Page 19 of Reaching Gavin

“You’re the lead designer?” I asked as innocently as possible. There was a huge difference between being on the team and being in charge. Fresh out of college? I knew where his place was in the pack. I’d play dumb if it knocked Luka down a few pegs.

“No.” He shifted in his seat, angling his body a little further from me like I’d struck him. Score! “But I could be, you know. Everyone has to start somewhere. The salary is huge though. I have my own place, a new car, I get a couple weeks vacation.”

I couldn’t tell if he was selling me on Microsoft or him. I wasn’t interested in buying stock in either.

“That’s cool,” I said noncommittally, tapping the tines of my fork with my fingernail. The disgruntled waiter appeared with the bottle of champagne, looking annoyed at my fidgeting as though it marred the atmosphere of the joint. He held it out for Luka to inspect, but he waved it off like it was fine. He really was determined to show off. Two glasses were poured and I watched the bubbles dancing in the pale liquid.

Luka raised his glass. “To new beginnings.”

I hoped he didn’t mean new beginnings with me. I clinked my flute against his and took a sip, amazed at how much it bubbled in my mouth. I’d never had champagne this expensive before. Now I understood the price tag, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.

The alcohol had the effect of boosting my courage. I took a heady swig and dived right in. “So, I’ve been thinking since I ran into you about how our relationship ended.”

“I have, too,” he admitted to my surprise.

I hadn’t expected him to be so open to a discussion about the past, but, hey, if I had the opportunity, I was going to take it. Carpe diem that bitch.

“I guess I just never understood why you cheated on me.” I abandoned the champagne and waited for a response.

Luka took an extraordinarily long time taking his next drink. If he’d been thinking about us, he hadn’t been considering that. Finally, he answered, “We all make mistakes, Cassie. I think it’s best to leave the past in the past.”

“Does that include leaving you in the past?” I couldn’t help myself. My patience was beginning to crumble, especially if Luka was going to act like it wasn’t a big deal. I decided to stand my ground. “No, really. You hurt me. I mean, we weren’t in love or anything, but I did kind of think it was crappy of you.”

“It was bad of me,” he admitted “but I was a kid. I was surrounded by a campus of beautiful women. I’ve changed a lot since then.”

I suspected that someone whose defense was to recall the sheer number of gorgeous girls on campus hadn’t changed as much as he wanted me to believe. Before I could point that out, he moved closer to me. I felt his hand on my knee, and I jumped a little. Luka looked deep into my eyes, locking our gazes, and for a split second, I remembered how charming he could be. Yes, he was cocky, far too self-assured, but he had the moves to back it up—and the looks. As his baby blue eyes stared soulfully into my own, I felt like nineteen-year-old Cassie again and for just a second I was lost. “Cassie, I’m not going to lie to you. I have grown. I think that what we had was something really special. Sex that hot doesn’t come along every day. I’m busy with work. You’re busy with this internship. I think that maybe we could really blow off some steam together.”

“Excuse me?” I smacked his hand from my leg like it was a mosquito. I’d prefer it had been a mosquito. I’d rather be dealing with a bloodsucking parasite.

“Don’t take it the wrong way. I mean, maybe it will lead to something. Someday. And I’m not to going step out on you anymore. I understand the value of sticking to one chick.”

“Chick?” I repeated. “I’m not a chick. I’m a woman.” And the closest he was getting to me was paying the check. The waiter had the bad timing to show up with the foie gras at that moment. I stood up, ready to blow, and nearly knocked him over as I grabbed for my purse. “The problem is you never saw that. That girl—the one who was stupid enough to think your crazy driving was cool, the one who didn’t notice when you were sleeping around—she’s left the building. Now this woman is about to do the same thing.” I took a step toward the door, paused, and spun around. Picking up the plate of foie gras I gave him a haughty glare. “And I’m taking this with me.”

The waiter who had stood to the side did nothing to stop me as I stole the dish. I kinda hoped they charged Luka for it. I was out the door, foie gras in hand, before I remembered that he had driven me here. Now I was in the middle of downtown Seattle with a plate of French duck liver and a pair of shoes that were not made for walking. I decided that despite that fact I needed to get moving. If Luka had the balls to follow me out, I didn’t want him to find me standing there trying to figure out what to do next. I walked in the opposite direction of his car. It seemed like a safe bet that he would head the way we had come. He was the one wanting to take a tumble down memory lane after all. The trouble was I didn’t really know where I was. It took some maneuvering to handle the dish I’d stolen and get into my purse to dig out my phone. Before I could open the Uber app, a car pulled up to the street in front of me with the window rolled down. I glanced down quickly at my little black dress wondering if I’d accidentally dressed like a street hooker. It didn’t seem like I was advertising. Maybe it was someone looking to score some haute cuisine on the side.

“Cassie?” A familiar voice called.

I leaned down, which was tricky given the balancing act I was already doing, and saw the driver. Gavin’s friendly, and very welcome face, stared back at me.