Page 22 of The Chase

“Sure…” He trailed off, not at all convinced, but he turned up the volume on some top 40 station.

Honestly, I didn’t have the heart to tell him I didn’t listen to music. I spent most of my commute listening to either true crime podcasts or audiobooks. Secular music wasn’t allowed growing up, so when I got to college, I had no taste and listened to whatever was playing at the parties I ended up at. Thank God for Keiana. I wouldn’t have survived UPenn if it wasn’t for her.

At a red light, I felt his eyes on me, and I looked over to catch his gaze trailing up my skirt. My cheeks felt hot. “You look nice,” he said with a naughty grin because he knew I caught him.

“Thank you,” I muttered meekly. I eyed his classic black suit. “Am I underdressed?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure. D said this place is kinda fancy, but you always look good.”

“Noah Kennedy’s girlfriend?”

He nodded. “She used to be a vegetarian.”

A smile curled up on my lips. “You asked her for advice?”

“Maybe…”

“Are you trying to impress me?”

He grinned. “Maybe…”

He looked so cute with that naughty grin that I couldn’t help but keep the smile on my face. It eased my nerves that he was trying to impress me. Maybe that meant he was a little anxious, too. He probably didn’t have a panic attack this morning like I did when I asked Keiana what to wear, though.

It wasn’t long before we reached Center City, and he pulled his car into a parking garage. We were in the nicer part of the city, and I had a good idea where he was taking me.

TJ came around to my side of the car to open the door for me. I took his offered hand and let him slip his fingers in between mine. He absent-mindedly rubbed the pad of his thumb across the back of my palm, and I felt my breath hitch. TJ was a surprisingly touchy guy, and there was something deep inside of me that was doing cartwheels because of it.

“It’s not a far walk,” he said while he pulled me onto the sidewalk with him.

“So where are we going?”

“Dinah recommended Greenery. Have you been?”

I looked up at the old historic brownstone in front of us. It was a pretty nice restaurant, so maybe I was a little underdressed. I had been dying to try this restaurant, but it was pricey. Damn, TJ had done well.

“I haven’t been, but I’ve been wanting to.”

He beamed. “Score!”

I laughed at that. He was adorable, especially with that smile aimed at only me. He only let go of my hand so he could open the door for me. Since he had a reservation, they showed us to our table right away. TJ helped me with my coat and even pulled out my chair. This gentleman TJ was not the one I had a one-night stand with, but I liked this side of him.

The server took our order, and TJ waited for me to make my selection before asking if I wanted wine. He didn’t assume what I wanted, and my heart flipped over in my chest that he was letting me make my own decisions.

I sipped my wine and glanced over at him from across the table. His face was clean-shaven tonight, which I loved, but his five o’clock shadow was already coming in. He didn’t seem like a man who could grow a lot of facial hair, but I was okay with that. I preferred the clean-cut look.

“Why did you insist we go to dinner?” I asked.

“I felt bad about what happened between us.”

I cocked my head at him. “How so?”

He shifted in his chair uncomfortably. “I shouldn’t have asked for your number and then ghosted on you.”

“Can’t ghost me if you never called.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry. About everything. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay, T. This more than makes up for you forgetting my number.”