Resentment is a bitter taste in my mouth. I have been more present while flirting with Delilah than any time I’ve had my head between a woman’s legs. How fucking sad is that?

Why the hell did it have to be Delilah? Why her? Anyone else, and it would be easy. I’d relish falling. Fuck, I’d dive in with a running jump.

Why couldn’t it be Anya, eyeing me with interest and waiting for a reply?

“Sex does a body good,” I say. A stock line followed by my trademark smile.

I’m sick of both.

Anya licks her bottom lip, then glances around before her gaze meets mine once more. “You want to get out of here?”

Part of me wants to whimper because she’s making it so easy. And part of me wants to smash my fist into the table. Because I don’t even feel a stirring of interest, and I know I would have two months ago. I would have taken her back to her place and rocked her world.

And then gone home as lonely as always, you sad sack.

My back teeth meet with a click, and I have to force my body to relax. I don’t want to hurt Anya’s feelings. I just don’t want to fuck her.

“Anya, I think you’re lovely . . .”

Her smile fades. “But you’re not into it.”

Rubbing the back of my neck, I give her the truth. “I’m into someone who isn’t into me. I tried to get over that tonight. I’m sorry. It was shitty of me.”

“Hey.” She reaches out and covers my hand with hers. “We’ve all been there.”

“There sucks,” I mutter.

She laughs. “Very true. But I’ll tell you this; avoiding it isn’t going to make it go away or get you out of Suckville.”

I give her hand a light squeeze. “I really do wish I wasn’t stuck in Suckville. You’re a great date.”

Her smile is wide. “In another life, we’re probably really hot together, you know.”

“Probably,” I agree. But I’m lying. Instinctually, I know it wouldn’t matter what life I lived; I’d find my way back to Delilah.

Suddenly, I can’t breathe. I need to get out of here.

It takes too long to end the date and get back home. But when I do, the house is still and dark, only the front lights on. On silent feet, I make my way upstairs, not wanting to wake Delilah, but come to a halt when I find her door open and her room empty.

She’s gone?

I hadn’t expected that. A humorless laugh escapes. So damn sure I’d find her here waiting. Such is hubris.