“I’m trying here, Emma.”
“Are you?” I snapped.
“Believe it or not, yes, I am.”
“Then do better.”
I was being a bitch, but I don’t care. Punching someone was one thing, but asking me on a date and then admitting this is not something he does unless there is sex involved is where I draw the damn line. He could go fuck someone else for all I care, but it will not be me. This whole date was a joke. He just wanted to have sex. He could have mentioned that instead of asking me out. Hell, that’s what I was going to do. He didn’t have to put up a front.
“Don’t do that,” he sighed.
“Do what?”
“Think that I don’t want to be here.”
“You don’t.”
“Don’t speak for me, Little Fighter. If I say something, I mean it. I use my words wisely.”
“Yeah, got it. You have that whole mysterious thing going for you.”
“Want to know why I’m this way?” He raised his eyebrow.
“Sure.” I crossed my arms.
“Not here.”
“What?”
“Walk with me.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Want me to open up? Let’s go. The food sucks anyway.”
He had a point there. I didn’t really look at the reviews before picking this place. Throwing my napkin down, Connor flagged down the waitress and took care of paying before we stepped into the fading night. He didn’t say anything before he took off walking, putting his hands into his pockets and refusing to look at me as I followed him like a lost puppy. His boots clanking on the pavement, the sound of the still night, and the smell of summer approaching in the air gave me a sense of calm, but like all things Connor Easton, he was here to remind me why I was upset to begin with.
“I don’t know why I asked you on a date,” he whispered.
“That makes two of us.”
“Loving someone gives them the power to hurt you.”
“Yeah, but if you’ve never dated anyone, then how could anyone even hurt you?” I pointed out.
“You know, even my brothers think I’ve never had a girlfriend,” he mumbled.
“And you have?”
“This is fucking embarrassing.”
“What is?” I cocked my head.
He stopped walking, looking around until he pointed to a nearby park. Grabbing my hand, he led me across the street and to a bench. Releasing my hand, he let out a sigh mixed with a sad laugh.
“There’s a reason why I never date.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
