Ryker growls.
Hudson chokes on the french fry he should’ve put in the last basket of fish, so that serves him right.
Daphne leaps over to pound Hudson on the back.
Simon’s brows do a slight lift. “You’d like me to take you on a date?”
“I want a free dinner,” I lie. “I miss men buying me dinner while I wear fancy clothes.”
“No,” Ryker says.
“Oh, yes,” Hudson says between coughs.
Ryker frowns at Daphne.
She grins back at him.
“Will it just be the two of us?” Simon asks.
“Unfortunately.”
His smile grows almost as broadly as Daphne’s. “Brilliant. When shall I pick you up?”
“Told you,” Daph whispers.
“Still very suspicious,” I whisper back.
“Duh. He’s a man.”
“Hey, I can hear you,” Hudson says.
Daphne smiles at him. “Good. Don’t be that man.”
“I’ll make the reservation and let you know,” I tell Simon. “Assuming I have your phone number?”
I don’t know how it’s possible, but the man smiles even bigger. “You do indeed. I believe you called it and talked to one of my boys when you confirmed their party.”
He’s ridiculous.
Next Saturday will be…something.
Unless I get cold feet and call the whole thing off.
But a chance to torment Jake after the way he left me?
No chance I’m calling it off.
He fucked around.
And I’m entering myhelp him find outera.
4
IF YOU GIVE A TEENAGE BOY A BURGER
Simon
I never wishedto be a father. I expected I’d be dreadful at it, given that my parents taught me that children are a nuisance who are never good enough and will always requiresomethinginconvenient, whether it be larger clothes or a bedtime story or a day off school because of illness. I assumed I’d resent the time and patience required of me to raise any little fuckers with minds of their own.
