“It’s called having a little fun.” I winked. “You should try it sometime.”
“Having fun includes trying to give me a heart attack?”
I shrugged. “I like messing with you.”
“You’re very good at it.” His eyes locked with mine for a few seconds. “Shall we head to dinner?”
I raised my chin. “Absolutely.”
The outdoor restaurant was beautiful at night, lit up everywhere with little white lights. I realized I’d been so preoccupied with Tate from the moment of our first meet-up that I hadn’t eaten all day. My stomach growled.
The waitress set some menus down in front of us. “Can I get you guys anything to drink?”
“I’ll have a Sam Adams,” Tate said before gesturing toward me. “She’s not of age.”
My shoulders slumped. “You always have to point that out.” I glared at him before turning to the waitress. “We’re celebrating my dad’s fiftieth birthday tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow…” she said to him. “You look great for fifty!”
“Thanks,” he muttered, shooting daggers at me.
“I’ll take a Coke, please,” I said.
“Coming right up.”
I shut my menu. “You’re no fun, Tate, you know that? Ihadplanned to use my fake ID before you thwarted it.”
“You’re bonkers and reckless enough as it is. I don’t need you under the influence on top of everything.”
“I think you’re afraid I’ll end up on top ofyouif our inhibitions are compromised. Is it that you don’t want me to have fun, or you don’t want me to impair my judgment becauseyoucan’t be sure of your own intentions tonight?”
His jaw tightened.
“I thought so...”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. It reallyisjust as simple as you’re underage, and I’m not in the mood to get in trouble for ordering a drink for a minor.”
“You didn’t have to order it. I would’ve ordered it myself. Andminoris a harsh word for someone who’s a legal adult.” I shrugged. “So, I’m not the drinking age—in this country. Big deal. Age is just a number.”
“If it’s just a number, why did you feel the need to lie about it?” He sat back, crossing his gorgeous arms as he awaited my answer.
I had to admit, he’d stumped me. WhydidI feel like I had to lie? I wasn’t ashamed of my age.
“I was trying to create an alter ego, I guess, one who was separate from the sadness I’m trying to escape by coming here. Adjusting my age was merely a consequence of that. In retrospect, I should’ve been honest, but I can’t help that you have a hang-up about how old you are compared to me.”
“You said you were twenty-nine, which would still be a little young for me, believe it or not. There’s a world of difference between twenty-nine and nineteen. You may not realize it now, but youwillin retrospect.”
“Or I might think back to the time I met a handsome older man at a resort and we wasted a few good days because he was hung up on a number, even though he was attracted to me and every part of him besides his brain was on board. That man had a problem with letting loose.”
Tate cleared his throat. “And just how often doyoulet loose, Doris-Delores?”
“Actually...believe it or not, almost never. That’s always been my problem. I’ve taken life way too seriously and given way too much of myself to one person, who ended up throwing me away. I’ll never do that again.”
He nodded. “When did this breakup happen?”
“Three months ago.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
