He tilts his head, waiting for a punchline.
“Yeah. Fine,” I repeat as I wave my arms, gesturing toward the door.
“Okay, fine.” he repeats again slowly, still questioningly, as he stands up straight, brushing his hands down his button up and walks toward the exit.
He looks back over his shoulder and I know he’s curious that I’m just giving up on pushing him right now. I get why. I push on everything, but I know he’ll never agree to going out with me.
I know someone who will though.
Unlocking it, he grabs the door handle, swinging it open and his entire body stalls before a whispered, “Oh, fuck,” falls from his lips.
36
ETHAN
Ipull the door wider, unsure of how to respond as Christian Ford leans against the wall as if he were waiting for his turn in the bathroom.
Dane cranes his neck in my direction to see who’s on the other side and says, “oh hey,” like it’s not a big deal that Christian Ford is watching us walk out of a locked solo bathroom. We both peek out, look down the hall and see Christian’s bodyguard standing at the entrance, not allowing anyone through.
In synchronized motion we turn our gaze back to Christian as we step out of the doorway. His eyes bounce between us and I can’t read him. This guy is tall and intimidating and I have no idea what to say as I stand here suspiciously. Dane on the other hand has his signature smile without a care in the world.
“You’re welcome,” Christian says with a smirk, then slips between us passing through to the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.
Okkkaaay. So, they’re cool like that.
Then I remember Christian is in that poly relationship with the other couple and it makes me wonder if Dane—No, I’m not going there. I don’t want to consider that at all.
Dane doesn’t wait for me as he walks down the hallway and passes the bodyguard the size of Egypt, then makes his way to the bar where my father is standing.
He’s being weird and I have no idea how to read him. He gave up way too fast after he asked me to dinner. It’s so unlike him.
I glance at the scoreboard; it’s the last inning and we’re still up by one after Hudson Byrnes’ two-run homer. I continue my way over to where Dane is standing because he beelined straight for my dad and that’s strange considering he vehemently avoided him the entire game until now.
Not that I was paying attention to him.
As I step up, Dane rolls back onto his heels and rubs circles over his stomach. “All this excitement has me famished. I’mstarving,” he says that bit with way too much exaggeration and I peer over at my father who I swear has fucking dollar signs flying out of his eyeballs.
“Let’s go to that new restaurant around the corner, I’ve been dying to try it out,” my father replies in a surprisingly calm tone, considering I know how badly he wants to get Dane alone.
“Only if Ethan comes, too,” Dane says as he turns his gaze to me with a full blown smile.
This motherfucker.
My father grits his teeth as he lasers into me. “Good idea. It’ll be a great real life learning experience for him.”
“I—I’m not really hungry. You guys should go.” I smile back at Dane because him being stuck at dinner with my father genuinely puts one on my face.
“Nonsense. You’re coming,” dear old Dad replies, not giving me a choice. “I’ll call ahead and get us a reservation.” He steps away as he places his cell phone to his ear, not taking any chances with this opportunity.
“What are you doing?” I pin him with an—I don’t evenknow what kind of look. I’m fucking pissed that I’m stuck spending more time with my dad and now we have to discuss all the money Dane has and properties he owns.Great.
“Anything I want,” he replies with a confidence I’m jealous of and it’s just so him.
The crowd cheers loudly and the scoreboard lights up. The Smashers brought home another win and the entire stadium is going crazy.
My father comes back telling us they have a table waiting for us and holds his arm out to the exit. Dane says goodbye to Christian and we head out, using a back entrance that isn’t as crowded. I take a minute to text Hannah to let her know what’s going on with an angry face emoji and she just responds with a laughing and face palm emoji.
Great. She’s enjoying this, too.
