Page 20 of Right Where You Left Me

Sage

“ W hat did I agree to?” I mutter to myself, sitting on my bike.

I’ve been parked outside of Giovanni’s for ten minutes because I, of course, got here way too early.

My last tattoo of the night finished up earlier than I expected it to, and I obviously did not rush out of the shop to get here as quickly as possible.

That would be insane. Because. This isn’t a date.

And I am absolutely not excited about this.

Then why are you so nervous?

Ugh! Stupid Emma and her stupidly beautiful face. Why did she have to invite me out tonight?? Why did I agree??

I pull my phone from my jacket pocket and look at the clock on the screen, seeing that I have five more minutes until I’m not weirdly early.

I look down at my outfit, faded boot leg jeans and the spare shop crew neck I had in the shop.

Because of course I didn’t think to drive by my apartment even though I had time to.

God, why am I letting the thought of this dinner get to me like this?

Emma didn’t even call this a date. It’s just two friends getting dinner. And it’s going to stay that way.

I pull my helmet off, locking it to the back of my bike.

I throw my bike jacket over my arm before I finger comb my hair and then berate myself for doing that and slowly make my way inside.

The hostess in the front gives me a big smile as I approach and I return it with a small one of my own.

“I’m meeting someone here. I’m not sure if they’re already at our table or not. ”

“What’s the name?” She asks looking down at the tablet on the stand in front of her.

“Emma. Or, it could be under Newton. Shit no, Reynolds.” My palms are sweating.

She takes longer than I feel is necessary to look it up and nods her head before meeting my eyes. “Yes, it’s under Newton. Table in the back left, just that way.” She says pointing. I follow her finger and spot Emma sitting alone at a two seater near one of the back windows.

“Thanks.” I murmur and quickly walk over, sitting in the empty chair across from Emma.

Her cheeks dimple as her mouth splits into a smile. “You’re earlier than I was expecting.”

I huff. “Then why are you here already?”

Her cheeks burn pink and fuck do I love it when that happens.

“I wasn’t sure when you would get here, I didn’t want you to wait on me.

” She says softly. And now I feel like a dick.

I don’t want to make her feel bad anymore.

Fucking fuck. I want to make her smile at me.

To make her laugh. To make those freckled cheeks darken because she’s happy, not because she’s embarrassed.

“I’m sorry.” I blurt out. “I’m being an asshole.”

She blinks slowly at me. “No, you aren’t. You’re just?—”

“No. I’m sorry, Emma. Let’s start over?” She nods, her mouth quirking up. “Okay, now. Repeat what you said when I sat down.”

“What? No.” She says, laughing a little.

“Say it.” I demand playfully.

She rolls her eyes, but says, “You’re earlier than I was expecting.”

“I wrapped up early with my last client and couldn’t wait to get here.” I say, truthfully. Leaning in to get closer to her I add, “Didn’t even swing home to change.”

And there goes that blush. Fuck, she’s so cute. Why am I so set on not pursuing her again? Am I actually sure she’d hurt me on purpose? This charming, sweet woman with eyes like whiskey. Whose smile is so warm and tender. How could I possibly think that she would ever hurt anyone and mean to do it?

“Do you remember that Italian place near campus that we used to go to with Spencer Miller?” She asks, bringing me back to the moment.

“Uh, I think so. The little hole in the wall that we used to go to, to get pizza on Fridays?”

She nods. “You remember when we dared him to shove two of their giant meatballs in his mouth and he ended up jamming three in there? I wonder what he’s up to these days.”

“Probably really great things.” I deadpan.

She laughs and I can feel the ice inside me melt even more.

We chat more about our friends from college.

I guess she still speaks to a few of them which makes me a little mad, since she cut me out of her life back then.

But, I have to remember that she explained why.

And her reason, even if it did hurt like hell, was valid.

“Sage, I’m sorry again. For how I handled things back then.” She says softly. Her fork messing with a swirl of pasta on her plate. “I feel really guilty about it still.”

“It’s okay.” I watch her fidget and decide in this moment that I can try to let it all go. I don’t want her to feel guilty anymore. I reach over and still the hand that’s messing with her fork and squeeze it slightly. “I forgive you.”

Her eyes well up and I squeeze a little more.

“Now, finish up your dinner because I want dessert.” Her wet laugh makes my chest feel tight.

Fuck me, I do have it bad. River is going to give me so much shit about this when I tell him about what is absolutely a fucking date.

We joke around and the conversation never dies down as we finish our food and when the waiter comes to ask if we want dessert we both say an enthusiastic yes.

She orders tiramisu and I ask for cannolis.

The little moan she lets out at her first bite should be illegal to hear in public. Good Lord. I can feel my cheeks heating, among other places, from just that small sound. I clear my throat. “So, why desserts?”

She rolls her eyes playfully. “It’s more than desserts, as you well know.

You help me stock the pastry case at the cafe.

But to answer your question, I’ve always loved baking.

It’s the one thing that has always made me feel at peace and confident in my abilities.

It’s… calming. I love the science to it, that everything has to be exact or things won’t turn out properly.

But that there is also a lot of wiggle room when it comes to flavors.

I think that’s my favorite part of all, trying new combinations of things to create unique flavors, and having people I love try them.

It’s sharing my heart with as many people as I can in a way.

” She shrugs as if that isn’t the sweetest thing I have ever fucking heard.

“Well,” I say with a flourish. “I love a cupcake. I am hopeless when it comes to making them, but I sure can eat them. You should teach me.” I wink and internally fist pump when her cheeks turn that cute pink again.

Emma laughs, her eyes sparkling. “I can teach you how to make whatever you want, Sage.”

This is it. If I thought I had any chance at keeping my distance from this woman, that is shot to hell now.

How did I think I ever had the strength to in the first place?

Emma is like a warm hug inside and out. Those piercing eyes see straight into your soul and I don’t think it’s possible to actually hate her.

And I’m finding that Piper may have been right after all, I don’t think I ever actually did.

“You ready to get out of here?” I ask softly, our desserts gone now.

She nods. “I’ll grab the check.”

I scoff. “The fuck you will.” She stares at me for a second before she tries to argue. I shake my head and flag our waiter down, handing him my card before Emma can even try to pay.

“Sage!”

I shrug. “If you actually wanted to pay for it, you would have moved quicker.”

She grumbles under her breath while we wait for him to come back.

Adorable. I make sure to tip well and guide Emma with a hand on her lower back as we make our way out to the parking lot.

Neither of us saying anything until we reach Emma’s car.

She hesitates, her hand on her car door handle, before she turns to face me. “Sage?”

I cock a brow. “Yeah?”

“I want to do something before I go.”

“Um. Okay? Do you want to go—” My words are cut off by the softest lips I’ve ever had the pleasure of feeling.

My arms instinctively wrap around her, pulling her in closer.

God, she’s so fucking soft. My hand snakes up into her thick hair and I tug lightly, pulling her head back so I can deepen our kiss.

My tongue teases the seam of her mouth. She lets out one of those little moans like she did inside and I almost lose it right here in the parking lot of Giovanni’s .

I force myself to pull back and when I do the air is knocked out of my lungs, because Emma is grinning at me with hazy, heavy lidded eyes.

She looks so fucking beautiful.

“I’ll, um, see you at the cafe tomorrow?” She asks softly.

“Uh, yeah. Yes. I will be there.” I manage to rasp out.

She leans in and gives me one last small kiss before turning and getting in her car. “See you tomorrow, Sage.”

I wave dumbly as she drives away.

Holy shit. I kissed Emma Newton. And I want to do it again.