Page 101 of The Need to Know

Get over it, girl, I coached myself.

“To tonight then,” I said with finality.

Around seven that evening I stood naked in my bedroom, debating over everything. I was almost positive nothing would happen on or after this date, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t wear sexy underwear to make myself feel good.

I sifted through my drawer of bras and found a black lace strapless one to wear from Victoria’s Secret. In my underwear drawer I plucked up a matching pair of cheeky lace panties and slipped them on. After pulling on my dress and modeling it in the mirror, I sat down to do my makeup.

I listened to The Love Below, ignoring the sting of guilt I felt each time my phone buzzed with a new attempt at communication from Ezekiel. He hadn’t lied; the album was superb.

“You’re doing the right thing,” I told myself as I stared at my reflection in my vanity. Ezekiel couldn’t give me what I wanted in the long run, and it was better this way. To rid myself of these growing feelings and get back out there to explore my options. To meet my Mr. Currently Available, because that just wasn’t Ezekiel Marcuson. Paisley was right, I couldn’t just sit around and wait for him.

Tears threatened to come to my eyes as I hiccupped a breath and my hand shook in the air as I applied mascara. From Norah Jones’s vocals entwined with André’s, the soft acoustic melody, and the lyrics, hearing “Take Off Your Cool” hurt deep.

We had never been cool with each other. Right from the start we were just…us.

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” I told myself.

I turned off my light and let him go.

Paisley set everything up. She contacted Gray and placed the reservation. All I had to do was show up.

At exactly eight p.m. I entered the restaurant and went straight over to the maître d’.

“Hello, party for Parker,” I said, giving the older man in a fine suit before me at the podium the reservation name.

The maître d’ read over the list of names in his open bound book in front of him and tapped briefly on the left side.

He looked up at me, smiling with a twinkle in his blue eyes. “Ah, right this way.”

Butterflies buzzed in my belly as I followed the man into the open-floor plan of Room’s restaurant. Polished hardwood flooring was at my feet, niche pendant lighting hung from the ceiling, and socially distanced tables provided a busy yet intimate atmosphere. The more we walked the floor, the more I knew exactly where we were headed.

Seated at a round clothed table was a single man. He glanced around, nervous, before spotting the maître d’ and me approaching his table. Like a gentleman, he stood as we came near to anticipate my taking a seat.

He was several inches taller than me, had a smooth cognac skin tone, five o’clock shadow on his jaw that saved him from looking boyish, and a nice build. For our date, he was in a designer polo and a pair of slacks. Formal, yet casual. He was handsome.

“Your server will be right with you. Enjoy,” the maître d’ said to us both before returning to his post.

Gray took one look at me and a shy smile captured his face. He extended his hand. “Nastasia, right? I’m Gray Forester.”

We shook hands and I took a moment to study the sight of his hand on mine. A strong grip, determined and assured. Nice.

I met his dark eyes. “Nice to meet you.”

We took our seats across from each other.

“Let me turn my ringer off now that you’re here.” Gray pulled his cell phone from his pocket and hit the little switch on the side.

Smart move. I’d already done so in the car, forgoing reading any of the texts or returning any of the phone calls from the person I was trying not to think about.

It had been so long since I’d been on a date, I felt clueless. So, I picked up the menu and browsed at the same time that he did.

“First time here?” he asked me.

“Uh, I’ve been here a couple of times before,” I admitted. Once with my ex, and once with Paisley for a girls’ night out.

“Any suggestions on what to get?” Gray asked me. “I’m still new around here. I’m from Acworth.”

“Oh nice, I have an uncle who lives there,” I said. I brought my eyes back to the menu, scanning it. “I’ve had their burgers, which are really good, and so is their seafood.”