Page 79 of The Boyfriend Experience

“I’m sorry?” I say to the unfamiliar voice.

“This is Hanna Harlow, Lawton. I was wondering if you had time to meet up with me tonight. Perhaps have some dinner? Chat a little? We didn’t get much time to talk on Saturday and I’m thoroughly intrigued by your sudden appearance in my old friend’s life.”

At first I can’t really put all those words into something that makes sense. The announcement that this is Hanna throws me. Especially the blatant way she purrs her name. Not to mention the seductive tone of her voice as she makes her intentions clear.

“I’m sorry, Hanna. I’d love to, but I have plans with Oaklee tonight.”

“Cancel,” she hums. “She’ll understand.”

Which makes me laugh. “Uh, no, I really don’t think she would.”

“I know what she’s up to,” Hanna says.

“Good for you,” I say.

“It’s not going to work, ya know.”

“I have no idea what you’re even talking about, Hanna. But I gotta go.”

“Last chance then.”

“Last chance for what?” I’m annoyed now and it shows.

“To broker some kind of deal for poor little Oaklee. She’s not going to like what’s about to happen to her.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Come to dinner with me and find out.”

I sigh.

“Just text Oaklee and tell her you’re running late. I promise, you’ll be home to her in time for bed.” And then she pauses, and adds, “If that’s what you still want after our… talk.”

I don’t even know what to say.

“Lawton?”

But I don’t like her cocky self-assurance. Especially when she’s been stealing Oaklee’s beer recipes. It’s like… she has a secret. Something we missed. And wasn’t that the feeling I got last night? Wasn’t I just thinking about how something was right in front of me and I couldn’t see it?

So I say, “Where?”

“My bar. In Boulder. Look it up on your navigation. Buffalo Brews on Pearl Street. See you in an hour.”

And then she is the second person to hang up on me in the span of five minutes.

Lovely.

I sigh again as I press Oaklee’s contact in my phone.

She picks up on the first ring. “Hey! You about ready for dinner now? What time will you be here?”

“Hey, Oaks. I… I just got a call from Hanna Harlow who says I need to have dinner with her tonight so she can tell me about her big plans for you. I said yes, but I can cancel.”

Oaklee is quiet for too long on the other end. I start to wonder if she’s still there. “Oaklee?”

“What the fuck?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll cancel—”