“Hey,” he says, directing this entirely at me and completely ignoring Marco. “I saw you sitting here and I just had to come say hi. You’re gorgeous.”
You have got to be kidding me.
Why now? Why does a guy have to interruptNOWof all times? Why couldn’t he interrupt earlier when Marco and Ethan were talking for thirty minutes straight and I was sitting there like a decorative houseplant? Or any other time during the past five years when I was basically a social outcast making videos all day on my phone?
But no. He has to do itnow. Right now when I’m having an actual conversation with an actual human I want to talk to. A devastatingly handsome, unmarried billionaire who thinks my unscripted accidents are endearing.
NOWis when Captain Cologne decides to shoot his shot.
“Thanks,” I say, trying to be polite but also trying to radiate “go away” energy so intense it should be blatantly obvious.
He doesn’t go away.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Finance Bro continues, still acting like Marco doesn’t exist even though the billionaire is sitting right there looking like a Roman statue.
“She’s good,” Marco replies for me, his voice pleasant but with something underneath that makes it clear this is not a suggestion.
Finance Bro finally acknowledges Marco’s existence. “Oh. Are you two together?”
“Yes,” Marco says, at the exact same time I say, “No.”
We look at each other.
Finance Bro glances between us, confused.
“It’s complicated,” I offer weakly.
“We’re talking,” Marco clarifies, and something in his tone makes it sound like a claim. “And we’d liketo be alone.”
Finance Bro ignores him and turns to me once more.
Marco rests a hand on his arm.
Finance Bro looks down at it, then at Marco’s face. The billionaire’s eyes have gone very dark.
Finance Bro finally seems to get the message. “Right. Cool. My bad.” He retreats.
I wait until he’s out of earshot before I say to Marco: “You scared him.”
And me.
His eyes instantly lighten. “Sometimes you have to scare people.”
I suppose he’s right. “So, we’re talking, you told him?”
“Wearetalking,” Marco points out reasonably. “Literally. Right now.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do I?”
“You made it sound like we’re together.”
“Would that be so bad?”
My heart does a complicated little somersault thing.
Oh, don’t do this to me, Marco.
