Perfectly aware that none of my thoughts make any sense, I grab the glass of water and take a long sip. My eyes lookaround, hoping that my date is heading my way as we speak. Unfortunately, I don’t see anyone walking toward our table, so I am screwed.
“Don’t you have anywhere to be?” I snap at Alex. “Maybe torture someone else with your mental games?”
That throws him off. “What mental games?”
“Hmm, let me think.” I lean back and cross my arms over my chest, tapping one finger against my lips. “How did it always go between us?” I side eye him. “Mona, I want you so much,” I imitate his deeper tone. “Mona, I don’t have time for anyone in my life right now.”
Alex stares at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in the beginning of a smile.
“Mona, I didn’t mean for you to leave. Mona, you’re not the type of person I’d want in my life permanently.”
The smile is no longer on his lips, and his eyebrows are pulled down in a frown.
“Oh, how about my favorite!” I put a finger up as if to get his attention. “Mona, you’re all I think about all the fucking time.” I lower my voice so people wouldn’t hear me swearing. “Mona, I am nobody’s ticket to a free meal.”
“Mona,” he starts.
I put a hand up to stop him. “Please don’t. I’ve heard it all, and I am not interested.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” he protests.
“Based on our history, it’s natural for me to assume that you’d want to ask me to come back to you. The answer isno.”
I lean back in my seat, proud of the way I delivered the message. Way to stand up for myself for once, at least when it comes to him. I don’t have any issues standing up for myself in every other area of my life. Alex needs to be part of that as well.
He places his forearms on the table and interlocks his fingers, like he is in some board meeting.
“You’re right,” he says with no warning. “I didn’t treat you well, and I regret it. I would like to apologize.”
I blink at him, confused as hell. “And…?” Because I am certain he is about to ask me to be with him again.
“And that’s it,” he shrugs. “I was an ass to you before. You didn’t deserve it. I know you hate me now, but I hope you can forgive me at some point, and that we can stay friends.”
“Friends?” The word tastes bitter on my lips.
“Not now…” He chuckles in self-deprecation. “But maybe in the future, we can reach that point where we can be… friends.”
Okay, I really don’t like that word at all. The more he says it, the more I want to slap him.
“I have plenty of friends, but thanks.”
I turn my head to glance toward the entrance of the restaurant, wondering where in the hell my date is.
“Let me buy your dinner tonight,” Alex murmurs from next to me, his breath once again way too close to my ear for comfort.
“What?”
The shock in my tone is real. The Alex I know would rather drop dead than buy me dinner from an expensive restaurant. A cheap one, yes, drinks included. But not something of this caliber.
“Are you high?” I ask him to be sure.
He chuckles softly. “Not high. It’s just a token of my appreciation of you, and also an apology.”
I glance around, wondering if I am being recorded for some weird prank. But I know that Alex is not that immature. However, that little friend of his, Kyle, is immature like that. I wouldn’t put it past him to dare Alex to do something stupid like pranking me on camera.
“I don’t need you to buy me dinner,” I spit at him. “Besides, my date should be here any minute.”
“I can keep you company until he arrives,” Alex smiles at me.
