“You can’t possibly expect me to sit here in silence for God knows how long.”
“I don’t know, watching you squirm from a lack of conversation seems enjoyable.”
“Why are you an ass?”
“Couldn’t you tell from the rundown Helix just gave us? Abandonment issues and false façades are high on that list for defense mechanisms. Doesn’t take a psychologist to figure that out, babe,” he says.
“Doesn’t give you an excuse to act like an asshole. I grew up without a dad and you don’t see me parading around with an indignant attitude.”
He laughs so loud it startles me backward. “Did you completely forget the ‘I hate JP Cane’ one-person show you just put on for the restaurant staff?”
“Well, pardon me for being flummoxed when I found out you were my date for the evening. In my head, I was picturing this night going a tad differently.”
“I see. And how did you picture it going?”
I take a sip of my water. “Not like this.”
“You said that, and given we have a long dinner in front of us, why don’t you educate me on how you thought tonight would pan out?”
“I’m not sharing that with you. You’re just going to make fun of me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re an oppressor of hopes and dreams.”
“How little you know me, Kelsey.”
I eye him for a few seconds and then ask, “So if I tell you what I thought would happen tonight, you’re not going to make fun of me?”
“You know, it might behoove you to get to know me. Then you might not have such a low opinion of me.”
Doubtful.
“Fine,” I say, chin held high. “But if you make fun of me, I’m throwing my water in your face.”
“That’s fair.” He nods at me. “Go ahead, light me up with your fantasies.”
God, I really despise him.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Well, I signed up for this program because I heard great things about it from Noely Clark.”
“Noely, one of the hosts fromGood Morning, Malibu?” he asks.
“Yes. I interviewed her and her husband for my podcast—”
“You have a podcast? What’s it called?”
Feeling shy, because I know he’s probably judging me, I say, “I do, and the name is irrelevant. I would rather you not listen to it.”
“Afraid I might become a long-time listener?”
“Are you teasing me?” I ask, lifting my water.
He holds up his rather large hands. “No, not teasing. Just engaging in conversation.”
“Try using less sarcasm in your ‘engagements.’”
“Noted.” He gestures with his hand. “Proceed.”
