Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
He rubbed his hands together. “Cool.”
“We’re supposed to be meeting there around eight.”
“Eight’s great. I’ll touch base with you by text tomorrow to make sure everything is still on.”
After we exchanged numbers, I said, “I really appreciate you coming out tonight, Brandon.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Then one of my professors came by to say hello.
Brandon whispered, “See you tomorrow night,” as he excused himself and left.
The moment he was gone, Dorian’s absence returned to the forefront of my mind. As I finished talking with my teacher, I decided that if I ran into Dorian at the house later, I wouldn’t even say anything. I’d let him figure out that he’d forgotten. Or maybe he didn’t. Maybe he simply decided against coming. He probably didn’t want to lead me on any more than he already had. Either way, I had to play like it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it had hurt me.
***
The longer I could stay out of the house the better, so I asked Janelle if she wanted to stop at a bar after the event. She agreed, and then I spent most of that time out stewing in silence over Dorian’s absence this evening.
When I finally got home, it was late, and I was shocked to find Dorian sitting in the living room. He stood the moment I entered, as if he’d been waiting for me to come back.
“Hi…” I said, trying to appear casual. It was comical that I’d ever thought I could hide my feelings from him. My emotions were about to explode out of my head, so I was certain they were written all over my expression.
“I thought you’d never come home.”
“I went out,” I said.
“Were you out with that Jesus-looking guy I saw you with at the art show?”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“I’m so sorry about tonight, Primrose.” He shook his head. “If I’d had your number, I would’ve called. Why the fuck don’t I have your phone number?”
“Wait.” I blinked. “You came to the art show?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I had meetings all day in L.A. Traffic was absolute hell getting back from the city to Orion Coast. I even left early, but there must’ve been like three accidents. I got to your event just as everything was ending. When I walked in, you were deep in conversation with some man, and I felt awkward interrupting you, especially when they were closing down the event. I’d already missed it. So I opted to leave and explain the situation to you later, rather than interrupt your conversation. Except later was much later than I thought it would be.”
I expelled a breath. “I came home tonight determined to not let you see how upset I was that you weren’t there. I was never gonna mention it to you. I feel like a fool for assuming you didn’t care enough to come.” I sighed. “But you absolutely should’ve interrupted my conversation.”
“It didn’t feel right for some reason. In retrospect, though, I agree. I should’ve let you know I was there. I’ve been anxious all night that you thought I’d forgotten or chose not to show.” He hesitated. “But I got a vibe that something might’ve been going on with you and that guy. I didn’t want you to have to explain me to him or have him make assumptions.” He paused. “Who is he?”
“Brandon Wright. He’s a local artist.”
“Would I have been interrupting something?”
“He did ask to go out tomorrow night.”
Dorian swallowed hard. “I was right, then.”
“You still could’ve interrupted.”
His face reddened. Or maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I wanted to believe Dorian was jealous, that it served him right after rejecting me. It also could’ve been in my head. In any case, the fact that I cared so much about what he thought was unfortunate.
I tried to downplay it. “It’s not really a date. I’d planned to go to Juno Bar with Janelle anyway. When he asked me if I wanted to hang out, I told him I’d be there if he wanted to stop by.”
“Seems like a date to me,” Dorian insisted, wearing an unreadable expression. “You like him?”
I like you. I shrugged. “I don’t know much about him, other than he’s a talented artist.”
“He’d be a good fit for you, then, right?”
“Not necessarily. I’ve never dated another artist. They tend to be moody and unpredictable.”
His eyes stayed on mine for a moment. “Anyway… Big lesson learned tonight. I should have your phone number. I hadn’t realized I didn’t until I couldn’t reach you.”
I handed my phone to him. “Enter your number. I’ll send you a text so you can program me in.”
As he took the phone, the brush of his hand sent a flash of desire through me. I watched as he entered his information. When he gave it back to me, I texted him the middle finger.