Page 90 of Last Date

“I ran into your mother today,” Merrick said, licking chocolate off his fingers.

“Did you?” I pushed a napkin at him, which he took with a grateful nod.

He smiled. “She’s so happy we’re dating.”

“She was always in your corner.”

He sighed. “As was my mom.”

“Let’s hope we don’t let them down.” I was only kidding, but Merrick didn’t smile.

He narrowed his eyes and set his wine down. “You make a lot of jokes like that.”

“I do?”

“Yes.” He studied me, looking thoughtful. “Sometimes I think you secretly have a bet going about the odds of us staying together.”

“No.” My face warmed.

“But if you did, my guess is you’d put your money on us failing,” he murmured, sounding disappointed.

I watched him, taking in the full curve of his mouth and his thick dark lashes. He really was one of the best-looking men I’d ever dated. But it wasn’t just his looks that appealed to me. He was funny. Smart. He kept me on my toes. I was excited to be with him, but I found it hard to express that to him.

“I’d never make a bet like that,” I said softly. “I don’t know the future.”

His expression was hard to read. “Do you believe in fate?”

“If I did, then I’d have to believe Allister was destined to meet his crazy ex-boyfriend who murdered him. I’d have to believe that Elon was born just so he could die at the age of five. I don’t really like the idea of fate because it feels like everything is already set, so why bother trying?”

He smiled. “I find it interesting that the only examples you used are both depressing. There are happy instances of fate too.”

“Are there?”

“Sure. How about me driving by the parking lot where Nick was trying to run you over?”

I winced. “Okay. I guess that is a more positive example.”

“Or the fact that we met simply because my best friend was Thomas, and you’re Thomas’ brother.”

“For the longest time, I’d have said that was also a negative example of fate at work.” I smiled and leaned toward him. “I spent many a night cursing your name, Merrick.”

He swallowed. “I know.”

He seemed a little nervous, which intrigued me. “Do you really believe it was fate that we met?”

He pulled his gaze away. “You’ll just mock me if I say yes.”

“Not necessarily.”

“I guess I don’t really care if fate is real or not,” he said softly, turning his gaze back to mine. “Because however it happened, we met. And I’m grateful.”

I thought about all the times I’d watched him with Peter, hating the sight of them together. I’d been unclear of why it had bugged me so much, but it had. Now I knew it was because I’d wanted Merrick for myself. Peter had seen it. I hadn’t fooled him. He’d also known about Merrick’s feelings for me, way before I had. It seemed everyone had seen how Merrick felt about me, but me.

Maybe Helen was right and I was as dense as a Canadian forest.

Since Merrick had been the one making all the gestures, I decided it was my turn. I leaned in and captured his mouth with mine. He seemed surprised, but he went with it, cupping my face with his hands. I deepened the kiss, and he met me at that same level of hunger. I smiled against his mouth, feeling happy.

I ended the kiss and stood. “Will you stay the night, Merrick? For real this time.”