Other Side of the Wall by Jennifer Peel Read Free Book Online Page B

bit.
    “Peter,
be the father Gia deserves and the one I know you can be.”
    I
left him looking dumfounded and made my way to Scott, who was thoughtfully
looking my way. When I reached his side, he grinned. “I was just about ready to
come and rescue you.”
    I
curtsied. “This damsel fared well on her own, kind Sir.”
    He
dramatically bowed in front of me and I laughed.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    The
temperatures and the humidity began to drop as we neared the end of summer. I
actually enjoyed the autumn weather in Chicago, but I knew it was a precursor
to winter, and I abhorred the winter. For a moment, I thought maybe I should
fly south for the winter and stay, but then I thought about Scott and I put
that thought on hold.
    September
dawned and I found myself being asked out by an Oncologist for dinner. I
couldn’t think of reason to turn him down other than my very friendly feelings
toward my neighbor who loved his wife, so I agreed. But as soon as I said, yes,
I had this feeling like I was being unfaithful. I know it sounds dumb. Scott
and I were just friends, even though we spent most of our free time together,
but some friends are just like that. He didn’t know I was attracted to him and
I wanted to be more than friends. He had not signaled he wanted anything more
than friendship; in fact, lately he had been talking more about Jenna. I
noticed the last time I was in his house there were photo albums and old
yearbooks laying around like he had been pouring over them. She had only been
dead six months and what he was doing was natural and normal, but selfishly, I
wanted him to work through it already and see me differently. I wanted him to
take off his wedding ring. I wanted him to see that even though I was her
opposite, we were a good match. But, I was smart enough to know that it
probably wasn’t going to happen, so I kept my date with Dr. Micah Novalis.
    The
night of my date I dressed up in a new red wrap around dress. I had finally
done a major shopping trip and an overhaul of my wardrobe, my mom would be
proud. Southern women knew how to shop and accessorize. I was pretty sure it
was hereditary. I had just finished the final touches on my hair when there was
a knock on my door. My date was early and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
He was already a little too eager for my taste.
    I
opened the door, annoyed, only to find I wasn’t annoyed at all. It was Scott
and it looked like he had just gotten off work.
    His
eyes got wide when he looked at me. “Ava, you look … Um, you look … What I mean
to say is uh, wow.”
    I
waited until he was done stammering. “Thanks, I think.”
    His
face turned a little red. “Ok, you look gorgeous.”
    He
was always careful about talking about my physical appearance ever since that
night he kissed me. I really wished he would kiss me again. Like right now.
    I
smiled. “Better.”
    “So
what’s the occasion?”
    I
bit my lip and thought about lying. I don’t know why. I hated liars, and I
never wanted to lie to Scott, but for some reason I didn’t want to tell him I
had a date. I knew he didn’t care, but still.
    He
kept looking at me expectantly.
    I
sighed. “I have a date.”
    His
face dropped. “Oh.”
    “Is
there something wrong with that?”
    I
so badly wanted him to say yes, because I would have called off the date in a
nanosecond for him.
    “Of
course not,” he answered. “Have a great time. I’ll see you later.” And just like
that he walked off.
    I
slammed the door harder than I should. I was such a fool. I was in no mood to
go out to dinner with Dr. Novalis, but it was too late to cancel now. I don’t
even know why I said yes in the first place. He wasn’t even my type. He
reminded me of a California beach boy with his golden blonde hair and over-tanned
skin. It was odd to me that an Oncologist would be so tan. You would think he
would be more concerned about skin cancer. Believe me, I was all for being in
the sun, but he