"I've grown, Tim. Life is too short to try and make myself perfect for someone else.”
I’d learned a lot from our breakup. When Tim and I first met, I was young and na?ve. I liked him, and I wanted him to like me just as much. I changed myself for him. It wasn’t intentional; it was more out of self-doubt. I had no confidence in myself back then, but I finally knew better. Maybe that was why things had changed for us along the way. Our relationship had been based on a lie. I wasn’t who I perceived to be, and neither was he.
“I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did, and I’m sorry I hurt you.” The look on his face proved to me that his words were genuine, but it was a little too late, in my opinion.
I looked toward Mr. Cline who was talking to Melanie about some case they were both working, while Mr. Stanley was giving me a death glare. I knew he didn’t like me; I could tell by the way he talked to me. It was just another thing I ignored while I was with Tim. He never stood up for me when it came to his father, but I never pushed the issue, either. I just figured it was because he didn’t know me, but as time went on, I realized that wasn’t it. He just genuinely didn’t care for me, but I never knew why. He made me feel uncomfortable and unsure of myself.
I looked away from him and back to his son. “I really don’t think we should be having this discussion at a business meeting.”
“Then have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
I had just taken a sip of my wine and nearly choked on it. Placing my glass down, I grabbed my napkin and wiped my mouth. He couldn’t be serious. Was he asking me out? Like, on a date?
“Thank you, Melanie. Remind me next time not to leave you out of any other meetings.” I turned toward Mr. Cline to see him smiling at my sister. “And you, Emma. It’s Emma, right?” I nodded with a smile. “How’s my son treating you?”
“Great,” I responded with a wider smile, grasping my hands in my lap. “He’s a great teacher.”
“I’m surprised to see you out, actually,” stated Mr. Stanley sarcastically, with a chuckle. “Don’t law students usually become hermits, omitting any type of social life?”
I could hear the bite in his tone and bit the inside of my cheek to refrain from asking him what the hell he meant by that.
“Emma has always been good about managing her time and putting school first,” Melanie answered for me. “But you are right. Usually there isn’t much time for a social life, but she still manages a little fun.” She turned and looked at me with a smile, and I held back the frown that was working its way onto my face. I had no idea what she was trying to say, and just as I was about to lean in and quietly ask her what the heck she was doing, I heard my phone chime.
“You should always make time for yourself no matter what. Does that mean you’re seeing someone?” Mr. Cline asked as I pulled my phone from my purse and read the text displayed on the screen.
Meet me at the Bethesda fountain at 9 tonight. I’ll be waiting for you. - Mason
I bit my lip to try and suppress my smile. The text was completely unexpected, and I shouldn’t have been as excited as I felt that he’d texted me. I did wonder, however, how he got my number, but I’d worry about that later.
“Yes, actually,” I said with a smile as I looked up to meet Mr. Cline’s gaze. “I am seeing someone.” I tried not to blush as I placed my phone back in my purse.
“So, Mr. Stanley,” Melanie started, changing the subject, and I was all too grateful.
Their voices slowly faded to mumbles as I stared at the table and went over the words of the text in my mind. I knew exactly where he wanted to meet. It was my favorite spot in Central Park, but I was having an internal battle with myself on whether I should meet him or not.
I placed my order with the waiter as he came back around and kept to myself for the rest of the dinner. After my little announcement of seeing someone, Tim’s demeanor toward me completely changed. He conversed with Brett, the other guy who had arrived with them, and ignored me. I was fine with that. It was Mel’s glances I was trying to ignore. I knew she saw the way I was looking at my phone, and she definitely had questions she wanted to ask me. She tried, but I shook my head to tell her not now.
When dinner was finally over, it was already past nine. I had made up my mind to meet Mason, but I couldn’t just get up and leave. I didn’t want to make a scene, so I patiently waited. I just hoped he was still there when I arrived.
“Well, I guess we better head off now. I know Emma has some reading to do, and I don’t want to make her stay up any longer then she needs to,” Melanie said with a laugh.
“Thank you so much for allowing us to join you, Mr. Cline,” I said as I started to get up from my seat. “I had a wonderful evening, but I do have a lot to go over before Wednesday’s class.”