The two of us get into the waiting taxi and talk wedding until it drops us in front of the restaurant. Megan is having an outdoor wedding in Brooklyn - I offered to help, but she is very independent like her brother.
Speaking of said brother, I look at her. We are standing on the sidewalk looking at each other. Whenever I ask her about Ben, she never gives up too much information.
"When is Ben getting into town?"
Before she can answer, Peter and my date start walking towards us. She waves at the both of them before turning her attention back to me. "The Friday of the rehearsal dinner. He's bringing a date, I didn't want you to be surprised." She chews on her lip nervous.
"Oh."
Is the only thing I could say.
The only thing I trust myself to say.
The boys reach us, and Megan turns to her fiancé, giving him a big welcome kiss. My attention is on the stranger next to Peter. Megan didn't lie about him being attractive. Chris has to be at least 6'5". His shirt is tight enough that I can see the muscle definition underneath. His dimples are hard to miss, they light up his entire face.
"Hi, I'm Chris." He smiles while extending his hand to me.
"Allyson." I shake it. "They aren't making this any less uncomfortable are they?" I point to the couple making out next to us.
"No." He laughs. "We could go for a walk. Our reservations aren't for another hour, and I'm not sure why we had to be here so early."
"Sure." I smile at him.
While we walk away from Megan and Peter, I look Chris up and down. The man is cute and knows how to dress. His pants are Tom Ford, and I would bet money that his dress shirt was also from the designer. His shoes look expensive, and I know he shines them nightly. His hair was dark blond and starting to gray. When the sun hit his eyes just right, they are a deep green.
The two of us find a bench near the water. Conversion is easier than I expected it to be. He was the first to open up. I listen as he tells me stories about his real estate career and how little sleep he gets on a nightly basis.
"How do you function?"
"Adrenalin and coffee. What do you do?"
I tell him about the law firm I work at without giving him the backstory. I like my job and I'm proud of the work I do. I don't want any child to go through what I did and that's why I do what I do. Chris lets me finish and then asks how I know Megan and Peter.
"I used to date Megan's brother. Actually...we were engaged." I frown at him.
"This date just keeps getting better." He jokes.
"Right! Blind dates are the worst." I tease back.
He laughs. "They really are, but we could change it."
"We could." I nod.
Chris looks at his phone and grins, apparently we talked too long and the two of them are waiting for us in the restaurant. We talk the entire walk back, my stomach hurts from the laughter. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard.
The hostess shows us our seats and I slip my sweater off. Peter and Megan stop talking to look at my plunging neckline, her eyes are wide and furious. I knew she would be.
"Put your sweater back on." Megan snaps at me while looking around the restaurant for gawkers.
Megan is a bit of a prude.
Peter joked last week that I was in desperate need of getting laid, and I figured that they promised Chris it would end well for him.
I was getting pimped out, I just thought I would give him a preview of what he is in for tonight.
Our waiter comes to the table and starts taking our orders. My date with Chris is over the moment he orders the rack of lamb. I'm not great at hiding my emotions, Megan starts explaining why I look so disgusted with his choice. He immediately changes his order, but the damage has been done.
"I'm sorry, you didn't need to change your order." I apologize quickly.
He leans over and whispers in my ear. "Don't apologize. No more lamb on dates with you. I'll remember that."
I pull away and smile at him. Looking into his amused eyes, I whisper, "that was really bitchy of me. Whenever someone orders lamb, I just picture those poor little fluffy things getting slaughtered and I lose my appetite."
Nodding at me, "I may never order it again. Ever."
"You're welcome." I laugh.
We keep the dinner conversation light and upbeat during the meal. Once we finish and say our goodbyes, Megan and Peter walk the direction of their townhouse. Chris hails me a taxi before getting himself one.
"I had a surprisingly good time tonight. Most of the dates, I bolt before dessert." I confess.
"Just guessing here...I'm taking the breakup with Megan's brother didn't go well?"
Cute, great dresser, and observant.
Shaking my head, I look up at him. "No. I'm still trying to get over it. I had a wonderful time tonight, but I'm not ready to find someone else. I'm still holding out hope that he'll be back. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry." He grins and kisses my cheek. "Truth is, I'm too busy to start something with a gorgeous girl like you."
"Where are you going? We could just share this cab." I tell him.
"Tribeca."
"Chelsea." I smile at him.
"If you wanted, you could come back to my place for drink and tell me all about this guy that wrecked my night." He laughs.
The first thing we do in the taxi is exchange phone numbers. It will be good to have another friend in New York. The next thing I know, we are making out like a bunch of teenagers.
How the hell did this happen?
He brings me up to his apartment, grabbing a great bottle of wine before we start sharing stories about our ex's. Chris had his heartbroken too, she cheated on him with his best friend. They were together since high school. I spill about how madly in love I still am with Ben.
"I'm not sure how he walked away from you." Chris says grabbing his wine glass and taking a swallow.
"I know it wasn't easy for him." I blush.
Chris is a stranger and I'm not going to tell him about my entire history with Ben.
"I should go." I stand from the couch and grab my sweater.
"Let me walk you down." Chris offers.
Outside on his sidewalk, he leans down, and I don't pull away. He kisses different than Ben, it isn't warm and invited. His kiss is soft and sweet, not hungry and demanding like Ben's. I pull away feeling like I'm doing something wrong.
No matter how many times I try to move on, he's in my head.
"I'm sorry." Chris looks at me.
I shake my head and smile at him. "Don't. I have a great time with you tonight, I just can't move on." I tell him honest.
"Understand. Can I still call you?"
Grinning at him, I nod. "Please. It would be nice to know someone else in New York."
YOU ARE READING
Heartlines
عاطفية*** Complete Story *** Allyson Sicard was in her final year at Harvard and while her roommates were trying to get their Ivy League boyfriends to propose, Ally was trying to figure out which law school she wanted to graduate from. Columbia had always...
