Free Over You by Christine Kersey

and the awful feelings she was having. The only problem was, how could she leave without walking right past Kyle? The last thing she wanted was for him to see her there, all alone, and feel sorry for her. It would be humiliating.

Chapter Ten
    Jessica sipped her water as she thought about how to leave without Kyle noticing her.  
    It might not be too hard, she thought as she observed Kyle and the woman. Kyle seemed to have eyes only for her. He probably wouldn’t notice me unless I walked up to his table and tapped him on the shoulder.
    Scowling at the thought, Jessica pushed her plate away.
    “Would you like a box, miss?”
    Jessica looked at the server and realized she couldn’t hide there forever. “No, but I’m ready for the check.”
    “Would you care for any dessert?”
    “Oh, uh, yes.” Jessica smiled, realizing that having dessert would give her a reason to stay in the booth a little longer.
    The server handed her a menu. “Would you like a minute to decide?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Jessica watched the server walk away, and then glanced at the choices before turning her attention back to Kyle and his date.
    I wonder how long they’ve been dating. How important is she to him? Then a thought came to her that made her inhale sharply. What if she is his fiancée?  
    Hot tears filled her eyes and Kyle and his date blurred. Picking up a napkin, she dabbed at the tears clouding her vision
    “Have you decided, miss?”
    Barely holding herself together, Jessica stared at the dessert menu as she spoke. “The chocolate flan.” Scarcely glancing at the server, she handed him the menu.
    “I will have that out to you shortly.”
    Jessica nodded, but didn’t speak. The moment the server walked away, she scrutinized Kyle and the woman more closely. Each time they gazed into each other’s eyes, Jessica cringed. When Kyle took the woman’s left hand, Jessica strained to see if a ring adorned her ring finger, but she couldn’t see clearly.
    The server materialized next to her table and set the cold dessert in front of her.
    “Thank you,” Jessica said, giving him a smile this time.
    “You are welcome.”
    As he walked away, Jessica saw that the blond woman was approaching her table. Alarmed, Jessica turned her attention to her food. Using her peripheral vision, she watched as the woman walked past, never acknowledging Jessica’s presence.
    She must be going to the restroom, she realized, feeling foolish for having thought the woman was coming to her table.
    Lifting her gaze to Kyle’s table, Jessica saw he was still sitting and eating his meal.
    What if he needs to use the restroom? Jessica thought. There’s no way he wouldn’t see me. If he knows I don’t have someone as crazy about me as he seems to be for his date, will he feel sorry for me? The idea made her head pound; she couldn’t abide the thought of him knowing she was alone. Even though she had just broken up with Alex, that didn’t change the fact that she was single now. Yet there he was, perfectly happy with another woman. His life had gone on just fine without her.
    Desperate now to leave the restaurant without him seeing her, she frantically looked around for a solution. When she saw her server, she motioned him over.
    “Yes, miss?”
    “This is going to sound strange, but do you have a back door I can leave through?”
    His eyebrows drew together. “It is for employees only.”
    Jessica nodded. “I know, but this is kind of an emergency.”
    Looking uncertain, the server hesitated. “I don’t know . . .”
    Jessica bit the inside of her lip, then reached for her purse. “How much is the bill?”
    The server pulled his notepad out of a pocket and told her the amount.
    Lifting her wallet from her purse, Jessica grabbed triple the amount and held it out to him. “Please.”
    Taking the money from her hand, he glanced around. “This way please.”
    “Thank you.” Pure relief filled her voice. She followed him as he walked toward the