“The successful kind, baby.”
Breathe.
I turn my head when a small hand sets my martini on the table in front of me. Smiling at the same woman who sat us a few minutes ago, I snag my glass. She darts off without another word, making me frown before taking a larger-than-necessary drink of the martini.
“I don’t like being bothered while I’m out for dinner. There’s nothing worse than wait staff that can’t take a hint when we want to be left alone,” Jay answers my unasked question.
“I see.”
“I’ll let the waitress know to come back soon enough. Until then . . . I recall you mentioning being a lawyer on your profile.”
Setting my drink down, I nod, inwardly chastising myself for not deleting that tidbit. “I am.”
“That’s incredible. I was actually hoping I could ask you a question about something.”
“Regarding?”
Suddenly, I can’t stop looking at the patch of hair on his jaw that isn’t as hairy as the rest of it. Or the hairs between his eyebrows that look unplucked, giving him a bit of a unibrow. The top button of his shirt is in the wrong hole, which has led to the rest of them being off, leading to where I know the hem is uneven. There’s a bulge in the right side of his suit jacket that has me wondering if he’s a smoker.
I’m getting sidetracked. The same road I always seem to take on dates like this has me debating just standing and leaving right now before I can find another flaw, but I keep my ass planted in my seat. Tonight, I will not be a judgmental bitch.
No, I’m going to be understanding. Patient, even.
Take that, Spencer.
“Before I ask, do you mind if I just . . .” He trails off when he slips a hand into his suit jacket and pulls out a giant vape. I blink at the size of it, not expecting him to shove it into his mouth and inhale like he’s gasping for air. “That’s better. I’m so sorry. I’m just nervous, you know? This helps me mellow.”
His exhaled breath is heavy with the scent of weed, and I have to lean back to get away from it, curving uncomfortably over the back of my chair. The skunk smell lingers, sticking to the air I breathe in despite how far away I’m pushing away from him.
“Do you mind?” I ask sharply, my patience vanishing.
“Mind what? Do you smoke?” He extends the chrome vape to me and smiles. “You’re welcome to take a hit, sweetheart. I didn’t take you for a smoker.”
Fuck my life ten times over, universe.
“No. I meant, do you mind not blowing your smoke in my face? I’d prefer not to go home smelling like a dead skunk.”
His eyes widen slightly at my outburst. “Oh. Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be so sensitive about a bit of pot.”
“And that,sweetheart, was your third strike. I believe that means you’re out.”
“Jay? What are you doing here?”
And somehow, he’s about to get his fourth.
The woman who approaches us in the same uniform as every other server here has a blinding set of diamond wedding rings on her finger. And by the green hue to Jay’s skin as he stares over at her, it’s clear that I’m right to assume he’s the one responsible for putting them there.
I’m completely doomed.
5
“Doyou want me to fight him?” is the first thing out of my mouth when Aubrey enters my house.
She doesn’t answer before kicking her heels off and stalking confidently through the long hallway. I follow her into the kitchen, my muscles tense when she yanks a chilled bottle of rosé from the fridge. Shooting up, she spares me a heavy look that tells me everything her suddenI’m coming overtext couldn’t.
The tight, olive-coloured dress she wore on her date is a near-identical match to the cupboards behind her. Even without her killer heels on, she’s only a few inches shorter than my six-two height. I’ve always appreciated that about her, not that there’s anything wrong with shorter women. It’s just nice not having to crane my head down to look at her, given how often we’re together.
Her perfectly manicured fingernails tap the swell of her curved hip as she glares at the bottle. I debate asking if she’d prefer I open it before it shatters into a thousand pieces but change my mind when she whips around and tugs open a cupboard, grabbing a wineglass.
