A Twist of Date (Better Date than Never) by Hatler Susan

Author:Hatler, Susan [Hatler, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Hatco, Inc.
Published: 2013-07-30T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The next morning, I stood outside Totally Fit with my hand on the door, unable to pull it open even though it was five-thirty in the morning, and freaking cold outside.

My mind reeled from last night’s events. Kaitlin was engaged to my ex. Kaitlin asked me to be her maid-of-honor—I swear she’d emphasized the word “maid” to rub it in that I was single. Didn’t she have a best friend or a hairdresser or anyone else to ask? Someone who hadn’t seen the groom-to-be naked?

Even worse, I’d left eight messages for Erica, who still hadn’t called me back. With all this pent up tension, now I had to go in and face Matt. I’d never dreaded going to work in the years I’d worked here. But, today, took massive effort to pull the front door open, and walk into the warmth of the lobby.

Matt sat in his usual spot, reading a thick book with a faded gray hardcover.

My stomach lurched as if part of me hadn’t expected him to be here. As if one argument with Melanie Porter would be enough to get him to call in sick after a year working here and never missing a day. Oh, great. I was stalling.

Striding to the front desk, I dropped my bag on the floor. “Good morning,”

“Morning.” His voice was neutral, neither friendly nor angry, but he didn’t glance up from his book.

Bad sign. I swallowed the lump in my throat, lifted my bag, then walked past the front counter.

“What’s the word?” he said.

I stopped, tears blurring my vision. “The word?”

Matt snapped his book shut, and no longer looked disinterested. He looked hurt. “After a year giving me the word, you think you’re going to pass by without choosing it?”

I bit my lip. “You’re speaking to me.”

“Apparently so.” His tone was lighter this time. Not quite friendly, but it seemed like he was trying.

My eyes burned, and I blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “Matt, I’m—”

“The word, Mel.” He seemed uncomfortable, and shook his head. “It’s just a word.”

I took a deep breath, knowing what I needed to say. “Matt, I’m sorry.”

He stared blankly. “That’s three words. We only need one.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Forgiven?” Matt leaned forward, tapping his finger on the countertop. “That’s one word, I suppose, but not very imaginative.”

“Thank you, Matt. You don’t know how much I—” I leaned on the counter, and my hand accidentally brushed his.

He froze, for a moment, then pulled away from me. “Those are a lot of words. I’m beginning to think you’ve forgotten how the game goes.”

It stung that he’d cringed at my touch, but I deserved it. At least he was talking to me. “You pick the word.”

“Hmmm.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not how it works.”

I shrugged. “Seems like a lot of things are changing around here.”

He avoided my gaze, and didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything, either. The long drawn out silence was starting to get to me when the front door burst open.

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