“Tell me about it. Food poisoning is that guy’s middle name. Always has been.” He picks up his menu, flipping to the first page. “So, dinner. Looks like it’s just you and me.”
“Looks like it.” I pick up my own menu and take in the selection of entrees like I haven’t studied the options for the last three nights.
But now that it’s time to decide, I’m not sure what I’m in the mood for. Definitely not seafood.
“Don’t sound so excited about it.” He smiles, and I swear it shines brighter than the string lights.
“Well, I expected dinner with my brother before he leaves again, but instead?—”
“But instead you no longer have to pay for your meal—or his—and you get to hang out with one of your oldest, dearest friends.”
“Sounds suspiciously like a date in disguise.”
He lifts his eyebrow, placing his menu down. “Do you want it to be a date, Trouble?”
Heat pools between my thighs at the use of the nickname he gave me years ago.Yes. “No.”
“Mmm” is all he says before returning to the menu, just as the waiter appears. When our drinks have been ordered and he hurries away, Gareth puts his sole focus on me and asks, “So, what’s new?”
Laughter bursts from my lips at such a simple question. I shake my head. “Nothing, Gareth.”
“Nothing?” he echoes.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Just whatever you’ve been up to.”
My chest tightens, and I realize this is probably the point where I should work in the boyfriend angle. “Work. Spending time with Zach.” The name tastes like acid on my tongue, sliding down my throat like poison as I watch Gareth’s features twist.
“How’s that going?” He’s trying hard to mask the bitterness of his tone, but I know him—I’ve known him a long time, and I can tell when he’s putting that sweet, golden persona forward.
“Great,” I lie, my cheeks heating. I look down, hoping Gareth hasn’t noticed them go scarlet.Heknowsmetoo.
“Whimsey got lost a few days ago.” He changes the subject, but the new topic sends ice down my veins.
“What? Is she okay?” I sputter, my gaze snapping to him.
When I was seventeen, I spent a long weekend at Gareth’s family ranch and fell head over heels in love with their Australian shepherd. So much so, I still send treats and toys out to the ranch just to spoil the old girl.
“She’s okay. I found her out by the lake. She had barbed wire lodged in her paw, but Jessie said she’s as good as new now.”
“Oh thank God.” I place my hand against my chest. “I miss her.”
“You’re welcome to go see her anytime. Just say the word, Trouble. I’ll take you there.” Gareth’s eyes flash with a heat that settles between my thighs, and it takes every ounce of restraint I have not to moan from the look he’s giving me.
The waiter breaks the tension, showing up at the worst—or best—possible time to take our order. Gareth orders the pan-seared salmon, and I opt for a filet mignon—I’ve never been a salad for dinner kind of girl.
“How’s the team?” I ask casually when it’s just us again, wanting to steer back into neutral territory. Baseball is safe—can’t go wrong with talking about work, right?
“Doing pretty well. We just lost a good player though, so that sucks. He got traded to the Raptors.”
“Is that normal?” I take a sip of my sparkling water. “To have players traded mid-season?”
“It’s not abnormal, but it’s not preferred. The team loved Max. Now we have a new guy starting, but Coach hasn’t told us who or when yet.”
“Isthatnormal?” I have no idea how the ins and outs of baseball work, but the way Gareth’s describing it, it seems a little…off.
His nose scrunches. “Eh. Could be a paperwork snag or something. Or maybe he doesn’t even know yet. The new owner isn’t as forthcoming as he could be.”
