Read Online A Matter of Honesty by Stephanie Morris - Free Book Online

if
    they were compatible. Stupidly, he had turned it down.
    But what could she want with him? She was young, just beginning her life. He
    was already settled in his. He began to pace back and forth, looking down the aisle
    where Lauryn and Johanna had disappeared. He had an important decision to make
    and not a lot of time to do it.
    Lauryn continued down the aisle, hoping there was a way she could get out of
    the store before anyone saw her break down. She sniffled, wiping away the tears
    threatening to escape before they became visible on her cheeks. She saw Johanna
    coming and groaned.
    Johanna‘s look of pity made her feel worse. Lauryn dropped her head and tried
    to wipe away more tears. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Johanna
    rushed up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Lauryn, you have no
    reason to cry.”
    ” Oh my God, Johanna, I‘m so humiliated. I knew it was a stupid idea to ask him
    out. I‘m not that kind of woman that asks guys out!”
    Johanna shook her head. “No, it wasn‘t.”
    “The way I feel right now it was.”
    Johanna pulled back and made Lauryn look her in the eyes. “It wasn‘t Lauryn.
    Steve likes you. He is interested in you.”
     
    Lauryn swiped angrily at her eyes. “Then why didn‘t he say yes? You have no
    idea how embarrassed I feel right now. I probably look like some desperate crazy
    woman.”
    “I don‘t know why he didn‘t say yes. Maybe because he‘s an idiot, but believe
    me, you don‘t come across as desperate or crazy in any way.”
    “Well, I feel like a fool and it isn‘t because he is an idiot. It‘s because I‘m
    unattractive. A man as handsome as him can have the woman of his choice. I probably
    don‘t even register on his radar.”
    “No, you are attractive, but it doesn‘t matter. You took a chance. It might not
    have gone like you wanted it to, but now you know. Besides, if you‘re with someone,
    you should be with them because they like you for who you are.”
    Lauryn groaned. “You can‘t tell me it doesn‘t help if you‘re attractive.”
    “No, I can‘t—”
    “But you are very attractive.”
    They both looked up at the sound of Steve‘s voice. Lauryn hadn‘t heard him
    come down the aisle. Judging by Johanna‘s expression, she hadn‘t either. Lauryn
    stepped back from Johanna, making a quick attempt to wipe her face. It was hopeless.
    She was one of those people whose eyes turned red, her nose runny, and her cheeks
    splotchy. No, she wouldn‘t win any awards for beauty after a crying spell.
    “Could I speak to Lauryn alone?”
     
    Johanna looked at Lauryn. Lauryn nodded. As far as she was concerned the day
    couldn‘t get any worse, so there was no harm in talking to him alone. She lived with
    him, so avoidance wasn‘t an option. Johanna paused at the end of the aisle. “Yell if you
    need me.”
    Lauryn nodded, averting her gaze from Steve. She couldn‘t even look at him, she
    was so mortified. He came closer to her and took her hand in his.
    “Lauryn, I didn‘t mean to offend you.”
    Lauryn shook her head and tried to pull her hand out of his but he wouldn‘t
    budge. “Don‘t worry about it.”
    “But I would like to explain.”
    “It doesn‘t matter.”
    Steve caught her chin in his hand, and forced her to look at him. “Yes it does, or
    you wouldn‘t be standing here with red eyes.”
    “Look, I don‘t why I did that. I shouldn‘t have asked you out.”
    He smiled. “To tell you the truth, I‘m glad you did. I didn‘t mean to hurt your
    feelings but this weekend isn‘t a good time for me to go out. I‘m going to be covering
    for Dillon here at the store Friday night. Johanna doesn‘t know because it‘s a secret.
    Dillon plans to surprise her with a getaway, because after she has the baby it might be
    a while before they‘re able to have a weekend to themselves. But I wouldn‘t mind
    going out next weekend.”
     
    She laughed, but it was devoid of humor. “Please don‘t