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“Jenna…and another waitress who didn’t know me or what I did, but caught up quickly, apparently. The remarks were harsh. The service was worse. We didn’t make it past the appetizer before I told them off and left.” I swipe against my forehead. “I ruined her birthday.”
He responds as if I'd offended him. “You didn’t ruin your mother’s birthday. If I know Sara, she was proud of you for standing up for yourself.” He lifts the bottle.
I hold the stem of my wine glass and chuckle weakly as he pours. "You keep saying things like that, you may just end up being that lucky someone."
He smirks and lifts his glass. "Here's to starting new rumors."
I’m through with the first glass as our meal comes, and I'm famished.
We watched the sunset waiting for our meal, but it doesn't beat the view from Noah's backyard. “It’s so pretty out here. So quiet.” A jazz band plays inside, but it's faint from the speakers.
“So, what were you looking at on your phone that was so fascinating when I picked you up?”
I frown when I remember what it was—or rather who it was—and roll my eyes. “A new pair of boots,” I manage to say without blushing.
“Do your new pair of boots come with a set of abs and tattoos?”
I wince, and he laughs. “Tell me. What was it?”
“Ugh. It was just something Pepper and I have been discussing and none of your business.” There. Why can’t it be as simple as that?
“Hmm…so it has something to do with your bucket list?”
“Yes.” It’s not exactly a lie.
He takes a sip of his wine. “What does Landon Humphrey have to do with your list?”
My eyes widen.
He scrunches his nose. “Sorry, my eyes are trained to look at ‘evidence’ before it’s stashed.”
“You’re the worst. There’s nothing to see—tell. There’s nothing to tell.”
Like I’d tell him Pepper is proposing I do the deed with a hockey player out of my league—just so I could hit this milestone before I’m twenty-five. “A date,” I say, and it’s simple enough that I don’t need to elaborate.
“To her wedding? Like a one-time thing?”
My cheeks heat and I take a bite as if these five seconds could buy me enough time. “Yes. A date to her wedding.”
He laughs but there's no humor in it. “I don’t think a blind date with Humphrey to your best friend’s wedding is a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t know each other.”
“So. All he has to know is how to get me a drink and twirl me around on the dance floor.”
“Exactly. You won’t have time to talk.”
“I don’t think talking is what Pepper had in mind,” I mumble before my eyes widen and I cover my mouth.
Noah’s expression is stoic as he leans in. “I hope you said no.”
I jerk. “Why would I say no?”
“Because you’re not ready.”
“Not ready? Is there a minimum age for…being ready?”
