"Hey Ang I wish I could catch up right now, but I have a date in twenty minutes, and I have no idea what to wear. I'm dressed for CPK, but now he wants to take me to some romantic little Italian restaurant, and there is no way I can show up in jeans" I had the phone cradled between my ear and my shoulder while I was tearing my closet apart.

"Looks like you're going to have to wear a dress. Man I wish I could be there to see your face right now" how nice of her to mock my dislike of dresses at a time like this.

"Yes I have to wear a dress, and you know I have very few options. So do I go with the navy blue A- line dress or the purple and white maxi dress?" I frantically put my phone on speaker while I curled my hair.

"Go with the navy blue A- line. You look great in that, and it goes perfectly with your gold strappy wedges" Angela basically had my whole wardrobe memorized.

"What would I do without you?" I threw the dress on, added some gold jewelry to match, finished my hair, and ran downstairs with my wedges in my hand.

" You would look like a disaster on your date, but I'm sure he'd think you were gorgeous even without my genius" Angela gloated as I strapped my shoes on and sat down on the stairs with thirty seconds to spare.

"You're the best. Thanks Ang, miss you girl. I have to go, talk to you later" it was hard not living with her and seeing her every day.

"Miss you to. I expect full details later" Angela demanded right before I hung up the phone. Barely a second later the doorbell rang.

"Wow, Kayla you look beautiful" Scott just kind of stood there on the front steps staring at me. I blushed, compliments always made me blush.

"Thank you. You're lucky I even have clothes on with you switching the restaurant on me at the last minute" I shoved him playfully as I followed him out to his car.

"I'm sorry, but they have live music tonight, and I thought that would be more fun than just dinner. Besides seeing you in that dress was worth the switch" Scott held my door open for me. I ducked my head to hide my blush at another compliment.

We sat out on the patio of the restaurant. Twinkling lights were strung over a canopy above all the tables. There was a band in the corner, and the tables were far enough apart that it gave the illusion that it was just Scott and I sitting there under the lights.

"So tell me about your life" Scott began after we ordered drinks.

"That's a very open ended question" I didn't even know how to answer that.

"Who is Kayla Ryans? I just met you and I know practically nothing about you" Scott's eyes were locked on mine, and I swear I could stare into them for hours.

"Well I grew up with my mom and my little sister Charlotte. She is my favorite person in the whole world. I've played volleyball for ten years, and right now I play at John Hopkins. I have an unhealthy obsession with mac & cheese and Netflix. After college I'm going to live in Seattle, have two kids, and be the best cardio surgeon in the business. Then when I retire I'm going to more to the French Riviera" I didn't realize how crazy that all sounded until after it all spilled out of my mouth.

"Wow a girl with a plan, impressive" Scott seemed more surprised than impressed, but I was known for making plans.

"Your turn. Tell me about your life" I couldn't help but look around again. I couldn't believe I had never been to this restaurant before, it was perfect.

"Well I grew up two towns over from here with my two sisters and my parents. I played Basketball and golf in high school. Used to get into all kinds of trouble with my friends, but then I decided to give up my wayward ways to save lives" Scott gave me that charming smile, which would probably have made me melt a bit inside if I wasn't distracted by the people coming out on the patio.

Are you kidding me? Out of all the restaurants in the area it had to be here? Why was the universe so cruel?

Jake Mitchells and one of the other coaches, Mary, walked out and were seated three tables away from us.

I tried to hide behind my menu, but to no avail. He saw me.

"Kayla are you okay?" Scott seemed concerned and confused about my sudden urge to play hide and seek.

"Yes fine I just wanted to make sure I read the fine print" I set my menu down and silently berated myself for looking like an idiot.

We ordered and made some more small talk, but I couldn't help myself from stealing glances at Jake, and more often than not I caught his eye.

Here was a wonderful guy in front of me with career goals similar to mine who seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, and I couldn't stop looking at my ex. What was wrong with me?

"Dance with me" Scott was already standing before I registered what he said. I looked around the patio and several couples, including Jake and Mary, were dancing along to the music.

I took his hand, and he led me out to an open area underneath the lights. I place my arms loosely around his neck, and we started to sway slowly to the music.

"Is it just me or has that old guy over there had his hand on his wife's butt for at least twenty minutes" Scott pulled me closer to him so he could whisper in my ear.

"I was thinking the same thing. Now I'm picturing my grandparents dancing like them. That is not a visual I needed" Scott and I were laughing so hard, but trying equally as hard to hide it, so we wouldn't seem obnoxious.

I was still laughing when he spun me out, and then back in so I was curled tight in his arms. When I turned back around I saw Jake watching me. I wish I could say I forgot he was there, but that would be a lie.

"I'm sorry I'm going to go to the ladies' room before the food gets here. Excuse me" I smiled before grabbing my purse and heading inside to find the bathroom. I had to get it together. I wasn't going to let Jake ruin my date with an amazing guy.

I thought about splashing some water on my face because that's what people do in the movies, but I didn't understand how they did it without messing up their makeup, so I just took some deep breaths instead.

When I finally regained my composure I slipped back out into the hallway only to almost scream from shock.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I accused Jake who was leaning against the wall nonchalantly.

"Waiting for the bathroom" he seemed way too calm, as if we didn't try to kill each other whenever we were within five feet of each other.

"I meant what are you doing at this restaurant? Are you trying to ruin my date?" I was whisper shouting at this point.

"You think I'm stalking you? Don't flatter yourself. Tyler recommended this restaurant when I asked him where I should take Mary for dinner" Jake's rationale made me feel like an idiot.

"Tyler and Paige were hanging out together with some group tonight. Those two set this whole thing up. Gosh they're dumber than I thought" I couldn't believe they believed this would amount to anything good.

"What you can't stand to be in the same room with me when you're on your date with lover boy?" Jake sneered.

"Says the one who's here with Mary. She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. You don't know anything about Scott so stop being a jerk. Can't you just let me be happy?" my whisper shouting was steadily escalating to full on shouting.

"I used to make you happy until you freaked out on me that night. Then you go and tell everyone that 'you can't manage a relationship at this point in your life because you have so much going on'. Obviously that's not true because here you are starting a relationship with someone else" Jake ranted. He was pulling on his tie progressively loosening it throughout this whole "conversation".

"It was easier than telling them what really happened. You really want people to know what you did that night? God I can't believe I tried to protect you. You're right maybe I should set the record straight and let everyone know what you did" I jabbed my finger into his chest.

"Are you kidding me? I never would have done what I did if you hadn't ran away from me. You literally ran away from me after I told-" I cut him off before he could recount that whole hell of a night.

"You didn't have to react so rashly. I'm done thinking about that night, and frankly I'm done thinking about you" I started to walk away when he grabbed my wrist.

"I can't change what happened that night, but did you ever think that maybe I still want you to be a part of my life despite the hell you put me through?" Jake asked the question, but I had no idea how I felt about it. Did I want him back in my life?

"I don't think I can do that. It's too hard. It's better this way" As his grip loosened I pulled my arm free and returned to the patio, to Scott.

Oh boy dinner and dancing turned ugly fast. Sounds like that night they keep avoiding discussing was crazy. What do you think happened?

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