We’ve had moments alone since that night. He’s been a good friend.

But that’s all he’ll ever be. A friend. Because he doesn’t stay. And I’ve been in that relationship. I’ve been alone while my husband goes off to God knows where. I’m not doing that again.

But when I return to the bar and see Cam’s blue gaze on mine, I feel that flutter in my belly that I always do. I still want him.

I just can’t have him.

“So, you work at that Irish pub in town?”

My date’s name is Derek Lewis, and when he saw the menu here at the little diner in town, he wrinkled his nose.

Apparently, Derek is vegan, and there’s pretty much nothing on this greasy-spoon menu that looks appetizing to him.

His eating preferences don’t bother me, but it’s a diner.

“I do,” I reply and set my napkin in my lap. I’m excited to eat the cheeseburger that’s on its way out to me. “It’s a family business. My brother owns it—”

“So, you don’t own it?” he interrupts.

“No, my brother—”

“What are your ambitions for your career then?”

Okay, Derek is a bit of an asshole. I sit back as the waitress sets a big plate in front of me with my burger and a small mountain of fries. Derek ordered the dinner salad.

Before I can dig into my meal, I see Cameron come into the diner with a woman I don’t recognize.

I narrow my eyes.

Cam looks my way, gives me a slight nod, and then sits with his date, three tables over, right in my line of sight.

Great.

“Maggie?”

“What? Oh. I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

“What do you have planned for your career? You can’t work in a bar forever.”

I pop a fry into my mouth and study Derek. He’s in his mid-thirties with a little gray at the temples. He has a bit of acne on his chin and a crooked nose. It looks as if someone hauled off and punched him at some point, and he never had it fixed.

Frankly, I wouldn’t mind punching him myself.

“Why do you say that?” I take a big bite of my burger and watch as Derek’s nose wrinkles. The fact that I’m pleased by his repulsion of my food choice probably makes me a bad person.

I’m not sorry.

“Because that’s not ambitious. How will you support yourself?”

“I haven’t had a problem so far.”

Okay, so I can’t afford that new car I need, but my bills are paid, and I’m not hurting. I’m a simple girl.

Cameron laughs across the room and smiles intimately with his date, and I take another big bite of my burger.