No. Stop it!
The ferret bat came up next to her boots, and she waved her foot at it.
“Go away. Go home!” she yelled down at it, only for a few pedestrians to look at her like she’d grown a second head. “I deserve more than being a meal. Now shoo.”
It scuttled back with a hiss into the shadows, and Skylar dived into the crowd to head to the restaurant to run away from it.
It didn’t take her long to find the Thai restaurant she’d chosen, suddenly regretting going with something with a lot of spices when her stomach felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out.
Then again, it smelled so good once she entered the warm and lively establishment that her mouth watered. She walked up to the stand and waited for an employee to greet her.
“Reservation for Skylar,” she said to the approaching waiter, and he inspected the bookings list, then nodded for her to follow.
He led her to a table right next to the glass windows, where she’d be able to look outside for a distraction if necessary.
Her hands went clammy when tall, tattooed, and handsome was already sitting there. He looked up from the table, his brown eyes widened, and he knocked into it when he went to stand. His hand shot out to steady a wine glass that started to fall over.
“Skylar, right?” Oliver greeted with a nervous smile that showed off soft dimples.
His hair was messy, but there was evidence of wax in it as if he’d styled it that way purposefully. He wore black jeans and a button-up black dress shirt, just casual enough to not make her feel out of place, but formal enough to show he cared about his appearance for her.
“Hi, sorry I’m late,” she said, knowing she wasn’t. “Have you been waiting long?”
She took her seat, and it felt like fire on her ass telling her to bolt while she still had the chance to flee.
“Only a few minutes.” His fingers touched and tapped the menu like he didn’t know what to do with them. “I didn’t want to order a drink for you, since I don’t know what you like.”
She laughed – it was really a noise of panic – as she picked up the menu. She almost lifted it to her face to hide but managed to restrain herself.
The air between them was stiff, and regret simmered deeper inside her.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck you, Kaylee, for making me do this.
And fuck Mr Tentacles, too, because she probably would’ve flaked on this date if it wasn’t for him. Or maybe she wouldn’t feel so damn awful and sick about it, like she was doing the wrong thing when she really wasn’t!
It was a date. With a real person. A human. A man. A... a...
What if he wigs out if we get serious and I tell him what I am?
What am I doing here? I’m not mother material.
Why can’t there be a dating site for witches?
I want to go home.
“Are you as nervous as I am?” Oliver eventually said, pulling down the sleeves of his shirt. “I haven’t gone on a date in years. I’m not really sure how to start this.”
“Me neither,” she answered, thankful for his courage to air out the awkwardness.
She rubbed her lips together, moving around her lipstick, and glanced down at the menu.Someone kill me, please.
“Uh... you said your café is in Newtown. Is it far from here?”
Her shoulders lost some of their tension at the introduction of a topic that felt safe. It was also her passion, and something she was extremely proud of.
“It’s down the street. Probably about five minutes away.” She looked out the window in its direction. “It’s close enough to all the pubs and main shops that it’s busy, but it’s far enough away that it’s not overflowing, which is good because it’s meant to be a calm environment for readers.”
Oliver offered her a genuine smile. “Maybe if things go well, you can show it to me afterwards?”
Her own grin curled her lips; she’d take any opportunity to show it off. “Sure. But only if you’re good.”
