Ifinger-combed through my layers in the cab and ran my tongue over my teeth before popping a mint into my mouth. Of course, we ran late at work and now I was stressing about getting to Chowww on time. Well, I wasn’t, but I was silently wishing the cabbie would step on it.
Eh, I muttered to myself and sat back. There was nothing I could do, and why was I rushing like this for Layton? The last time I saw him, he was an ass. Of course, I’d been a bitch the time before that, but who cared? He wasn’t my type, not even close.
My phone dinged.
JANIE: You up for drinks?
CHARLI: Can’t tonight, have a thing.
JANIE: A thing? Be that way.
CHARLI: Seriously. No biggie. Tell you tomorrow.
She wasn’t going to let this go, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her yet. How would I explain my unnatural attraction to the big dude? The one I’d sent out an SOS to have her rescue me from.
My phone dinged again, and I almost ignored it.
MOM: Why are you ignoring my e-mails?
Yep, I should have ignored it. My mom only resorted to texting when she felt it was the only way to get me to answer. She was sort of right.
CHARLI: Because I am not going to date Garrett.
MOM: Don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth.
Oh God, she was getting all cliché on me, and to make matters worse, was mixing them like metaphors. I thought groupies avoided clichés?
CHARLI: No, it’s just no. Love you. I will call you over the weekend.
I tossed my phone in my tote, refusing to look at it anymore.
Closing my eyes, I drew in a long breath. This was it. One dinner with Layton, and then I’d let him down easy and move on with my life.
I repeated the mantra to myself all the way to the restaurant, then flipped the fare toward the driver and hopped out of the cab at quarter after seven. Pushing through the double doors, I left the humidity outside for a thumping bass and cool air-conditioning.
As I made my way into the bar area, guilt ghosted over me. Guilt over predetermining how this evening would go. Shame over how I texted my mom, and even more guilt over leaving Janie in the dark.
“Charli!”
I heard my name called over the crowd and looked up to find Layton sitting on a couch, nursing a cocktail. He looked relaxed in loose jeans and an AC/DC T-shirt, his legs spread wide, his hair mussed and damp from a recent shower. He would have looked badass except for the broad smile on his face and the excitement brightening his eyes.
Yes, I was a bitch.
Oh, and I’d suggested sushi without thinking, and I already knew he didn’t like it.
Determined to shrug off my attitude with my coat and apologize later, I made my way over to where he was sitting and dropped my jacket on the sofa.
“Hey!”
“Hey!”
We spoke at the same time and chuckled awkwardly as Layton gestured for me to sit.
As I sat next to him, I was surprised by the heat radiating from his body. His scent titillated my senses, so fresh and clean with notes of rain, and I felt dirty taking my fill.
“I ordered a drink so they would let me keep the seat,” he said, his tone apologetic. “I didn’t know what you would want.”
“Oh, that’s fine. Sorry I’m a few minutes late, but ... no buts. Work ran late and then I had to get a cab.”
