Save Me by Laura L. Cline Read Free Book Online Page B

coffee as I try not to wish what I told Nick was true.
    §
    I drive to Claire's after my shift at Willie’s and I tell her about Jack. She listens as we fold her laundry, happy that I’m talking about someone with interest rather than complaining Nick.
    “ He’s so good looking, Claire. And he’s polite, funny, and he’s got some smooth moves on the dance floor.”
    “ Well, listen to you. You’ve never talked about someone with so much umph ,” Claire says, stacking a small mountain of towels into a basket.
    “ He was…intriguing,” I say.
    “ Well, speaking of intriguing, Mark gave Robert your number.”
    “ Who’s Robert?” I ask.
    “ Duh, the guy you agreed to go out with? Earth to Carly.” Claire swats me with a wash cloth.
    “ I’ve changed my mind, Claire. I don’t want to go.”
    Claire throws her hands up in frustration then moves to put them around my neck. I laugh and shove her off.
    “ What the hell am I gonna do with you?” she groans.
    “ Well, I gave it a lot of thought, Claire. If Jack and I manage to meet each other again, I’d hate to lead someone else on. I don’t want to be that girl.” I’ve rehearsed this part, knowing that if Claire understood where I was coming from, maybe she’d let me off the hook.
    “ There’s nothing wrong with talking to them both, as long as it’s just talking. How are you supposed to make a choice if you have only one option?”
    I chew at my lip, contemplating what she’s saying. True, Jack and I had very little conversation and what we did have was superficial, but there was something there, something I couldn’t explain if I tried. I felt connected to him, tied to him in a way that runs through me, through the Earth and straight into him. Like we’re both caught in the same high wind, blowing around and brushing against each other before coming to rest in the same spot. How do I explain that and not feel foolish?
    “ Okay, fine. I’ll go. Just don’t expect anything to come of it,” I warn.
    “ Don’t you automatically expect nothing to come of it,” Claire says. “You don’t even know if you’ll see Jack again and Robert’s a very nice guy. Mark would never try and fix you up with someone he didn’t think would treat you well.”
    “ If he texts me, I’ll say yes. Just to appease you,” I say. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

Chapter 4
    The rest of Sunday passes and I don’t hear from Robert. Who is this Robert, anyway? All Claire knew was that he’s in his early thirties and comes from money, neither of which matter to me. He owns a local business, but she isn’t sure which one and Mark thinks he’s a ‘real stand-up guy’. I realize I must trust Mark’s judgment a whole hell of a lot to agree to go out with someone based solely on that.
    Monday during class, my phone does its little ding ding , and I silence it before the instructor rips my ass a new one. She’s a real ballbreaker and hates when students leave their phones on, which I normally never do. I’m sleepy as hell today; having spent almost all of last night’s sleeping time awake and thinking about Jack again.
    Once outside, I rummage in my purse for my phone. It’s a number I don’t recognize, but I know it has to be this Robert fellow.
    Hi.
    That’s it? I hoist my backpack up on my shoulder and curse myself for even agreeing to this.
    Hi. Is this Robert?
    God, I feel like such a dork even doing this. What happened to meeting a thoughtful guy who takes your breath away and then just being with them? Oh, yeah, I told him I didn’t need him to follow me home from the club and he didn’t. I killed chivalry in one fell swoop.
    Yes. I apologize for the awkwardness of this, but would you like to go to dinner Friday night?
    I have to give him points for directness. My thumb hovers over the screen, waiting for some direction from my brain. What the hell.
    Sure. When and where?
    I wait, the little gray bubble showing up in iMessage as he types. I