Page 14 of The Status Situation

He shrugs one shoulder. “It’s true. I’ve known Mark for a couple of years now, and I have never seen him here with anyone. It’s always been a table for one. Glad to see that’s changing. He’s a good man.” He taps his fingers on the table and smiles almost proudly. “Enjoy your meal.”

With that, he turns and leaves us alone, his parting words hanging heavily in the air. Mark immediately starts browsing the menu, but I can’t take my eyes off him. I’m trying to figure out if Jim was just pulling my leg or not, because it’s really hard to believe that Mark hasn’t been in any serious relationships. He’s ridiculously hot. Is it possible he just didn’t bring any of them here?

A thought hits me then, and my whole body freezes, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head. Oh my God. Did I miss something?

“I can practically hear the wheels turning in your head, Maria,” Mark chuckles, interrupting my thoughts. He sets the menu down on the table and then folds his hands on top of it in front of him. “What’s on your mind, baby?”

“Are you gay?” I blurt stupidly.

Smooth, Maria. Real smooth.

A look of shock crosses his face, but it’s gone just as quickly as it appeared, and he suddenly barks a laugh that’s so loud it startles the couple sitting at the table across from us. My cheeks and neck heat, and for the second time in a matter of minutes, I want to disappear. I, too, am suddenly aware of how stupid that question was.

“I’m sorry,” he finally says, wiping his eyes. “I don’t mean to laugh. But what on Earth gave you that impression?”

I focus on my hands, which I’m wringing in my lap beneath the table. “Well, Jim said that he’s never seen you with anyone.”

Mark lifts an eyebrow, nodding slowly. “I don’t date. Is that a problem?”

“Of course not,” I reply quickly. “I guess I’m just curious as to why you insisted on going out with me tonight if you don’t date.”

Before he can say anything, a beautiful blonde waitress steps up to our table. She cheerfully introduces herself and then asks to take our drink order, though it doesn’t go unnoticed that she continues to eye Mark as she speaks. Sheepishly, I order a water for myself, and Mark orders two large Cokes without taking his eyes off me.

“I haven’t dated because no one has interested me enough to do so,” he says once she’s gone, turning his attention back on me. “I insisted you come out with me tonight because I’m interested.”

A shy smile tugs at the corners of my mouth, and I pull my bottom lip in between my teeth as I look down at the table and menu in front of me. That was probably the nicest thing anyone has said to me in… well… ever.

To distract myself, I pick up the menu to decide what I am going to order. However, before I can lift it off the table, Mark covers my hand with his. “Hey. Don’t do that.”

I lift my gaze to meet him. “Do what?”

“Hide from me.” His thumb brushes against my knuckles reassuringly as he speaks. “Is it really so hard to believe that I’d be interested in you?”

“Honestly? Yes,” I answer simply.

With his brows creased, he tilts his head to the side, considering me. “You don’t think much of yourself, do you?”

“No.” My response is both immediate and firm, but it’s the truth. “There are a lot of things about myself I’d change if I could.”

I hoped he would drop the subject and move on to easier conversations. However, he leans back in his seat and folds his arms across his massively muscular chest. “Name one.”

“My weight,” I mutter, picking at a discolored spot on the table.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with your weight, Maria.” He must see the disbelief on my face because he continues. “Working at the Insurance company is just my day job. I’m also a personal trainer and life coach.”

Hearing that causes something to click in my head, and I finally realize how the hell he ended up on my friends’ list.

“Oh my god. That’s it!”

He blinks. “What?”

“That’s how I know you. Or at least, how we ended up friends on social media. I went to your gym and inquired about a personal trainer. They weren’t taking new clients, but I was given your name and told to contact you via social media because, while you didn’t officially work there, you helped people on your own time.”

“Huh,” he mutters. “Well, shit. I’m disappointed you didn’t follow through because we could have met a lot sooner.”

“And I’d be skinnier,” I add pointedly.

I can’t say for sure, but I think Mark growls at me. “Stop that, Maria. Like I said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you or your weight. In fact, I prefer curvier women. I like to have something to hold on to.”