Love's Dance by Marianna Roberg Page B

said.
    "Poor girl," Emily sighed. "Gampy would say to beat the sense into her. I give you all rights."
    Teniel laughed, and carried the phone up to Jason .
     
    ♥♥♥
     
    Colin gestured to a small park. "Let's take a break over there."
    Jaina nodded, She carefully peddled over, but almost fell over when she tried to stop. Laughing, Colin grabbed her. "You still need help."
    "I do, I really do. Sometimes I think I shouldn't be in control of anything that moves."
    "Nonsense. You're doing fine."
    "Right. Which is why I just about turfed it." She chuckled and shook her head. "Now what are we doing?"
    "Let's walk the bikes on that path," he said, nodding to a path through the trees.
    "Okay." Jaina fell into step beside him.
    After several minutes, she said, "I have a confession to make."
    He looked over, blue eyes curious. "Yeah?"
    "Yeah. See... back when we met, I tried to hate you."
    " Me ? Why?"
    Feeling intensely stupid for bringing it up, Jaina blushed. "Um. It's complicated. And it kinda starts with my ex-fiancé."
    "That Jack guy?"
    "Yeah. Have I told you why we broke up?"
    Colin shook his head.
    "I was gonna move in with him. I showed up a day early... and found him in bed with... another man." She swallowed. "And I've heard..."
    "That I'm gay."
    Jaina nodded. "I'm sorry. It's just..."
    "I understand. Really, I do."
    She stopped. "I've offended you."
    "No, you haven't." Colin studied her face. "Why are you telling me this?"
    She looked down. "What I was saying is, I wanted to hate you, but I couldn't. You wouldn't let me. And it's..."
    Jaina sighed. "I'll shut up now."
    "It's fine. Actually, that wasn't a surprise. Your not liking me."
    "It's not that. I like you."
    "Well, now you do." He watched as she scuffed the toe of her sneaker on the ground. Her body language screamed that there was something she wanted to say, but couldn't.
    Jaina could have kicked herself. She shook her head. "Forget I brought this up."
    She pushed her bike forward, fighting a fierce flush. She couldn't believe she'd even brought it up. What had she been intending, to confess her undying love for a gay man? "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she muttered under her breath.
    Colin caught her, his hand on her shoulder. He'd left his bike leaning against a tree some distance back. "Jay-"
    Jaina whirled around, brown braid whipping around to smack her in the face. "Why do I always fall for the gay ones?" she demanded.
    His bike helmet fell from his hand as his mouth dropped open and his eyes bugged. Jaina sighed miserably, feeling as if her face were about to melt off, it was so hot. She dreaded the next few words that were likely to come out of his mouth.
    But when they emerged, it was the last thing she'd expected.
    Colin took a deep breath. "I have a confession, too."
    She looked up, green eyes questioning.
    "I'm not gay."
     
     

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    After staring at Colin for several moments in incomprehension, Jaina jumped on her bike and pedaled away as fast as she could.
    Her brain refused to take in what he'd said. It would mean he'd been lying to her for months now. But why would he reveal the truth to her now, of all times?
    He didn't follow her home. Jaina left her bicycle in the garage and went into the backyard, where she sat for several hours, by herself, until Teniel came outside.
    "Jaina? Is something wrong?"
    Jaina straightened, hastily wiping tears from her cheeks. "No, I'm fine."
    It was obvious Teniel didn't believe her. "You're sitting in the cold, crying. You're not okay. What happened?"
    What could she say? Her best friend was a liar? If he was telling the truth, and he wasn't gay... he didn't want her. He'd had plenty of opportunities to tell her, to make some sort of move. If it was obvious to Angela how she felt, surely it was obvious to him, too. Especially after her self-incriminating outburst in the park.
    She didn't know what was worse, his being gay, or his not being gay and not wanting her anyway.
    "I'm fine," she