“How was parking?” I asked. He hadn’t exactly complained about coming into the city for our meet and greet, but he’d made a few comments about finding a place with a valet, so he wouldn’t have to struggle to find parking. In Boston, we were broken records complaining about traffic, parking, and whatever sports team was currently breaking our hearts.
“I’d rather not talk about it. Let’s say it wasn’t fun and leave it at that.” His drink arrived, and he took a giant swig of it, finishing with a grating, “Ah.”
We weren’t even five minutes into this date, and I was already looking for a way out. Fuck me, even the sound of him swallowing annoyed me. Was that him breathing? Inearly gagged thinking about him hovered above me, the thought of his sex sounds added to my disgust.
“What was it you said you did again?” he asked.
I hadn’t. It was none of his business, and since I didn’t plan to see him again, I lied.
“I’m an accountant.”
As expected, his eyes glazed over. He sucked down the rest of his drink and motioned for the bartender to make him another.
“Are you planning to drive back home to Quincy tonight?”
“Weren’t we going to stay at your place?”
Um. Holy presumptuous. It was outrageous enough that it elicited a gasp from across the bar. My eyes darted to the corner, and fuck. Hawk. Not only was I on the worst date imaginable, but my boss was a witness to this mortification.
“That wasn’t a given. I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”
Why are you apologizing, Kendra? Why is it automatically our fault if the man gets the wrong impression? Maybe it was his fault for this presumption?
“Why else would you think I would come into the city at this time of night?”
I shouldn’t be shocked. I had run into my fair share of assholes, but this one took the cake. And yup, he sucked down drink two and ordered the third. His agitation grew, and I had only become more resolved to leave this bar alone. Now I needed to watch my back the entire way home, since I didn’t trust this guy not to follow me.
“Excuse me,” Hawk called from across the bar. “Is there a problem?”
“Yeah, who the fuck are you?” Tyler slurred.
“I’m Kendra’s co-worker, and I just happened to overhear you acting like an asshole.”
Co-worker, my ass. Hawk, easily one of the wealthiest men in the city, and my fucking boss, happened to come to my rescue during a mortifying meet and greet with an idiot from a shit dating website.
“Well, you can mind your fucking business,” Tyler from Quincy stood up and puffed out his chest. The alcohol blunted the edge of his threat to Hawk, since he couldn’t stand straight. While I watched him suck down two drinks, I could confidently say he had pre-gamed. Not only was he shorter than he’d projected in his dating profile, he was significantly thicker around the middle. His second impression was significantly worse than the first.
And I couldn’t help the giggle that ripped out of me just before Hawk slid off his barstool and adjusted to his full height of six feet something hellish tall.
“I thought you said you were 6’2”?” I asked through my laughter. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Hawk smirked, and we both quickly realized ridicule was the wrong tactic with the drunk asshole. Tyler swung his fists at Hawk, thankfully tripping over his own two feet, essentially knocking himself on his ass.
The bar manager came to our rescue and had Tyler by the scruff and up off the floor before he registered he’d fallen.
“Where’s your credit card?” The manager demanded.
“I’m not paying my tab. Not after this treatment.”
“Were you even planning to pay the tab in the first place?” Hawk asked with a knowingsmirk.
“Fuck you, dickwad.” Tyler’s attempt to act tough had us laughing even harder.
“I got it, Joe. Worth every penny to watch you throw the bastard out on his ass.”
The bar manager, Joe, who knew Hawk by name, said, “Thanks, JJ.”
After Tyler had been dragged out of the bar, I questioned him. “JJ?”
