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“A salad?” Colby echoes in disbelief. “Absolutely not. Friends don’t allow friends to order salads at a burger joint. Get one of those. I promise you won’t be sorry.”
I chew my lower lip as I consider his suggestion.
Truth be told, I’ve spent the past six months deprogramming myself and changing my eating habits. Up until I took off, my mother was still watching what I ate like a hawk.
I’ll never forget the summer I gained eight pounds after turning fifteen. The producer of the show pulled my agent and mother aside and said that I needed to lose it. ASAP. They all put their heads together and decided that the season would revolve around my weight loss journey. They figured that the fans would relate to my struggle.
Instead, I was picked apart all over social media.
The memes were out of control.
It was a mentally scarring experience.
After that, I was careful not to deviate more than a pound from what they deemed an acceptable weight.
But that was then.
And this is now.
I no longer have to worry about being filmed and what I looked like on camera.
I get to make my own decisions.
Even if it’s something small like ordering a burger that most people wouldn’t think twice about.
“What’s it gonna be?” the waitress asks, tapping her pen against the pad.
“Okay, sure. I’ll try the burger.”
“Load it with the works,” Colby adds.
“You want fries with that?”
Just as I’m about to shake my head, Colby cuts in. “You can’t eat a burger without fries. I think it might be illegal in some states.”
The older woman points to Colby. “The kid knows what he’s talking about. You should listen to him.”
It’s tempting to roll my eyes. “Fine. I’ll have a burger and fries.”
“Excellent choice,” Colby says with a smirk. “I’ll, um, have a salad.”
When my mouth tumbles open, he laughs. “Just kidding. I’ll have the same. Thanks.”
“And to drink?”
“Two Cokes?” he says, raising his brows in silent inquiry.
“Diet, please,” I cut in.
“No problem. Your order will be up shortly.” She takes off, beelining toward a family with young kids who look to be on the verge of a meltdown.
Colby glances around, studying the restaurant. “This place has a great vibe.”
“Is this your first time here?”
“Yup. Wolf mentioned it a few times, so I thought we could check it out.”
As he falls silent, I can’t help but wonder if this guy really thinks a cheeseburger and diet soda will seal the deal.
If so, he’s in for disappointment.
Unable to hold back my thoughts, I blurt, “Just so we’re clear, I have zero intention of being hustled into your bed.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. “I think we both know I don’t have to hustle chicks anywhere. They come willingly.”
There’s that cockiness again.
I shake my head. “Remember when I mentioned earlier that you were incorrigible? I’m standing firmly behind that statement.”
When his smile intensifies, something unwanted pings at the bottom of my belly. It takes more effort than before to stomp it out.
What bothers me most is that I’m not as immune to his charms as I’d hoped. And the more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to resist him.
“Why else would you bring me here?”
With his eyes fastened onto mine, the arrogance fades from his expression as he leans forward, closing the space between us. “Guess I wanted the chance to get to know you better. Is there something wrong with that?”
The waitress sets our drinks down before zipping off and leaving us alone again.
Only now do I realize how dangerous it is to have all of Colby’s attention focused on me.
I feel strangely alive in his presence.
Confusion circles around in my brain as I tear the wrapper from my straw and drop the slender tube into the fizzy fountain soda before bringing it to my lips and taking a sip.
Colby’s attention dips to my mouth and heat flares to life in his eyes before he slants them upward again. “You never answered the question.”
My brows rise. “There was a question?”
One side of his mouth hitches. “Is there a problem with me wanting to know you better?”
A burst of nerves scampers across my flesh as I rip my gaze away. “I’m not sure. I’ve got a lot going on right now. I really don’t have time for any…new friends.”
It’s not a total lie.
But it’s not necessarily the truth either.
It never occurred to me when I packed up and took off that I might create a whole new life for myself. And that it would become necessary to hide the old one. I didn’t realize how lonely it would be to keep those two worlds separate.
There’ve been a handful of times when I’ve gotten together with the girls and it’s been so tempting to blurt out the truth. Especially after a few drinks.
Fear is what ultimately kept me silent. As much as I like Fallyn, Carina, Juliette, Stella, and Viola, I don’t know them well enough to trust them implicitly with my secrets.
