Please don’t ask what the name of the store is.
“Oh.” His face relaxes. “Okay.”
She spends about five seconds being relieved, but then the thought occurs to her: what is he doing here? He doesn’t work anywhere near here. He doesn’t live anywhere near here. Yes, it’s suspicious she’s here. But it’s equally suspicious that he’s here.
Is it possible he’s come here to see Francesca? And if so, why?
Or maybe she doesn’t want to know the answer to that question.
“What are you doing out here?” she asks as casually as possible.
His eyes widen. He rubs at his chin. “Also… shopping.”
“Oh,” she says.
Holy crap, he’s lying. He knows better than anyone where Francesca’s restaurant is, and it’s clear he’s come here to see her. But she can’t accuse him. Because if she did, he’d discover she knows where the restaurant is. And her cover would be blown as well. All she can do is try to stop it from happening.
“Do you want to grab some dinner?” she asks him.
Out of nowhere, a really sad look comes over his face. He lowers his eyes. “Okay.”
“Do you…” She clears her throat. “Do you know of any good restaurants around here?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “No,” he says. “I don’t.”
Cassie doesn’t know what to think. But if she ever had any suspicion that Joel still has feelings for Francesca, they’ve just been confirmed.
Chapter 20: The Ex
I’m always in a terrible mood when I talk on the phone with my mother.
Nonna has been mostly supportive, but Ma has been the opposite. While I sit in the corner of Starbucks, we spend the first twenty minutes of the conversation talking about my sister, who has apparently decided to try for a baby. I’m happy for my sister, but at the same time, it’s depressing how far away I am from being settled down to the point where I might try for a child of my own.
Joel wanted children. He wanted three, but I only wanted two. It was a disagreement we sometimes had, although he never seemed as bothered as I was by the fact that we wanted different numbers of children. Maybe because he knew we wouldn’t be having them together.
Eventually the topic of conversation with my mother settles on me. Namely, on my love life. Or lack thereof.
“Nonna says you never go out on dates,” Ma says.
Why can’t Nonna mind her own business? “Yes, I do,” I say.
“Really? Like when?”
Like never. Like in my dreams. No, not even then.
“You’re not getting any younger,” Ma reminds me.
“Really? I was under the impression I was aging in reverse.”
“Don’t be smart. Do you want to end up alone?”
I chew on my lip. “I’m okay, Ma.”
“You need to get over Joel. It’s over. You need to move on.”
She’s right. I need to move on. But I can’t. Why can’t I?
But then again, Joel and I were together for so long. He was my life. I thought he would be my life. I can’t just forget the love we had for each other ever existed.
“I’ve got to go,” I tell my mother.
“Okay, but promise me next time we talk, you’ll have gone out on at least one date.”
“I promise.”