He nodded. “True.”
“And I’m done with men. You’re definitely a man.”
“Again, true.” He drank and watched her. “So, you going to try chicks or are you just saying you’re not dating guys for a while?”
“Chicks?” She blinked, feeling a little muzzy. She hadn’t eaten anything besides the pot pie at lunch and a few noodles at dinner. And now the pretzels. The alcohol might just be hitting her harder than she’d expected. “Wait. Are you asking if I’m attracted to women?”
“Are you?”
“That’s kind of personal, isn’t it? Wouldn’t the answer be no? I mean, I just broke up with Cody.”
He watched her carefully. “You can be into guys and girls, you know.”
“Are you?”
He choked on his beer. “Ah, no. I’m straight. I like women.”
“Me too.” At his surprised expression, she amended, “I mean, I just like guys. Not women. I’m just not dating.”
“Gotcha.”
“What about you? Are you not dating too?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Well, you are out with me.”
“But you said this wasn’t a date.” The grin he shot her devastated her brain into frying on the spot. “You interested?”
“I just said I wasn’t dating anymore.”
He laughed. “Honey, there’s dating and there’s the rest of the way the world works. You don’t have to date to have sex.”
She sat up straighter, gaping. “Are you telling me you want to have sex with me?” came out louder than she’d intended.
A few guys near their table laughed. “If you don’t want her, I’m game.”
“Pick me, pick me!”
“Oh man. She’s so cute.”
Smith turned and glared at the table, who toasted him then turned back to one another.
Erin’s face felt hot enough to leave burns. She finished off her drink and waved down the waitress for another.
Smith ordered another beer for himself as well. “You’re a lightweight. Better lay off the booze.”
“You’re not my father,” she snapped, not liking how she continued to come across as pathetic or weak in front of him.
“Christ, no. Fine. You want to drink and get stupid, go ahead.”
“I’m not drunk, Smith,” she said primly. “I had one glass. I’m old enough to know my limits.” She really shouldn’t get another, but now she had to drink it to prove herself. She’d just eat more pretzels to counter the emptiness in her belly. Right.
“So how old are you anyway?” he asked.
“Twenty-five. You?”
“Thirty-two.”
