“It is. I’ve been there a few different times over the years, and I’ve always enjoyed it. Maybe we could travel there one day.”
He lifted that brow again, but he looked more amused than annoyed as he said, “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself there, buddy boy.”
I shrugged. “I’m confident that you’ll see things my way… eventually.”
That made him snort out another small laugh before he stifled it and took a big bite of his food, clearly trying to hide his reaction. But I’d seen it, and that little peek at his sense of humor gave me hope that things really would work out in the end.
Chapter Seven
Dain
After we finished eating and cleaning up our food, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by… everything. Lanche just seemed so damn earnest, like he truly did believe everything he’d said down to his bones, down to his soul.
And I… wasn’t sure I could handle that right now.
I needed time to think. Time to come to terms with everything he’d said.
So after we finished eating, I said, “I can take you to your car now.”
His face fell, but he tried to hide it by turning away for a moment. When he faced me again, his expression was blank, but I could still see the hurt in his eyes, and it made my heart twinge.
Maybe that had been a bit too harsh. Shit.
Before I could take the words back, he said, “Yeah, okay. Thank you.”
With something stabbing me in my chest, I cleared my throat. “Are we going on a date tomorrow night?” There. Maybe that would make that hurt go away.
He nodded vigorously. “Y-yeah, yes. Yes, that would be great.”
“Cool. Where do you want to meet?”
He gave me a look I couldn’t interpret. “How about I pick you up?”
I thought about it for a moment. I didn’t really like the thought of not having my car—of not having a quick escape if I needed one—even if I didn’t think the big lug could hurt a fly. But I never suspected Joshua of violence either, and I’d been dead wrong about him.
So after a moment, I said, “How about I pick you up?”
He gave me a look again, but this time I was pretty sure he was simply trying to figure me out.
Good luck, Lanche. I can’t even figure myself out.
“Sure. Would six work for you?”
I nodded. “Yep.” I walked to my little table by the door and grabbed my keys. “Sounds like a plan. Let me give you my number so you can text me your address.”
He nodded and pulled out his phone as he stood up. When he was ready, I rattled off my number, and after a few seconds,I received a text with his address. It was on a street I didn’t recognize, which surprised me because I thought I knew the entire city in and out, but I figured I’d plug it into the GPS later to see where it was and how long it’d take to get there. For now, I needed to drive him back to his car at the bookshop.
It didn’t take long to get there, and the drive was a quiet one, although it wasn’t exactly uncomfortable. I could tell that Lanche wanted to say something, but he was too shy or possibly upset, and I wasn’t sure what to do to make it any better. So I stayed silent.
When I pulled into the bookstore’s parking lot, he pointed out his car, so I drove him right over to it.
He put his hand on the door handle, but turned to me. “Thank you for talking to me tonight and for dinner and for… everything.” He was just so gosh darn sincere with everything he said.
I sighed. “No problem, Lanche. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He stared at me for another minute, and for one unpleasant moment, I thought he was going to lean in to kiss me, but instead, he simply smiled, nodded, and got out of the car. Before he closed the door, he said, “I’m looking forward to it.”
I watched him get into his car, made sure it started, and then I peeled away from there like my ass was on fire. My chest burned a little, but I rubbed at it, ignoring it as best I could.
