“Should we make them come to us, or…?” A grin played on Alex’s lips.
My anxiety was already running full steam ahead. How the hell had this date gotten derailed before it began? I hadn’t even ended up with the right person, though at least Alex had also gone to a different location. If I had to shamefully slink over by myself because I’d gone to the wrong table, I probably would’ve just slunk right out the door.
“Let’s go meet our dates,” I said, rising from my seat.
My palms were clammy, and I wiped them down on my pants as I took the first few steps away from the seat before realizing I only had a picture of my date and zero clue as to what the other guy looked like.
“This way, lover boy,” Alex said, crooking a finger as she strode past me.
For fuck’s sake.
“I’m not a damn dog,” I muttered. Still, I followed her, since I needed to get on with this date. Escape was sounding better and better by the second.
Alex quickstepped ahead, turning a corner and all but bolting forward. I sucked in a breath. I was already here, and if I made an exit now, Alex would tattle to Tai for standing up her best friend, guaranteed.
I looped around the corner, my gaze landing on Alex, who’d slipped into the seat beside the blonde stunner I was clearly supposed to be here with.
Maisie was slender with eye-catching features that looked sort of elvish, like she’d just stepped out of Rivendell. Her long blonde waves were only giving her more Galadriel vibes, and she was wearing a dark blue swing dress and white heels, seeming more at home in a setting like this.
Way out of my league.
When I looked to the right and caught sight of the guy next to Alex, I stumbled.
He smiled with the sort of ease and charm that made me stare a little harder. That effortless grin seemed familiar, but it couldn’t be. I’d never met him. However, that didn’t stop me from noticing the crinkle of his dark eyes and the wave of his brown hair. The sleeves ofhis maroon button-down were rolled to the elbow, and a little bit of ink peeked out along his forearms. I had to stop myself from licking my lips and just flat out staring because clearly, whatever had shifted with me over the past few months was infecting even my dating attempts.
And then he looked my way.
His jaw dropped, and he stared at me like I was a ghost, so much so I stopped to glance around me, just to make sure I wasn’t about to get axe-murdered. No one was near me. Hell, not even a server, so I was definitely the reason he’d gone into total shock.
Damn great start to this date.
I pasted a smile on my face, which probably looked murderous due to a chronic case of RBF, but whatever. “Hey,” I said, finally coming to a stop in front of the table. I forced my focus on Maisie, even though Alex’s date was still gaping in my direction. “Sorry for the seating mix-up. I promise I wasn’t late.”
“I believe you.” Maisie grinned, her lips a perfect petal pink. Goddamn, she was ridiculously pretty. Unfortunately, my body wasn’t responding in turn, but that was the point of a date—the chance to get to know her better.
I sat down next to the guy who’d closed his mouth but was positively brimming beside me. Did I look like someone who’d pissed on his car? Slaughtered his family? Jizzed on his pet goat? Guaranteed, he was just mistaking me with someone else.
“Hey,” I said, tipping my head in his direction, hoping he’d be decent and this wasn’t about to get even more awkward.
“Why the fuck’s everything so expensive,” Alex grumbled across the table. I snorted.
“Can’t take you anywhere,” Maisie said, rolling her eyes. She reached over to scritch Alex’s hair, and Alex paused midflip of the menu to lean into the touch.
“I mean, if the prices are too much—” the guy next to me started.
Alex glared like she was unleashing an energy ray, Cyclops style. “If you’re insinuating that just because I’ve got a pussy I can’t pay for myself, you can shove your antiquated gender roles up your ass.”
“He might just be trying to be nice,” Maisie said, a small grin playing on her lips. “Ever heard of that, babe?”
Alex’s nostrils flared, and I bit back my laugh. Maisie seemed a lot more level, definitely my style. Tai had done a good job in theory, even if I wasn’t feeling a damn thing yet. I settled back into the seat, my thigh accidentally brushing against the guy next to me. The contact sent a shock through my system, an undeniable zing. The cedarwood and spice scent of his cologne was ringing some bell in my memory, but I couldn’t place it.
When I met his gaze, he was staring at me again, and something in his eyes skirted the edge of familiar.
Fuck, we still needed to dointroductions.
“Hey, I’m Beck,” I said, extending my palm, even though it was kind of awkward with how close our chairs were situated.
“Cay.” His voice came out a little raspy with disbelief, and I stared a beat longer.
