Same/Difference (The Depth of Emotion #4) by D.D. Lorenzo

would kill whatever was left of the relationship when this trip was over. I promised myself that I could live with that because, for the first time, I felt like I was special. My issues and insecurities had always made me feel less than normal, but the way that Falcon treated me made me feel better than normal could possibly be—and it was intoxicating.
    Elizabeth noticed the change in me, and wanted to meet the man who was making me happy. I gave in and Falcon made plans for the three of us. This was the night the two of them would meet, and I was nervous. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t given Elizabeth regular updates on my dates with Falcon, but she pressed for details and I hadn’t given her any. She could be as overprotective of me as Aria. The reason for this particular get-together was that she threatened to crash our next date if I didn’t let her meet him. Although I walked a thin line between apprehension and anxiety, I was glad she would get to know him. He had become my favorite, daily habit.
    “Earth to Paige.” Elizabeth’s impatient tone interrupted my thoughts.
    “What’s on your mind? We were laughing a minute ago and you zoned out.”
    “Sorry.” I fumbled with the napkin then straightened and gave her my undivided attention.
    “Is it him?”
    I think I resented the question because her curiosity was maddening. She fixated on Falcon more than I did but, the truth was, she was right. I couldn’t hide it. The answer was evident by my surfacing smile.
    “I knew it!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to meet this guy! Does he feel the same?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t think so—but maybe I know it will probably end when I leave. I helped him pass the time while he was here.”
    Her tone was firm and her posture indignant.
    “Don’t discount yourself, Chica. You’re smart and beautiful. He’d be an ass to take a woman like you for granted.”
    “Please don’t say anything when you meet him tonight,” I pleaded. “Let’s just have a good time, okay?”
    She scrutinized my sudden change and gave me an exasperated look.
    “I’ve never seen you act like this, Paige. You’re excited one minute, and hesitant the next. Where is all this coming from?”
    I drowned my emotions in my glass of iced tea as I slipped my apprehension under the cracking ice. I wasn’t sure how to answer her because I couldn’t articulate exactly how I felt. Falcon was more than I hoped for because I never dared to hope. I didn’t want Liz to see beneath the composed posture that hid my self-doubt.
    Thankfully, she dropped the subject, although I knew it would be resurrected at some point, and instead she drew my attention to the sexy barista who was blatantly flirting with a customer. It was only a matter of hours before our date with Falcon.
     

     
    F or the remainder of lunch, Liz tried to lighten my mood with jokes and teasing—and she succeeded. I think the mood really lightened when she threatened to pull out all of her Latina charm and make Falcon forget about me— if that was what I wanted. She batted her long lashes in my face as she recounted the ways she could, and would, divert his attention. At one point she framed her beautiful light cocoa face with her fingers like in Madonna’s Vogue video. Any other woman would have made me feel the sharp pangs of jealousy, but Liz’s affection for me assured me that she was playing. She reminded me not to take myself so seriously and before I knew it my mood was more upbeat. Thank God for girlfriends! Women really do have the power to lift each other up, or rip each other up. It’s a choice.
    I checked the time and saw that it was almost time to go. The dress I planned to wear was figure hugging and short, so I decided to add stilettos to create a triple threat effect. A part of me wanted to leave impressions that would make Falcon unable to forget me. Every time we went out I wanted to stamp a memory in his mind. Tonight was no exception.
    I turned