Chapter 3

The question sent a small tremor through my chest.

I didn't want to tell that story. The memory made me sick.

But I wasn't going to waste a single chance to make him feel sorry for me.

If it would make Edward fall for me, I'd have peeled open my own chest and shown him the bleeding heart inside.

I smiled calmly and was about to start.

His phone rang.

He frowned slightly and looked up at me.

"Sorry. I need to take this outside."

I smiled and nodded.

Edward left the table.

And I went flat on the tabletop like a balloon with the air let out.

He'd been quick, but I still saw the screen.

The contact name was Emily Evans. My sister.

The wait dragged. He was on that call for ten minutes.

When he came back in with an apology written all over his face, my heart dropped.

And the next thing out of his mouth was exactly what I expected.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Evans. Something's come up, and I have to go to the office."

It felt like a handful of pins driven into my chest.

But I smiled and nodded.

"Okay. Drive safe."

Edward picked up his suit jacket and walked out of the restaurant without a flicker of feeling.

I watched him go.

After a moment's hesitation, nerves twisting in my stomach, I mustered up my courage and chased after him, calling out.

"Edward, can I ask you out again tomorrow?"

He stiffened, but in the end, he nodded.

I pushed my phone at him and asked him to enter his number.

Edward hesitated for two seconds.

Then he typed it in.

After that, he left in a hurry.

I went back to my seat and stayed there until the restaurant closed at two in the morning.