Jamie sat down beside me.
“So, I guess you want to talk about?—”
“Where are you going on your first date?” I blurted, curiosity overtaking me.
“The Silver Spoon in Riverton.”
“He’s making you go to him?” I asked, unimpressed.
“Uh, yeah. He’s a chef there, so he wants to introduce me to his food.”
“Sounds kind of egotistical,” I said.
“Oh. I didn’t really see it that way, but maybe…”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t even know the guy. The foodisgood. I eat there with my parents sometimes.”
Jamie nodded hesitantly. “Okay. Thanks. Um, did you want to talk about the dog festival?”
“Yeah. That’s why we’re here.” I laughed awkwardly. “So, what do you have to report?”
“Well, Silas put me in contact with a couple of potential sponsors if you need more…”
“Absolutely, yeah,” I said.
We exchanged progress reports, made a plan for next steps, then lapsed into silence as we watched the dogs play. Eventually, Jamie stirred.
“The date will probably be a bust. They always are.”
“He’d be crazy not to be crazy about you,” I said. “You’re a catch.”
“If only someone actually wanted to keep me.”
He stood, and I grasped his wrist. “Jamie.”
He looked back. “Yeah?”
My heart constricted. “You’re absolutely worth keeping. Never doubt that.”
His smile was small and sad. “Thanks, Hank. You’re a good friend.”
Somehow, that just didn’t feel like enough as I watched him walk away, shoulders hunched, discouraged about a date he hadn’t even met yet.
Because of me. Because of my bad attitude.
I didn’t deserve the labelfriend.
Ass was much more fitting.
CHAPTER 18
Jamie
“So what doyou want your outfit to say on the big date Friday night?” Silas asked. “Too sexy to keep my pants on?”
He pulled assless chaps off the rack at Tops and Bottoms, a local boutique. They were dyed purple and ostentatious didn’t even begin to describe them.
Maverick laughed. “That’s more your thing, babe. Jamie should look tempting but off-limits until his man has earned it. Hmm. Maybe a nice clingy silk button-down like this. Something to tease a little but still keep it classy?”
