Mel waves across the restaurant. “Justin, over here.”
I watch as an older man with salt and pepper hair and an earring in each ear strides over and shakes hands with Mel and Cat.
“This is the friend I was telling you about,” Mel says, gesturing to me. “Alex.”
Justin takes a seat at the table, extending his hand. “Nice to meet you, Alex.”
“You too.”
We pause while Justin flags down a waiter and orders. Meanwhile, I’ve had two margaritas and the room is starting to get fuzzy. And it’s only midday! This is fun.
“So, Alex.” Justin turns to me when our food arrives. “I’m not sure how much Melanie has told you…” he trails off, lifting his eyebrows.
Told me what? Isthisher new man? He doesn’t seem her type. Sure, he’s not bad-looking, but I actually thought he was gay.
I glance at Mel, who’s grinning. Even Cat is giving me a sly smile. What am I missing here?
“Uh, well,” I begin, refilling my margarita from the pitcher on the table, stalling for time.
Mel was saying something earlier. What was it? Something about… Nope. I’m drawing a blank.
I study their expectant faces. Maybe they’re engaged, and that’s why she was waiting for Cat to get back to the table. Or maybe she’s pregnant!
But Justin and Mel aren’t holding hands or looking even slightly romantic. In fact, all of Justin’s attention seems to be focused on me.
Oh.Oh.
I think I know what’s going on here. They’re trying to set me up with him. That must be what Mel was going on about earlier. She read my blog about howhappyI am being single and could obviously see through the ruse. God, they must really pity me if they feel the need to find a man and ambush me at brunch.
“Well, you know Mel,” I say eventually. I fiddle with my glass, unsure what else to say. Justin is nice enough, but he’s much too old for me—even though I do seem to be attracted to older men lately. Well, one in particular.
Still, I can’t bear to hurt Justin’s feelings, or let Mel and Cat down after they’ve gone to all this trouble. They probably think they’re helping me out and I don’t want to appear ungrateful. I’ll have to let them down easy.
I smile politely. “You, er, seem very nice, Justin.”
“Oh. Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you after everything Mel has told me.”
I nod, sipping my drink, trying to ignore the sense of unease snaking up my spine. How am I going to get out of this?
“So how long have you been writing?” he asks.
Right, so Mel told him I’m a writer. Did she show him my blog too? I wonder if he also found it “hilarious.” I bet they were all sitting around, roaring with laughter over the poor girl who moved to New York after being dumped and now can’t get a man.
Or—oh God—maybe he thinks I’m easy, that I’m desperate for a shag, assuming that since there’s no one else around I’m going to just jump into bed with the first guy to come along. I can’t believe Mel and Cat thought this was a good idea.
“Uh, since I was a teenager.” I shift in my seat, willing the room to stop spinning around me. I shouldn’t have had that third margarita.
His mouth hooks into a devilish smile. “Wow. So you’ve got a lot of experience. Mel told me you were eager.” He winks and my stomach tightens in trepidation.
Are we still talking about writing?
I glance at Mel, starting to feel panicked. This guy is kind of a creep. Why on earth would she think I’d be into this? But she just grins back at me and sweat prickles along my brow.
“I guess you and I have a few things to discuss, then,” Justin continues, leaning towards me. “Shall we go somewhere more private?”
My heart lurches and the room swims out of focus. That’s it. I’m putting a stop to this, right now. “I’m not going to sleep with you, Justin,” I blurt.
His smile disappears. “What?”
