“I guess, sure,” I said. “I mean, you’re obviously hot. You know you’re hot.” My fingers started drumming on the book again, and I had to squeeze my hand into a fist to stop them.
Stop talking about how he’s hot, I scolded myself.
“I do know I’m hot,” he said, winking.
I took a deep breath. “I don’t really know if I’m ready for that,” I said quickly. “Honestly, I haven’t really dated much, and I don’t think I’m up for seeing some guy who is dating a bunch of other people at the same time, you know? Even if you do likeStar Trek, which I think is a decent sign that you’re a good person. ButStar Trekisn’t enough to make the date work, even if my friend Ezra claims it is.” I frowned and squeezed my hand into a fist again to release some anxiety. “I wanted to come here and give you a chance, but I think I need someone who is a little bit more on my level.”
Mars nodded. He didn’t seem fazed at all. “Sure, you’re worried I’m going to tie you to the bed and give you a piercing or that we’ll run into one of the other guys I’m hooking up with,” he said.
“The other guys you’re hooking up with?” I said. “You just moved here.”
“Just my best friend,” he said dismissively. “At least for now.”
I opened my mouth to object. Sleeping with his best friend was definitely a sign he couldn’t be boyfriend material. Especially since his best friend sounded like everything I wasn’t, confident and experienced and totally into casual dating.
“How about this,” he continued before I could say anything. “I’m still new to the city, and I could use a sweet guy like you to show me around. Let me buy you lunch, extend this date out of the coffee shop. No pressure and no expectations, just some nice company.”
“You don’t have another date scheduled already this afternoon?” I grumbled.
“Not until my threesome with a couple of bears at six,” he answered.
My mouth fell open, and then I realized he was joking. “No expectations?” I asked.
“Not a one,” he answered.
My old instincts were still firing, the ones that told me I should run away and that he was only going to turn on me. Like he would push me down and laugh at me the second we left the coffee shop or give me a giant wedgie at the restaurant. But in the back of my mind, I heard Valeria and Ezra, encouraging me to have a little fun.
And I couldn’t lie. There was something really nice about the way he kept complimenting me. It was like Mars saw me as someone who would actually go on some impulsive adventure with him, instead of as the nervous geek behind the counter at the comic book shop. I wanted to have more dating experience, and here he was, dropping the opportunity right in my lap.
“Lunch,” I said finally.
He ran a hand through his hair, and his curly locks fell to the side, letting me see once more the flash of hazel lightning that was his gaze. “Perfect,” he said. “Seattle keeps getting better.”
