The Ugly Secret

ked back her tears and covered up her vulnerability. "I'm sorry f

rs at the end of the deck. Impulsively, my hand

me?" The words were out of my mo

answered. She looked into my eyes

churned. I had just asked another gi

relief in her eyes. "I'll pick you up

all I mana

d, then turned and

d with her soft steps. In my mind's eye, all I could see was the provocative sway o

t get the butterflies in my stomach to settle down. My pulse raced with the firs

ked the clock. I got dressed. I brush my hair down neatly . I put o

t. I put my down my hair again . Ten years ago, I had my first date with a gir

irt with a short linen pants . She said we were goin

heard a knock at the door. The clock read 4:58. Th

oor. I took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, tryin

cing, I ope

back, highlighting her delicate featur

moment

she asked, brea

managed

e just up the road," she said

and she was the captain of the football team while I was the nerdy boy from the b

vertible. Red, of course. The top was down

away in the back. The lights were low. S

have much of an appetite. I can't remember what

ortable silenc

t?" Sarah said, not b

someone might overhear. On a Sunday night, th

ied. "It seemed like a

mused chuckle

e usual playfulness was gone from her voice. "Commitment

ords. Was she trying to defend hers

imitate her dry smile. "But you'd better know this: I

k the tension between us. At least for the time bei

each other for several months, being out with her alone was like m

up with a name like Thomas?

years. "My parents were dorks. They named me, my sister

ow you had a

rugged. "I'm

eir names?"

and

off and I saw what may have been

out you?

cho ex-girlfriend she didn't like," Sarah smiled and took a sip of her wine. "So they were going to name me S-A-N-

a kid?" I gave her a knowing smile.

eycha

e license

hirts

having to spell your

r at our shared ch

said. "There's only one 's' at

ugh you say it like 'To-mas'. And don't you hate it when people tr

"I used to hate my name, too, though after a while I thought it was cool. It makes me special. And not

drifted off for a second. I started

h asked, looking s

I said, l

real wide. "You said, 'were'. Are your

his had become an automatic response

"No, wait, that's

table silenc

ly. My eyes were fixed on my glass of wine, but my gaze was distant.

n hers. I looked up

etie," she said