I know that’s his job, and it only makes me feel like an idiot for the terror running through my veins.
When will this stop?
When do I get a break from the fear and anxiety that drill holes in my brain?
“Make that three,” Eden says, giggling when his tan skin burns a crimson red as he stares with stars in his eyes, watching her lick the sugar off the rim of the glass.
“And can we get some appetizers too, cutie? Whatever’s good,” Eden rasps, and I’m sure this poor guy is about to explode in his jeans.
“Of-Of course! I’ll be back with your drinks right away, and I’ll put in an order for our house calamari.”
He stumbles away, menus poorly concealing the hard-on in his pants.
“Look what you did to him. How did you get these drinks anyway? You’re not twenty-one,” Sage says, taking her glass by the stem, sucking the straw into her mouth as she slurps back the pink liquid.
“Oh, he’ll go in the bathroom for a quick tug, and then he’ll be fine, and he didn’t even bother to ask for an ID, so it’s not a problem.” Eden says, taking a big gulp of her drink. “So, Amira, where are you from because I know it isn’t here. You got this twang to your voice that isn’t from around here.”
“Um, California,” I say, twisting my fingers in my lap, hoping she doesn’t ask for a specific town because I won’t say.
Watermelon martini shoots out of her mouth, dribbles of the drink falling down her chin as she stares at me in disbelief. Her honeyed hazel eyes gaping open as she remains slack-jawed.
Eden doesn’t move for a solid minute before suddenly jumping up and down in her seat, squealing as she reaches across the table to take my hands.
“You’re fucking joking! Are you serious?! Oh my God, California is my fucking dream state! Sunny skies and endless beaches! The men! Oh, please tell me about the men!”
Her excitement is almost too much to handle, overwhelming me with nerves because I don’t know how to answer her questions.
My skies always felt grey.
I’ve never been to the glassy shores of any California beach.
And the men? I’ve only known monsters.
“I wouldn’t know much about the men. I was pretty sheltered.”
I wouldn’t say I was utterly lying through my teeth.
I was sheltered from everyone except my father and his demented clan, and I don’t know much about men, only what I know about them.
And Roman.
But I’m not sharing anything about him with Eden. Not when she’s this gorgeous and I’m...
Me.
“Someone as hot as you?! Crazy! I’m sure you’ve had tons of dick and could get just as much pussy as you want if that’s the way you swing. Women are sexy. I totally get it,” she says, sucking down the drink until it’s half empty.
Poor Marcus overhears this conversation, his skin once again returning to a fiery shade of red.
“Here are your waters, ladies. Sorry for the holdup. I placed your order of calamari and a bruschetta platter, which shouldn’t take too long. Is there anything else I can get for you in the meantime?”
“No, thank you, baby,” Eden purrs.
Sage and I share an amused glance. Watching Marcus fall head over heels in love right before our eyes is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
“Eden will probably fuck him to get back at Mario and then toss him to the side. She’ll never love him,” Sage says, drinking some more of her martini.
“Why not? He seems… nice?”
