“It’s your table,” Lola argued.
“Doesn’t matter.”Maddie jerked her head toward the group.“They all seem fascinated with you.”Lola couldn’t detect even the slightest hint of jealousy in her friend’s voice.
A shiver ran down Lola’s spine.She’d been hoping that her imagination was playing tricks on her, that she hadn’t become the center of attention for a bunch of strangers– who were very strange indeed.Her friends only confirmed her suspicions as the curious gazes of the guys remained fixated on Lola.“What’s going on?”she whispered to herself.“There’s nothing captivating about me.Unless you want to count my…” She motioned to her face and arms where the vitiligo was visible before sweeping her finger towards her BFFs.“Eccentric best friends.”
Katy narrowed her eyes.“Hey, I’m not eccentric.And your ‘v’ makes you interesting and beautiful.”
“I was being nice.”Lola said dryly.“Would you prefer, ‘downright weird?’”She ignored her friends' compliments because Lola didn’t know how to respond to them.She didn’t think herself ugly, but she knew she looked odd.
“Okay, eccentric it is,” Katy said.“Maybe someone created a fake social media account about you and claimed you’re an out-of-work porn star in need of new clients,” Katy said.“Then they wrote a sad story as you, claiming you’ve fallen so far that you have to wait tables to make ends meet.”She tapped her chin and seemed to seriously consider her own words.
Maddie shook her head.“And you don’t think you’re eccentric?”
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Lola said.
“For real.”Maddie rested a hand on her hip.“As long as men exist, porn stars will never be out of work.”
“Okay.”Lola huffed.“That’s not really why I thought it was dumb, but we can start there.”
“Oh.”Katy perked up.“Spiked, Blond Hair is raising his hand.You’re up Lola.”She pushed Lola away from the napkins, causing her to drop the dispenser in her hand.It hit the counter with a loud clang.Several customers looked their way and sniggered.
Lola turned and shot Katy a glare.Her brunette, mouthy friend just shrugged and then made a shooing motion with her hand.“Dick,” Lola muttered as she headed toward the three guys.Taking deep breath, she told herself not to ask any absurd questions.Just see what they want and keep your inquisitiveness to herself.That was like asking the clouds not to rain when they got too full.
When she reached the table, she folded her hands in front of her and smiled.Lola felt like her lips were spread much too wide.She probably looked like a lunatic, but she worried if she stopped smiling, she’d let all the questions in her mind come spewing out.“How can I help you?”
“Hey, Love,” Spiky said.His British accent was stupid sexy.Why are accents sexy, exactly?Don’t you dare ask him that!“We’re ready for our check.But before we go, I was hoping I could get your number.”
Lola’s smile dropped, and her eyes widened.This was the first time any of the strangely-hot guys had asked for her number.Some had flirted.Some, like Roan from the first group, had gazed at her as if she was a mystery to be solved.Most had just been friendly.Spikey just removed any doubt about his intentions.Unless he wanted her number for a different reason?
“Why do you want my number?”Did she have self-confidence issues?Yes.But what woman didn’t?The fact Lola had a glaring skin difference from the rest of the world added to her insecurities.Lola had never been hit on by someone as good looking as the guy in front of her.Forgive me for being a tad skeptical.
His two companions chuckled, but Spiky only held her gaze.“Why do you think?Haven’t you ever had a guy ask for your number?”
“Yes.”But none of them looked as if they’d just been written into existence by a paranormal-romance author and then stepped out of the page.
“Did you askthemwhy they wanted your number?”As he tilted his head to the side, Lolawatched as the skin on his face rippled, briefly changing colors, shimmering in the late afternoon light.Lola could have sworn she saw scales appear, like the skin of a snake or lizard.
Lola blew out a breath in an attempt to keep herself together.She shoved her curiosity, confusion, and slight worry she was hallucinating, down into a box she could later ignore.Or perhaps examine under the guidance of a well-trained therapist.Breaking Spiky’s gaze, she looked at his companion.His eyes did the same weird swirling-thing Roan’s had done.She was starting to notice a pattern.There’d been one swirly-eyed guy in each group.Was there some correlation, or was her mind finally leaping from the edge of sanity?
Lola squeezed her eyes shut before turning back to Spiky.“No, but they weren’t with a group of stupidly, good-looking guys– the fourth that has shown up at my place of employment.”I seriously did not just say that.Yes, yes I did.When the man lifted his chin, Lola saw a tattoo of the head of a snake peeking out from the neckline of his shirt.Lola gasped when the snake’s tongue darted out and back again.“What the actual—” she whispered.Lola blinked, and just as before with the other groups of guys, the tattoo was gone.
“Stupidly good looking?”Spiky grinned.He ignored Lola’s reaction, though when she looked at the other two guys at the table, their stares were as sharp as daggers.
“American saying.”Lola looked away from their intense gazes.
“So only ugly blokes ask you out?”
“Yep.”Lola nodded.“By any chance, did you get your tattoo atWild Ink?”
It was Spiky’s turn to be surprised.He turned to look at his other friends, and Lola followed his gaze.The one with the shaved head and swirling, silver eyes gave a subtle nod.
Spiky looked back at her.“Yes, actually.Why?Have you gotten ink done there?”
She shook her head.“Nope.But I’ve had quite a few customers come in with tattoos who have mentioned the place.I’ve been told they do the best tattoos in the city.”
He nodded.“If you’re looking to get inked, they’re the place to go.”
“You’d look good with a tattoo,” the third guy said.His hair was dyed green, and seemed to suit his tan skin.
