Two blokes passed her, one of them eyeing her up, even turning back to look at her as he passed. Lily didn’t even notice. Totally oblivious.
“Are you texting with a secret admirer?” I teased upon approach.
Lily startled, her head jerking up from her phone. Her large hazel eyes were round with surprise. Then she let out a huff of laughter. “You scared me.”
“You were rather engrossed.”
“Oh.” She waved her phone before tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans. “Sierra has been on at me to start dating again for the podcast, so I swiped right on this guy last night and he messaged to ask me out.”
A prick of some unfamiliar feeling niggled me. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation. “Oh. You said yes?” I pushed open the coffee shop door, holding it for her.
Lily nodded as she passed, and I inhaled the delicious floral scent of whatever shampoo she used. “I did.”
“You’re interested, then?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “I’ve got a lot on my plate this year and could do with a break from dating. But if it’ll shut Sierra up for another month, I’ll do it.”
My smile felt a little forced. “Right. Well, you know you shouldn’t do something you don’t want to do.”
“It’s fine. What are you drinking?”
“I’m buying. What do you want?”
“You don’t have?—”
“Nonsense. I invited you.”
Lily sighed but capitulated. “Hazelnut latte. Thank you.”
“You go grab a table. I’ll be right over.”
A minute or so later, I settled across the small table from her, my legs bumping into hers beneath it. “Sorry.” I chuckled. “These are rather cozy, aren’t they.”
“You have very long legs.” She pointed out the obvious. “And mine aren’t exactly short.”
I smiled, watching her add sugar to the latte, making a mental note about how she took her coffee. “What music do you like?” I blurted out.
Lily smiled at the question, those adorable, dimpled cheeks somehow sexy at the same time. “Random, but okay. I have eclectic taste. You’ll find me listening to rock, dance, pop, country. Pretty much everything but heavy metal and jazz.”
“Note to self, hates heavy metal and jazz.”
“What about you?”
“Indie rock mostly.”
“Is music important to you?”
“I play a little piano. But it’s not something I ever wanted to make my life in. Yet, it is important. I listen to music almost every day, and I like going to gigs.”
“Me too.”
“There’s this really good cover band playing Whistlebinkies next Friday. Would you want to go?” Whistlebinkies was a live music bar on South Bridge. “A few of us are going,” I hurried to say at her hesitation.
“Oh. I would like to … but that’s when this dating app guy wants to meet.”
“Bring him,” I insisted. “It’ll make it safer.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “Safer?”
