CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

I waited for Kiran to pick me up since we had planned to eat together. It had been over two weeks, and I still felt horrible for Rory. During those two weeks, my thoughts about him increased in frequency and intensity to the point that they drove me insane.

Kiran came on time and was again dressed to impress; he had clearly put in a lot of work with his well-tailored slacks and shirt, and I felt horrible that I had only thrown on some thin jeans and a nice top.

As I turn to shut the front door, I tell him, "If I had known you were making such an effort, I would have dressed up."

You look fantastic," he says in response. A moment later, he's at the car, door open, and ready to let me in.

As I jump in, the unfamiliarity of the automobile hits me. Usually, this was the car we took on lengthy trips since it was roomier and more well-equipped than mine, but today it seemed foreign and unfamiliar. All we can talk about to go to the restaurant is Lucas, just like a pair of total strangers on