“Ah, yes, I seated Mr. Barnett a few minutes ago. Right this way.”

The host leads me through the crowded dining room to a table near to the center where Aaron is seated and facing us. As soon as he spots me, he beams and pushes back from the table to stand. He buttons his navy-blue suit jacket and steps around the table to pull my chair out for me.

I settle into it with a small smile and let him push my chair back to the table. Still standing over me, he rests his hands on my shoulders as I’m putting my purse on the table, and I tense slightly.

It’s a gesture that would feel sweet with someone I was interested in, but now just feels awkward.

“I’m happy you’re here,” Aaron says. For a second, I think he’s going to kiss the top of my head, but he lets me go and takes his seat across from me. There are already menus on the table, so I pick mine up and start thumbing through it since I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell him I’m not as thrilled as he is to be here, but I don’t want to lie, either.

“You look nice,” I finally say, because at least it’s the truth.

He might not be the greatest boyfriend I’ve ever had, but he’s always had a sharp sense of fashion, and tonight’s no exception. Beneath the navy suit jacket, he’s wearing a powder-blue silk button-up and a cream-colored and orange tie. His brown hair is perfectly sculpted in one continuous wave back from his forehead, and his blue eyes glint as he watches me contentedly.

“Thanks, I’m glad you like it.”

He clasps his hands together on the table, and his designer watch flashes in the soft overhead light, reminding me of how different our priorities have always been. On the surface, it all makes sense—a handsome, well-off man pursuing a law student with a promising future—but underneath, it’s all wrong. We look like we match, but we never quite fit.

“So how have you been?” he asks.

I lay my menu down on the table and reach for a sweating glass of water that was already here waiting for me. I take a slow sip, hoping it’ll calm my nerves, then gently set it back on the table. “Okay. I’ve just been busy with school and the studio⁠—”

“Yeah, I noticed,” he interrupts. “I was actually kind of surprised when you answered my call the other night. I figured you’d be at the studio.”

“Well, I was,” I confirm, although I know better than to tell him who was there with me that night. “You just happened to catch me at the right time.”

Aaron smirks and leans closer to me over the table. “I’m hoping my luck continues tonight.”