"Want to talk about it?" The lines around his eyes deepen. He really is good-looking. Too bad he isn’t either of the men who are currently on my mind. Men? Did I just think men? Why the hell am I thinking of them in the plural? Edward is gone; Baron is here. If anything, it’s only Baron I should be thinking of right now. Or should I? Is it healthy to switch from one man to the other so quickly? I drag my fingers through my hair. This entire situation is getting out of hand. I rise to my feet, and he rises with me. "Everything all right?"
"Y…yeah." I swallow, "Just going to the restroom."
"You sure you’re fine?"
"Yes," I force my lips to curve, "I’ll be right back."
I head past the other diners—couples, families—all eating, enjoying themselves on a night out before they go home to their lives, their safety nets, their little corners of the world filled with love and happiness.
And me? What about me? What have I done, except screw up every single thing in my life? I’d had the chance to become a doctor and had dropped out. Then, I’d met Edward, and instead of turning away, I’d headed for the one thing I’d known I could never have. And then Baron. What the hell am I even doing, planning this entire charade…for his benefit? Why couldn’t I simplynotact on my impulses this time? Why can’t I have a normal, safe, boring life? Because I am an idiot. Because I’ll never be content with a life where I don’t truly feel. Because I have to be fully engaged in everything I do. Because I can’t live half a life. Because I have to be true to myself, and to what I want, no matter that it’s unconventional. No matter if it is not how things are done in the rest of the world. Because…
I want him. As much as I want Edward. There, I’ve said it. Well, I’ve thought it. I walk into the restroom, reach the sink and grip the edge. I stare at myself in the mirror. The pale cheeks, the lipstick almost bitten off, my hair about my shoulders. "Why…why do you always have to go after what you can’t have? Why do you have to be different? Why can’t you be…normal?"
"Because you could try to hide in a crowd, and yet, you’d always stand out."
I whip my head around to find Baron stepping into the restroom.
"Because you are a shining star in the night sky." He meets my gaze, and his jaw tics. "Because you’re the one unbroken seashell on the shore." He folds his arms across his chest. "And I am not going to let you walk out of here until you admit that you set up this scene to get my attention."
I straighten, fold my arms and mirror his stance. "G…get out." Shit, why am I stuttering? I am not nervous. I am not. I square my shoulders, scowl at his reflection in the mirror. "This is the ladies’ room," I insist. "You shouldn’t be here."
He bares his teeth. "This is exactly where I need to be."
I huff, "I am with someone else." I hold his gaze. "He’s out there waiting for me."
"So, what are you doing here?"
I reach for the paper towels, pretend to dry my hands. "I was just leaving, actually." I turn and march up to the door, but of course, he doesn’t move.
"Get out of the way," I hiss.
"Not until you tell me what you want."
"What I want," I flip my hair over my shoulder, "is for you to leave me alone."
"Funny, from where I am," he looks me up and down, "it seems like quite the opposite."
"Your ego is showing," I snap.
"And you," he widens his stance, "are lying."
"No."
"Yes."
"Let me go."
"No."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Me?" He glares at me. "I’m not the one pretending to be on a date in order to draw attention to myself."
I gape at him. "You have some nerve…you…you asshole."
"Alphahole." His grin widens. "I prefer alphahole."
"What-bloody-ever." I huff, "If you don’t get out of my way, I’ll…"
