Because if it’s not her, it’s not going to be anyone.
Chapter 33
Rhea - The Boys Have My Back
It’s five minutes to seven when I storm into Marcus in a bit of a panic, the little buckles on my new booties making the slightest jingling noise, making me feel like an elf. I hate being late, and to me, being only five minutes early is being late. It took me forever to get my hair and makeup sorted and then I had a hard time finding parking when I got here, finally finding street parking a couple of blocks over. I can only hope that Aiden isn’t here yet, so he doesn’t witness me rushing around like this. I need to maintain some semblance of control here. After all, he’s the one who ran out on me right after sex, not the other way around. I’m not the one who should be worried here.
I check in with the hostess and she confirms Aiden hasn’t arrived yet, then leads me to a table. We’re tucked away in a private corner, which makes me wonder if Aiden requested this, and if he did, was it just so he doesn’t get recognized or because he wants private time with me? I kind of hope it’s the latter.
What the hell, Rhea? You’re supposed to be mad at him.
I reach out and bring my ice water to my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. Despite what the other girls were thinking when we were shopping, I’m here to make sure he apologizes and feels bad for what he did. Not to attempt another hook-up. I will not leave myself open to that kind of hurt again. Even if it was the best sex I’ve ever had.
“Hello, darling,” a large, cheerful looking man says as he slips into the seat across from me. “I’m Alex’s friend, Marcus. She called me earlier to arrange this table for you and your gentleman friend and I just thought I’d introduce myself to you privately, since I see you’re here early and alone.”
Holy shit! I’m meetingtheMarcus, of the restaurant Marcus, and I’m more star-struck than I was when I found out Aiden is the drummer for Sleeping Dogs. I don’t care what anyone says, chefs are the real celebrities. Plus, I’d barely even heard of Sleeping Dogs before. Marcus has been famous in Westborough for ages.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so amazing to meet you, Marcus. I’m a huge fan. I’ve been wanting to come here since you opened, but I haven’t had a reason to come, not that I would have even been able to get a table if I had one, but that’s beside the point. I’m Rhea. I guess I’m Alex’s friend too, even though we just met.” I’m rambling and I’m sure I sound like an idiot, but I really just can’t believe I’m actually meetingtheMarcus. I’m fan-girling hard.
“Well, any friend of Alex is a friend of mine. Next time you want to come in, you just call me personally and I’ll make sure you get a table,” he says, and hands me a card that he’s pulled from his shirt pocket and I feel my eyes go wide. “But for tonight I just wanted you to know that if your gentleman friend is anything less than a gentleman, you be sure to holler for me and I will take care of it. Or my husband Domenic will, he’s hanging out in my office tonight, and he used to be Special Forces, so… you know.” He gives me a little wink and stands.
“I appreciate that. If it comes down to it though, I was a cop until recently, and I should be able to handle it on my own.” Holy shit.TheMarcus is offering his help if I should need it. This is the best non-date ever.
“Of course, darling. But like I said, any friend of Alex is a friend of mine. And here at Marcus, I take care of my friends.” He bends and kisses me on the cheek before turning to walk away. “Oh, and I’m personally preparing your meals tonight, so don’t bother with the menus. I’ll send your server over to get drink orders shortly.”
Wow. It pays to be friends with some people. It’s interesting though, that I’m getting special treatment for being friends with Alex, rather than because I’m here with Aiden. I was under the impression that people would be falling all over someone who is in such a famous band, but if it came down to it, I think Marcus would love the opportunity to throw him out on his ass. I laugh to myself as I take another sip of my ice water.
“What’s so funny?” Aiden says, as the hostess directs him to his seat. “I think I missed something.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just met Marcus, and he said something funny, that’s all.”
It’s clear that Aiden has taken some pains to dress up a little tonight. He’s wearing leg skimming jeans, a dark grey t-shirt, and a medium grey sport coat over it. He’s also traded in his worn out sneakers for shiny, dark brown, dress boots. He still has his hair tied up in a bun on top of his head, though, and his face is just the right amount of scruffy. The overall effect is one of casual elegance and he has me flooding with heat unprompted.
Stay focused, Rhea. You’re here for an apology, not a repeat performance.
“Anything I want to know about?” he asks, a smirk on his gorgeous lips.
“No, I don’t think so.” I say with another laugh. “Just know that if you don’t behave like a gentleman, Marcus is going to have something to say about it.”
“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me. Connor told me when he first met Marcus that he made it clear he would take Alex’s side in any argument or confrontation. Alex says Marcus is very protective of women, especially those he’s acquainted with.”
“He seems like a nice guy. He said his husband is here tonight too, in case I needed extra back up.” I chuckle a little.
“Domenic? Yeah, I guess he used to be Special Forces? I met him at Alex and Connor’s engagement party, and from what I could tell, he’s a really nice guy too.” Aiden takes a drink of his water. “I don’t think you’ll need their help tonight, though. I’m here to apologize. And I’m sure if I got out of hand you’d be more than able to take care of it, being a former police officer and all.”
This is why I dressed up tonight. I want him to see what he’s missing out on because of his rude behaviour when he ran out on me. An apology won’t make me feel a hundred percent better, but it will be a start.
I just wish he didn’t have to look so good doing it. That will make it harder for me to stick to my guns and stay away, even after an apology. I mean, if the apology isreallygood though…
Chapter 34
Aiden - Apology Not Accepted
“Ikind of wish I hadn’t picked such a public place for this apology. It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that I should broadcast across a busy restaurant.”
“We’re tucked away in the corner here. I think it will be OK.” Rhea takes a dainty sip of the whiskey sour she asked for when the server came to get our drink order. “Plus, bringing me here almost makes me think that you actually feel sorry for pulling such a dick move.”
I wince. It was a dick move.
