Page 31 of Roar for Me
“It’s none of your business, Duncan,” she spat, then crossed her arms over her chest to block him from it as her face turned pink, and his laughter ceased. What was he doing?
“Shit, Aurora. I’m sorry.”
“I should have known you’d find something to tease me about sooner or later. I didn’t know it would get handed to you on a silver platter.”
A litany of colorful words flitted through Duncan’s mind as the gravity of the situation sank in. “I really am sorry; I didn’t realize that would upset you so much.” He put his drink down and looked intently into the camera. “Forgive me?”
Her face softened at his begging, but then it got worse. Watery eyes contemplated his fate. Duncan gulped, waiting for her response. She took a couple of calming breaths, then nodded.
“Okay, I forgive you.”
“So, um…” He stared into his water glass as if it could tell him how to salvage this. “What happened at the meeting last night?”
“First, Jen suggested that the committee members all get announced when they enter, like a wedding or something. I thought that was kind of silly, but everyone else voted for it. Then she got the bright idea that the subcommittee groups should all coordinate colors. Like it’s prom all over again! What I don’t understand is why everyone else went for it. I mean, is David’s boyfriend going to be okay with him matching someone else? That seems disrespectful to the committee members’ partners. Which clearly isn’t a problem for me, but I would at least talk to my husband, if he were alive, before I agreed to it.”
“Did you two match a lot?”
“Sometimes.” Her tone and body language relaxed. “We had matching shirts from various vacations. We were cheesy like that.”
“It’s not cheesy. It’s cute.” Duncan gazed at his keyboard before meeting her eyes. “I’m jealous.”
“Well, you’re in the minority.” She propped her head on her elbow.
“I don’t have anyone to get upset if I match you. What color is your dress?”
Her big hazel eyes looked off to the side as her mouth fell open slightly.
“Um …” Now she was gnawing on her lip so hard she’d sucked it completely into her mouth. “Well …”
He leaned toward the camera. “Yes?”
“It’s … red,” she squeaked as she looked at the camera and started to giggle.
He snorted, battling to control his laughter. She threw her head back, and her shoulders shook from laughing, so he let go as well. All it took was a look at each other, and they burst into laughter a second time.
“I … uh, wow, what do I say here? I guess I can find a red tie?” He winked at her.
She wiped her eyes. “It feels like sixth grade all over again.”
Duncan’s eyes tracked the line of his ceiling. “You were really cute when you got embarrassed. Still are,” he added as he took a swig of his drink, avoiding her gaze.
A couple moments passed until she spoke again.
“Well, it’s a good thing you still have that dazzling smile. It always did take the edge off the pain.”
He choked on his drink.
“It’s late, I have to go. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks,” she reminded him, right as the screen went blank.
“Wait—” Duncan grabbed the laptop with both hands as if that would make her stay. Dazzling? Always? Could Mike be right?
Duncan leaned back in his chair, his mind swimming in circles. She was attracted to him? He’d never considered that possibility. In high school, she’d done all those advanced courses, could sing circles around most of the choir, and kept surprising him with new talents. It was like anything she touched turned to gold.
Her parents were still together, he came from a broken home. He’d failed at every relationship he tried. She’d seen the end of her wedding vows, a fate he couldn’t bring himself to imagine. Yet she gave him hope now.
The more time he spent with her, the more he saw her light coming through. She wasn’t the shell of a person she was when they first reconnected. He’d seen it that night watching Netflix with her. What would taking her to see a live performance be like? Or even just dinner and a real movie, where he could slip an arm around her in a darkened theater?
Whoa.
