I turn my attention to the couple I’m spying on.
Paul doesn’t actually know I’m here. I figured it would freak the poor guy out, so I followed them like a secret agent tracking a target and slipped in around five minutes after they did. Idirected the waitress to seat me at a table out of view, and thankfully I was able to sneak in unnoticed.
I’m feeling like a bit of a creeper, leaning around the edge of the wall to check on Dani’s date. She spotted me about half an hour ago, and her quiet smile was adorable. She’s happy I’m here, which is the only thing stopping me from bailing.
My eyes narrow as Paul’s hand snakes across the table. He brushes his fingers over the top of Dani’s knuckles, and I watch him like a hawk. But after a comment that makes Dani grin, he’s pulling his hand back and digging into his loaded fries again.
Damn, he’s a slow eater. That boy got his food over twenty minutes ago, and he’s only half done. I demolished my burger in about five flat. At least the food here is good.
Dani’s picking at the last of her salad. She finished her chicken tenders pretty fast. They must have been delicious… or she was nervous and eating to cover it.
I study her face, her shoulders, her fingers, looking for signs of distress, but she seems fine. Satch is right about Paul being a nice guy. He’s got a grin wider than Wily’s, which he’s using on the regular.
There seems to be a sincerity about him.
When I first met with him and Satch for coffee, I kept my guard up, testing him out with gruff comments and questions, but he stayed calm and kind, laughing off my “grumpy mode” until I finally relaxed and told him why I’d been acting that way.
He was pretty good about it and seemed happy to take Dani out, be the perfect gentleman, and help her ease back into the dating scene.
Dani says something and Paul tips his head back, his laughter booming across the restaurant. Dani winces, then bites her lips together when he looks at her again. Forcing a smile, she grabs her basically empty glass and sips out the last of the melted ice cubes.
I don’t think she’s feeling this date.
But she’s not unhappy, which is good.
This right here was all about her experiencing a one-on-one with another guy. This is just a baby step toward her new life.
An ache blooms in my chest. I slump back in my seat, staring down at my plate, the last few crispy fries scattered around the edges. I pick one up and draw patterns with my ketchup, trying not to dwell on how wrong it is that Dani’s trying to find another guy.
I mean, it’s not wrong. She deserves to be happy.
But she was.
With Atlas.
She was so fucking happy. They both were.
No awkward dates. Ever.
He told me all about the first time he took her out for ice cream, and it sounded perfect. From day one, they just clicked. They were soulmates, and it’s a fucking travesty that he’s not here anymore.
How the hell is anyone supposed to move on from their soulmate?
Glancing around the edge of the booth again, I notice Dani collecting her bag and standing up.
It’s over already?
I glance at my watch. Just over an hour. So, not a total disaster but hardly the “I’m so into you, I’ve lost track of time” date.
Tapping my fingers on the table, I wait for them to finish paying, and my phone starts to ding with texts from Wily.
Wily: How’s the date going? Satch is making me ask.
Me: It’s wrapping up already, but everyone was smiling throughout.
Wily: Over already? That was fast. Are you sure it wasn’t all fake smiles?
Me: They could be going off to do something else. I’ll follow in a second… which makes me feel like a stalker. Should I be bailing?
