“It didn’t matter a whole lot while she and I were still in the ‘friends’ phase and prior to the engagement she suggested that I remove it on occasion. But now?” he added with a weak smile. “She’s mentioned making the appointment herself.”
The only sound in the room was that of the water sloshing around in the sink while AJ dug for the last remaining silverware. I found myself curious as to how much he’d actually told Kira about our past. Jason knew it all, but I wasn’t sure if AJ had taken the same ‘full disclosure’ approach that I had.
“Did you tell her why we broke up?” I forced out before I could lose the nerve.
He cleaned the utensil in his hand and didn’t answer right away. “Not all of it.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“I didn’t tell her what you went through,” he finally admitted.
Most likely, he had no idea what a powerful expression of respect it was that he’d used discretion concerning my ordeal with Antonio. I wasn’t even paying attention when he handed the fork over for me to rinse. When I failed to take it, he ran it beneath the water streaming from the faucet himself and placed it on the dish-drain.
“You could’ve easily told her everything – especially since you didn’t think we’d ever talk again,” I explained. “What made you keep –“
“It didn’t seem like that was any of her business,” was his response, shutting down anything I planned to say next.
AJ unplugged the drain and rinsed the cloth out before folding it and setting it aside. It wasn’t until he reached for his watch on top of the microwave that I emerged from my inner thoughts.
“Dinner was amazing,” he finally uttered.
I smiled and ran my fingers through my hair after wiping them dry. “Thanks. I would’ve done more, but I was pressed for time.”
“It was great. It was nice to have something that came hot out the oven instead of a bag or box,” he joked.
I followed behind him as he walked to get his phone and keys from my coffee table. I pulled the door open once he’d gathered all of his things. Just before crossing the threshold, AJ stopped, but didn’t say or do whatever he’d originally intended. Instead, he just let his eyes roam over my face. A flash of heat consumed my cheeks again, which made him smile.
“It’s funny how that never gets old,” he said with a soft chuckle.
“How what never gets old?”
He removed his hands from his pockets briefly to point at my face. “Seeing you blush. Reminds me of that first time I came to your house that Sunday your parents weren’t home.”
I smiled again and I’m sure my cheeks reddened even more. “You remember that? The day of the week, I mean?”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “Of course I remember – the day after our last homecoming dance.” The smile on his face dimmed as nostalgia crept in. “Some things you just never forget.”
I pursed my lips and nodded in agreement. “Yeah…I guess not.”
The silence between us was interrupted when a neighbor excused himself as he passed by my door. Nervous, I smoothed my hands down the front of my shirt and looked everywhere but into AJ’s eyes.
“I should probably take off,” he said, sounding like that wasn’t really what he wanted to do, but rather what he had to do.
“Okay…be careful getting home.”
I wasn’t ready to let him go, god knows I wasn’t, but I prayed that AJ couldn’t see the desperation bleeding through my expression. I just wanted a little bit more of his time – maybe more than a little bit if I was being honest with myself. To hide my feelings, I forced a smile.