Page 6 of I Wish He Would

AUSTIN

May he rest in peace.

ME

CA-CAW!

AUSTIN

Was Squeakers actually a bird in disguise?

ME

Catch up, Slugger! That’s me giving you the signal.

AUSTIN

I’ve got you. Call you in five?

ME

Yes, please!

I slide my phone back in my purse and flush the toilet that I didn’t use before opening the stall door. Susan is standing there, tapping her foot and looking at a nonexistent watch on her wrist. I press my clutch between my elbow and side while I quickly wash and dry my hands.

We silently walk back to the table together, and Tracy arrives a moment later with our food. Bless her for putting in a rush order with the kitchen.

“Thank you,” I say. When she leaves, I turn to Susan. “What do you do?”

“I run a real estate business.” She smiles over at her son. “It’s the best getting to work with my Michael every day.”

Oh. Oh. My cousin not only works with Mike, but they both work for his mother? That would’ve been some key information heading into this date, Patrice. I’m officially never letting her set me up again.

“That’s fascinating,” I grit out. “I’d love to hear more about it.” Nothing makes a dinner go by faster than asking a woman about herself. I grab my fork and dive into my food as I listen to Susan talk all about her real estate empire.

When my phone finally buzzes with an incoming call, my body floods with relief. I flip it over and see a picture of me and Austin after one of his games. My heart flutters at the sight of him, like it always does.

No matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise, I think a part of the reason I never feel anything on other dates—aside from the fact that most of them are atrocious—is because of him.

Or rather, my feelings for him.

Feelings I’ve shoved deep down because I know he doesn’t feel the same. But no one else has measured up to him, and I’m not sure they ever will. Because even though we're only friends, he’s still the one saving me tonight. He’s set the bar high for all other men.

I snatch my phone off the table. “Sorry, I should get this.” I ignore the matching annoyed looks Mike and Susan shoot my way and swipe to answer the call. “Hey, Austin. Is everything okay?”

“You need to come home. There was a gas leak at your house and the fire department is there.”

“A gas leak?” I gasp. I pause again for dramatic effect before flinging my hand to my mouth. “The fire department? Is everyone okay?”

“Your roommates got out safely, but they need you.”

“Of course. I’ll be there soon. Thanks for letting me know.” I hang up the phone and wave Tracy down.

“Can I offer you any dessert?” she asks.

Mike holds a hand to his stomach. “Oh, we couldn’t possibly eat any more.” Says the man who still has half of his steak and plain potato untouched on his plate. “A man doesn’t maintain a six-pack by eating sweets.”

I think we’re at strike twenty in the cons column at this point, but I lost count a long time ago. Also, who cuts in like that when I clearly flagged the waitress down and just said words like gas leak and fire department?