9
Things are always working out for me … when I’m in the bathroom.
“I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," I mutter after we hear a knock on the door. “If he resembles a gorilla, I'm telling him you are Madelyn."
“It'll be fine. You worry too much," Layla says, brushing my concerns off. She reaches the door before I do and opens it with gusto. “You must be Nick," she says with excitement, which is out of character for Layla—she doesn't know how to sound that cheerful in real life.
“That, I am," he says. I haven't seen him yet because I'm behind the wall, hiding like a child.What if I can't look at him?At least his voice sounds normal, and he doesn't sound like a teenager or an old man, so I can cross those two concerns off of my list.
With a sharp inhale through my nose, I turn the corner, finding a somewhat attractive man. I'm sure I wouldn't be gazing at him from across a bar, but it could be worse. He's dressed in a sweater which I wouldn't choose for a modern man and a pair of faded jeans. He appears to be in his mid-forties, which is pushing it for me, but there's a chance he's younger and hasn't aged well—it's hard to tell. Either way, he doesn't have a sense of style. “Wow, thank goodness you're pretty. I was sure you'd be a three-eyed-monster or something," he says.
We both laugh, and the tension eases a little. It's nice to know he was as nervous as I've been. Except, I didn't pay two-grand for this dinner date. Who does that? There has to be more to this guy's story. At least, digging that out of him can be my form of entertainment for the evening. Although, I supposed that's kind of mean. God, I couldn't get myself to charge anyone that kind of money for a date. It's sad.
“Can I see you for a quick second, Layla?" I grab her wrist and pull her down the hallway toward my bedroom. “You can make yourself comfortable if you'd like. I'll just be a minute." I leave the guy standing in the hallway because my dating manners are off the charts and I'm bad at rememberingto invite people in or introduce them to anyone in public.
“What's the matter?" she whispers while I close us into my bedroom.
“Is there a time limit for this date? Like, do we need to stay out for a certain number of hours before he gets his money's worth?" I can't believe I even have to ask this.
“Oh, right, duh, I forgot. You need to stay out until—" she checks her watch. “It's seven-twenty, so you need to stay out until—let's say, nine-thirty."
“This is so wrong, Layla. So, so wrong."
“He's not hideous," she says, placing her hands on my shoulder with a fake smile to follow. “Plus, with all the money he's giving us, you could take him for a makeover or something."
“Nice, Layla. That's real nice." I shrug out of her grip and whip my door open, knowing I need to get tonight done and over.
“I'm ready," I tell him, finding him standing in the entryway with the door still open.He shows the confidence level of fine China in a bullpen.
“Have fun!" Layla shouts as we make our way down the apartment hallway. No flowers, nothing. This guy has no game.
“Where would you like to eat dinner?" I shouldn't assume he didn't make reservations, but I have a hunch about this.
“Oh," he says, staring out into space as we walk. “I was thinking my apartment."
Hell no.“Excuse me?"
“I was kidding. I was making a joke like you could be my dinner, and I could eat—"
“Yeah, that's funny. So, for real, where would you like to eat dinner?" Oh God, this is going to horrible. He's a virgin. He has to be. That's mean too, but they're my thoughts, and I'm entitled to them.
“Okay, how about Taylors? It's two blocks—"
“Yeah, I know where it is. I've lived here a while."
“Cool, cool."
“Do you think we need reservations?" I ask him.
“Nah, but I haven't been there before, so I'm not sure."
I pull my phone out, finding the contact open from where I entered Wesley's number earlier this afternoon. I'd rather be out with him, but that wouldn't be paying us two-grand. This is insane. I click out of my contacts and open my restaurant reservation app, searching for Taylors. I mark it for two people for fifteen minutes from now. At least we don't have to worry about sitting around in a crowd, wasting time waiting for a table. “There, all set. We have reservations now."
“There's an app for that?" he asks.
“Yeah, there are a few apps."
“Cool, cool."
