Chapter Forty

“YOU LOOK AMAZING,” DONOVAN says as I walk toward him.

“Thank you. You look nice as well. That black suit looks like it was custom-made for you. You must have an amazing tailor.”

“Tony is my tailor, and yes, he is amazing. He’s been tailoring my suits for years.” I can see him studying my face, and I try hard to hide what I’m feeling inside.

Shame.

“Everything okay?”

“I would tell you yes, but you’re a psychotherapist, so you’d know I’m lying.”

He chuckles. “I see I’ve finally graduated from shrink.” He places a finger on my cheek and our eyes say good evening to each other. “Seriously, how can I help?”

Can you call Vicky back for me? Can you explain to her and Jack why I’ve avoided their calls for the last five years? Can you look them in the eyes for me and tell them that I can’t do the same because all I would see is the eyes of my dead best friend staring back at me?

Can you do that for me?

“I wish you could help me, but I’ve been running away from something that I’m afraid is no longer going to let me hide from it.”

“Hey. We don’t have to go out tonight, okay? How about we just stay in and just talk? I’ve been told that I’m a pretty good listener. We can always arrange something for another night.”

I give him a soft tap on the shoulder. “You’re a shrink. You’re supposed to be a pretty good listener. Besides, I didn’t wear this ruby red lipstick for nothing.”

He leans over and kisses me lightly. “No, you sure didn’t.”

“Well, I feel much better now. You have that effect on me.”

He kisses me again. Our eyes close as we each linger in the moment.

“Are you going to tell me where it is we’re going?”

“Salsa dancing,” he says, stepping back and then opening the passenger door for me.

“I’ve never been salsa dancing,” I say excitedly as I slide in, allowing one leg to show for a moment before he closes my door.

I look up at him and see that he’s blushing.

Nice payback.

“There’s this great family-owned restaurant called Mary’s Place that has a dance floor,” he says as his skin returns to its natural color.

I try not to grin but can’t help it when he wipes his forehead.

“On the first Saturday of the month, they bring in a live salsa band.”

“You know, your sister gave me the impression that you were…”

“On the boring side? Staid?”

“Something like that,” I say as we pull out into traffic. “But so far, we’ve been to listen to a band in the park do a tribute to Stevie Wonder, then we went white water rafting. On our third date, you took me to this old-time ice cream parlor and a jazz concert, and now we’re going dancing.”

“So, what you’re really saying is that this shrink isn’t boring?”

I reach over and give him a playful pinch. “Psychotherapist.”

“Look at that, I’ve graduated again.”

“Well, that depends on how well this salsa night turns out.”

“Oh, I plan on it turning out great.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“I don’t mean it like that. Trust me, I’m an old-school kind of guy in that area, but you’re not making it easy.” He glances over at me, and I smile. “What I meant is that I plan on using the dance floor to keep you in my arms all night long.”

“Is that right?”

“It is, but now that I think about it, I’m not sure you’re going to be able to keep up with me on that dance floor,” he says with a grin as we hit the expressway. “I am an excellent dancer and salsa can take some time to learn.”

“Don’t you worry, I’m sure I’ll catch on pretty quick.”