Becca pushed back from the assault. She didn’t want him kissing her. He was relentless though, and he held her tight.

Becca wouldn’t give in. She didn’t want to. Not after everything that happened with Charles the night before. She didn’t know if there could be something between her and Charles, but she wasn’t willing to throw it away on something she knew wasn’t a sure thing.

He finally gave up and pulled back, ducking down to look in her eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Becca tried to smile at him, but she knew it wasn’t really working. She shook her head and bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry, Ted, but I’m not okay. I ran into someone yesterday, an old friend, and I’m sort of an emotional mess right now.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, draping an arm around her shoulder and leading her toward the door to the diner. As he did, she glanced down the street and saw Charles, watching them. He looked like he’d been punched, a feeling Becca knew all too well.

Her eyes stayed locked on Charles’s as she shook her head. “No, Ted. I… Not right now. I don’t really know what I want.”

“How about you go in there and tell them you’re sick. Come home with me and I’ll take care of you. We can talk, if you want. If you don’t want to talk we can watch TV or do something else.”

Becca shook her head again. “I can’t. I need the money and I need to talk to him.”

Ted looked down the street, finally noticing that Becca wasn’t looking at him. “Is that him?” he asked as he followed her eyes.

Becca nodded. “Is he an ex?”

“No.”

“Should I be worried?”

Becca finally broke eye contact with Charles and looked up at Ted. He was so sweet. She’d only been out with him a few times, but she liked him. If Charles hadn’t shown up in her life, she knew she could have been blissfully ignorant falling for Ted. But Charles did show up.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “We have unfinished business.”

“Will you call me?”

Becca nodded.

“Then I’ll wait to hear from you.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “Goodbye Becca.”