No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Although Dustin had proven his patience with me over a decade, it didn't stop me from teasing him a bit now and then.

"Sorry, Dustin, I got held up," I said as I sat down, offering a rather insincere apology.

"It's okay. As long as you're here, I don't mind waiting," he replied with that cliché line, like something out of a romantic comedy.

Honestly, it was pretty awkward. I busied myself with arranging the silverware to avoid eye contact.

He waved over the waiter for me to place my order, but my stomach was still full from the braised meatballs I had earlier, leaving me with no appetite. Still, it would be rude not to eat, so I ordered something light on a whim. When the food arrived, there were several additional dishes I hadn't ordered-Dustin had ordered them for me.

"Dustin, we're just here for a simple meal. This is too much; it's wasteful," I pointed at the dishes, invoking the sentiment of "every bit counts."

"I ordered your favorites. Just try a bit of everything, and whatever we can't finish, we'll take home," Dustin said, sounding practical.

ordered, arguing seemed pointless,

how about some wine?" Dustin

well have had selective amnesia about that night. Faced with Dustin's hopeful and slightly probing look, I agreed, "Sure, but you'll have to drive me home

he said, gesturing for the waiter to

but he managed to keep the conversation going by reminiscing about our childhood, including how I often ignored him when with Conrad. Mentioning Conrad brought back the image of him coughing up blood. I wondered if it was stress-related or if there was something more serious

me now. We're like enemies; he'd probably walk the other way if he saw me,"

all my fault. I'm the reason you two are at

not your fault. He took you for granted. If anyone's to blame, it's me... for not

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me, but now, knowing

Allen looked at me. Dinner was an exercise in discomfort, and I resorted to