I decided that we should meet at The Brewery instead of him picking me up because I don’t need strangers knowing where I live. And I’m glad I did because hopefully, I can leaveearly and maybe treat myself to an ice cream cone before heading back to the apartment.
We walk through the doors, and I slightly stiffen when he puts his hand on my back, but I shake off the ick feeling as we take a seat at the garage door windows that overlook the street.
After the waitress drops off our menus, I try for small talk. “So, you have a son?”
He lifts his head. “Oh. Uh. No. That’s my friend's kid. Chicks dig kids. Makes dudes look soft or some shit.”
I don’t think he catches the surprise on my face because he’s back to looking at the menu as soon as the words leave his mouth. I want to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, I really do, but he’s making it extra hard.
When the waitress comes back, I order the Swiss bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries.
“Um, no,” Mark interrupts my order, “she’ll have the small chicken salad with a slice of lemon.”
I look at him incredulously. What. The. Fuck.
The waitress, who can’t be more than twenty-one, looks super uncomfortable as he continues to order three different dishes for himself.
I must be in shock because it takes me until she leaves to say something to this asshole. “Excuse me. But did you just order a salad for me?”
“You are what you eat. That burger will go straight to your hips and ass. Can’t have that,” he says with a smile while taking a sip of his water.
This guy has another thing coming if he thinks he can shame me for my food choices. I have it on good authority from my best friend that my ass and tits look just fine, and I don’t need this guy telling me what I can and cannot eat.
I don’t respond and just stare, trying to figure out my next move. He tries to make small talk, but my answers are short and stunted. My mom always said that if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all, but I’m having a hard time keeping my mouth shut.
The waitress brings our food out, and to my surprise, the Swiss bacon cheeseburger is placed in front of me.
“That’s not what I ordered her,” Mark barks out.
The waitress raises an eyebrow. “You’re right. It’s what she ordered for herself.”
“She already has too much meat on her bones. She can’t afford to eat a fucking burger.”
Her eyebrows shoot to her forehead, and my eyes go wide.
Oh, hell no.
I’m about to throw my water in this guy’s face when a large man comes into view. But not just any man. Declan.
Could this night get any worse?
~ ~~
Declan
Her date is loud.
So loud in fact, I’m pretty sure the whole brewery just heard the exchange. As soon as the words left his mouth about how she can’t afford to eat a burger because she has too much meat on her bones, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore.
I get off the barstool and make my way to their table.
The waitress and Penny are both wide-eyed and shocked. It would be comical if he didn’t just talk about my girl like that.
No. Not my girl. My friend.
“Get up,” I growl.
The guy’s eyebrows shoot to his forehead. “Excuse me?”
