Or maybe I just need to get laid.
I pull up the dating app on my phone, change my location, and start swiping. I’m starving, so grabbing food with someone wouldn’t be awful and neither would a hook up. It’s been forever, and maybe that’s the only issue here. Maybe it has nothing to do with Austen specifically, but just my body needing someone. It’s difficult to hook up with people nowadays. I travel too much and depending on where I am, it’s hard going out in public because I’m often recognized. It doesn’t happen all the time, but my agent will have a fit if I hook up with someone who starts some gossip bullshit. Which is why I’m only swiping on people who look… decent.
My standards are high today. I need some business class guys, maybe someone who is in the same line of work, so they get it.
I can’t be sure how long I look through photos before I get a match, but when I do, I go back to look at their profile and send them a message.
Hey
Hey
Not to be too forward, but I’m starving and was hoping for a dinner date. You down?
I tap the side of my phone as I wait for a response. I don’t have time to waste
Are you a serial killer?
If I was, do you think I’d be dumb enough to admit it here?
Where are we meeting?
I huff out a laugh, shaking my head.
No clue. I’m new to town.
It’s a few moments before the next text comes in.
Sixty-Two. 7:30?
I search the name up, curious about the kind of place he wants me to go to. I’m not stupid enough to go down some back alley or underground place. But this place is fancy… and requires reservations.
Says we need reservations.
I got it handled.
See you at 7:30.
It’ll be under JJ.
It won’t take me long to get to the restaurant, but I get up to shower and change, this way I’m not late. It takes me a good amount of time to get ready because I have to iron my shirt and pants. I was in a rush when I packed and didn’t fold everything properly, so now it’s all a mess. Still, I finish with plenty of time but head to the restaurant anyway.
It’s a few minutes past seven when I get there, so I walk around a few blocks before heading back, figuring I can clearmy head and stop thinking about Austen, because honestly, it’s ridiculous that I can’t. I’ve been itching to tell him I’m going on a date, because he’s my best friend and I used to tell him everything, but then… I don’t want to tell himthat.
What if there is some chance? Any sort of chance for us? This could ruin it.
Because yeah, Cam, the fact he’s married to a woman isn’t the mainruiningfactor. It’s me going on a date. Ridiculous…
With a huff, I head to the restaurant. It’s swanky and likely over-priced. Been to plenty like this over the years. Don’t hate it, but it’s not the kind of place I’d want to be in every day. It’s not my scene. I’d much rather get greasy burgers in a pub or find some hole in the wall that may or may not give me food poisoning. It’s so much more fun that way.
“Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asks when I reach the podium. She’s very pretty, blond hair shiny and bright blue eyes. They’re a shade of blue that remind me of Austen’s, but I push that thought aside. I’m literally here to meet up with a guy.
“I’m here to meet JJ,” I say. Her face lights up and she smiles.
“Yes, he did mention a date. Right this way, please.”
The way she says it, it’s like she knows him. Maybe that's why we got in for reservations.
I follow after her, the nerves in my stomach going a little wild. There is no reason for me to be nervous, this is just casual.
