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.

arguing seemed pointless, so

how about some

pretended to be drunk. I had played the part so convincingly that I might as 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 if I drink

gesturing for the

Conrad. Mentioning Conrad brought

We're like enemies; he'd probably walk the other way if

my fault. I'm the reason you two are

it's me... for not keeping my feelings in check,

en FindNovel

SUMS

now, knowing

felt this way when Ernest, Conrad, or even someone like Allen looked at me. Dinner was an exercise in discomfort, and I