the impact. The airbags deployed, and I blinked.
And then there was nothing.
“May? Fuck. May? Don’t move.”
I blinked my eyes open and realized that I was leaning against the seat, the airbag slowly deflating in front of me.
I knew that voice. Why did I know that voice?
“Leo?”
He cursed again under his breath. “May. Baby. I saw that damn man run the stop sign. He’s over there. At least he didn’t leave completely. I live three doors down. It’s the only reason I saw. Damn it. Just don’t move. I called 911. They’re on their way.”
“I…everything hurts.”
“Don’t move, baby. You’ll be okay. I promise. I’m so sorry.”
He held my hand, and I let out a breath.
I was fine. I could feel my toes—and the pain in my shoulder. But I was okay.
All I wanted to do was cry.
Because, for some reason, Leo was here. To take care of me.
And I knew I would be safe, even for just the moment.
So, I closed my eyes. As Leo whispered my name, the darkness came again.
I let it because I knew I would be safe.