“Screw the agreement. What about us?”
The pause was long and uncomfortable before she spoke. “There is no ‘us,’ Van. We’re too different.”
Donovan stiffened. Those words were painfully similar to claims he’d heard before, most recently from Whitley Maxwell after he’d told her that he and his father had been homeless. Was that the real reason Rose had decided to end all contact with him? She’d told him his past didn’t matter to her. Had she lied? Or had someone convinced her that his past should matter?
“I see.” Donovan braced his hands on his hips as his body accepted this emotional punch. “I thought you were different, but apparently, I was wrong.”
Rose spun to face him. She started to speak, but then seemed to reconsider her words. “I’m sorry, Van. But we might as well end things now before we go any further.”
Donovan nodded. “You’re right. We should break things off now. I wish you every happiness, Rose.”
“You as well, Van.”
Donovan marched to her door and let himself out of her house. Happiness had never seemed more elusive. He was three-for-three in the romance department. Every woman with whom he thought he could spend forever had left him once they’d learned about his past. But Rose’s rejection hurt the worst. He’d imagined unlimited possibilities with her. With her, he felt he could accomplish anything. Now he wondered what kind of future he could have on his own.
* * *
“Donovan and I broke up.” Rose made the announcement during her monthly dinner with her former classmates. This would be their last get-together before the reunion, which was only three weeks away.
A chorus of concern circled the booth.
“You two broke up?” Claudia’s lips parted in surprise. “When?”
“Last week.” Rose kept her responses as close to the truth as possible. Tomorrow would be one week since Donovan had walked out of her house.
“You guys weren’t together that long.” Tasha arched an eyebrow. “Why’d you break up?”
“Work.” She’d anticipated this question. “We both have demanding careers. We weren’t able to spend much time together.” Hopefully, the story would sound as plausible to her friends as it seemed to her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Maxine shook her head in disappointment. “Isiah and I really liked him.”
Me, too. “We’re still going to be friends.” If only that were true.
“Wait a minute.” Tasha lowered her glass of iced tea. “Max, you met him? When?”
Maxi
ne shrugged. “Isiah and I ran into Rose and Van at The Cheese Quartet a couple of weeks ago.”
“And you didn’t tell us?” Tasha’s eyes were wide with shock.
Maxine chuckled as she lowered her glass of ice water. “It wasn’t like a state supreme court decision or something that would impact our lives or careers. We just had dinner at a pizzeria.”
Tasha waved a hand. “Max, you and I need to have a conversation about expectations.”
Maxine shared a laughing look with Rose. Tasha’s obsession with gossip was well-known. She’d been the same way in law school. It didn’t appear that she would ever change.
“Isiah’s going to be disappointed that he’s not going to know another man at the reunion who he can hang out with while we’re busy with reunion activities.” Maxine folded her arms on the table.
Their server already had taken away their empty dinner settings. The friends were waiting for their separate bills. But they weren’t in a rush. Tonight, the Ethiopian restaurant was especially crowded. Other diners’ conversations seemed louder and the scents of exotic spices and well-seasoned meats seemed stronger.
“Your fiancé can spend time with my husband.” Tasha tossed the invitation impatiently. “So what are you going to do about the reunion, Rose? Are you still going?”
“Yes, I am.” Strangely, she wasn’t as bothered by the idea anymore.
Tasha’s eyebrows stretched higher. “Alone?”
“It appears so.” Rose shrugged.