Chapter 5
Are you ready for the big day?” Renee’s eyes twinkle with shared excitement as she takes a bite from her gluten-free wrap.
I stab my salad, pushing around the greens before looking up. “Honestly? I’m buzzing. It’s my first real exhibit.” The words tumble out. My heart thumps a little harder at the thought of my photographs lining the walls.
“You said your folks were in town. They must be proud,” Renee says.
I exhale, a laugh without humor. “They’re coming, yeah. But ‘proud’ is not exactly the word I’d use.” I spear a cherry tomato, thinking about my parent’s reaction when they heard about my art being displayed publicly.
“Talk to me,” Renee urges, sensing the tension in my voice.
“Mom and Dad...they’ve never really gotten behind my photography.” I look away. “Dad thinks I wasted my degree. He wanted me to become a lawyer like him.”
“And your mom?” Renee prompts gently.
“Marriage. Kids. The usual 1950s script.” The words are bitter, but my parent”s disappointment is all too familiar. “I love them, but it’s like talking to a wall. They have this life planned out for me, and it doesn’t include anything about what I want.”
“Sounds tough.” Renee reaches across the table, her hand warm on mine. “How’d they even find out about the exhibit?”
“Reggie.” I let out a sigh. “He mentioned it to them when we had dinner last night. He didn’t know I hadn’t told them. It’ll be okay. I’m not excited about them being there. I know I should be, but I just don’t want to see all the judge-y looks and raised eyebrows, you know?”
“Uh-oh.” Renee laughs, but I see the caring in her eyes. She tilts her head. “Wait. Why were you having dinner with your parents, and why was Reggie there? Is there something you haven’t told me?”
I laugh. The memory of Reggie and our kiss last night makes me smile. When he dropped me off, I just couldn’t help but give him a little kiss, but then when he pulled me for a deeper kiss? My panties nearly went up in flames. There was absolutely nothing ‘fake boyfriend’ about that kiss.
“I should know better than to keep secrets from an investigative journalist,” I smile, though I don’t have any secrets with her.
“Damn straight,” she laughs. “But seriously, spill the tea.”
My cheeks flush. “I kinda told my parents he was my boyfriend.”
Renee’s eyebrows jump, and she covers her mouth as she chokes on the bite of food she just had. “You did what now?”
“Shh!” I glance around the cafe, but no one seems to be listening in. Lowering my voice, I lean closer. “It was spontaneous, okay? It just... it slipped out. They showed up at King Tap and put me on the spot. I knew having a boyfriend would make things easier, and Reggie was there… It slipped out of my mouth and has snowballed.”
“Uh-huh.” Renee grins, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “Well, I hope you take advantage of this!”
“Advantage?” My heart skips a beat. “No, it’s not like that. It was just to get them off my back.”
“Right.” She draws out the word, unconvinced. “Because there’s absolutely no history of you crushing on Reggie for...oh, I don’t know, since you arrived in town?”
“Stop.” I shake my head, laughing despite myself. “It’s nothing. Really.”
“Nothing, huh?” Renee doesn’t buy it for a second. “The lady doth protest too much. I don’t get why you’re both so stubborn about denying your hearts. It’s so obvious you two are crazy for each other. Everyone sees it.”
“Except him,” I mutter, stirring my coffee.
“Except him, my ass.” Renee snorts. “He never takes his eyes off you. And those ‘casual’ flirts? Trust me, Marian.” Renee reaches over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Every time you two are in the same room, it’s electric. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“Easy for you to say,” I counter, but doubt creeps in. Is she right? “Then how come he’s never asked me out?”
Renee sighs. “Men can be such idiots sometimes, you know? Take Coop and me. We had a terrible start the first time we met. But that assignment for The Raytown Reporter...it changed everything. He seemed so gruff at first. If not for that article, we might never have seen who we were beneath it all, and we certainly wouldn’t have met a second time at that awards dinner.”
“Sounds like fate to me.” As I say the words, I wonder if Reggie is my fate. Was the hot kiss last night as meaningful as I hoped it was? I know I should talk to him, but I also want to hold the memory of that kiss and not let it potentially be ruined by finding out he isn’t interested in me.
“Maybe,” she says, dreamy-eyed. “But he also turned out to be this amazing guy. Supportive. The kind of husband every woman dreams of.” She leans forward, elbows on the table, her gaze piercing mine. “I want that for you, too, Marian. Give Reggie a chance.”
“Maybe,” I concede, my thoughts a tangled mess.
I go into work,but it’s a slow night. Just a couple locals, but Reggie doesn’t show up and neither do any of the others. It’s not the first time none of them have come in, but it feels lonely in a way it never has before.
The memory of kissing Reggie still makes my skin tingle and creates an insistent throb of desire in my core. The kiss took my breath away and it was like losing a part of me when it ended. It was obvious Reggie was holding back, and when he pulled back it made me wish he wasn’t such a damn gentleman. I’d never wanted anyone in my life as much as I wanted him then—and still want him—but it was so overwhelming that I couldn’t think straight.
Everything has moved so fast that my head is spinning from the last couple days. What started as a fib to appease my parents? It’s turning into more than I ever dreamed about. Even in my fantasies about Reggie, I never imagined I would feel such an electric connection when we touch.
I want a real relationship with Reggie. Something that lasts forever.
I just pray he feels the same way.