I glance over at Charlie—he’s tucking into his food while scribbling down notes in the notebook he has on the table. His dark hair is the kind of messy that’s expensive to achieve. His clothes are stylish, and I’m not sure how old he is, but I’d bet money he’s a few years younger than I am. All that adds up to him definitely not being interested in someone like me. When I turn back, Vic and Sean are looking at me like I’ve got two heads. “What?”
“You can’t say something like that and not explain what you mean.” Sean nudges his knee against mine under the table. “All teasing aside, we’re your friends, Pete. I hope you know you can talk about anything.”
“Thanks.” I’m touched, really, but I don’t think I’m the type to share easily. Scratch that. IknowI’m not. The thought of telling them about my insecurities where meeting someone is concerned makes my skin itch. So instead I shrug. “He’s young and used to city life.” I gesture to myself. “Couldn’t be more different if we tried.”
“That’s not always a bad thing,” Vic tries, and I wish they’d let this go.
I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but they’re not making that easy. Yes, he agreed to meet me later for a drink, but that doesn’t mean he wants anything more. “He’s here for two weeks, then goes back to wherever he lives. There’s no point getting attached.”
This time Vic grimaces. “Do I have to remind you that there’s such a thing as sex?” I huff and Sean laughs. “We’re not suggesting you propose to the guy, but you could have a little mutual fun for the next two weeks.”
I look between the two of them, eyes narrowing. “Isn’t that how you two started out?”
“Exactly,” Vic says, sitting forward. He looks far too excited all of a sudden. “And look at us now.” He reaches for Sean’s hand and gives it a squeeze.
“And as happy as I am for both of you, not everyone gets to be that lucky. And besides, you two had history.”
“True,” Sean concedes. “But we hadn’t seen each other in eighteen years.”
“But it was still there. I know nothing about Charlie apart from the fact his ex left him here last New Year’s Eve. For all I know, they might be back together by now. But then if that wastrue, would he have agreed to meet me for a drink later?” I scrub a hand over my face and groan. “Why is it all so hard?”
I glance up to find the two of them staring at me with raised eyebrows. They look scarily similar in that moment. “Now what?”
“You’re meeting him for a drink?” Vic hisses across the table. “When did that happen?”
“Err... when I went over to say hello.”
“And you couldn’t have led with that? We were trying to build you up enough to go over and ask him out, when you’ve already done it!”
“Sorry?” I’m not sure what I’m apologising for exactly.
Sean meets my eyes, and I can almost see him thinking. “If you’ve already asked him out for a drink—and he said yes—why are you so convinced he’s not interested?”
It’s a fair point.
“I don’t know. I only went over to say hello, but when I was talking to him, the invitation slipped out.” Because I wanted to spend more time with him.
“And in the fifteen seconds it took you to walk over here, you’ve changed your mind?”
“Maybe?” I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with all this scrutiny. But also a small part of me needs to get this out. “I guess now I’m wondering what the point is. Even if we hit it off, I live here and he lives... not here. One-nighters aren’t really my thing.”
“He’s here for two weeks,” Vic points out.
“Even worse. Plenty of time for me to get attached.” I know myself well enough to accept that’s a distinct possibility if I’m not careful. And how mortifying would that be?
“So you’re going to meet him for a drink and... just talk?” Vic almost looks confused.
“A foreign concept I know, but yeah, probably.”
“From the way he was eye-fucking you earlier, I thinktalkingwas the last thing on his mind.”
“Who’s eye-fucking who?” Hailey whispers, appearing at my side from nowhere and startling all three of us.
“No one.” I glare at Vic, then Sean, willing them to keep quiet. I should know better.
Vic grins and leans closer to Hailey. “Your guest this morning when Pete was half-naked.”
Her eyes light up with recognition. “Ahh.” But that’s all she says on the matter.
