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“Okay.” She set the flowers back down and met me at the door, which I held open for her before following her out into the night, using my key to lock up. “How did you get a key to the room?”
“I took the shit. Fuck you mean?” I looked back in time to see her shaking her head as if I cared about her disapproval. Okay, maybe I did a little bit, but she was partly to blame for the crazy shit I did, making me chase her pretty ass.
“Do you not care at all that you might go to jail? You should be in jail,” she mumbled after the fact.
“No.” I took her hand and led her to the car, where I held the door open for her and helped her fine ass in. “Hey,” I said as I dropped to my haunches so that we were at eye level.
She tucked a loc behind her ear and blushed. “Yes, Owen?”
“Thank you for having dinner with me. You look beautiful.” Her lips parted in shock, and I grinned as I stood and closed her door.
Yeah, I’d paid more attention to my pops than I cared to admit. I also meant every word.
My heart was beating fast as fuck, but I felt excited and eager to get to the restaurant so we could eat and vibe. And then later, for dessert, I could finally make her mine.
Ididn’t let on how excited I was when we walked through the door of the restaurant hand in hand. Taste was a TikTok sensation, and I’d been dying to come here with no hope of ever doing so. I wondered how Rowdy had heard about it.
I somehow doubted that he’d found it on the app. He was a pretty busy man, so I couldn’t imagine him sitting around wasting hours watching people dance—sometimes horribly—or do skits. It had been a godsend for me while stuck in that dingy motel room with only the local news and religious programs to keep me entertained.
Rowdy gave the hostess his last name. After confirming our reservation, we were shown to one of the cloth-covered tables tucked into the corner that allowed us to see the entire restaurant while offering privacy as well.
I blushed again when Rowdy pulled out my chair for me like the perfect gentleman before hiking up his slacks and seating himself next to me rather than across from me. It was a constant effort not to drool seeing him dressed in something other than his work uniform or usual jeans and hoodie. The only visual that could possibly top it would be seeing him in his birthday suit, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
The hostess left us alone with menus, but thanks to my internet sleuthing, I already knew what I wanted. I just wished I were old enough to order a drink. I’d heard they were amazing.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked as soon as Rowdy was done perusing the menu.
He side-eyed me before saying, “Keep it brief.”
I rolled my eyes. “I was just wondering how you knew about this place.”
When he stared at me this time, it was an effort not to fidget under his assessing gaze. “Nah, be real with me, Atlas. That’s not what you wanted to ask me. You wanted to know if I’ve brought other women here before.”
“Have you?”
He seemed irritated when he looked away from me to glare at the laughing couple at the table in front of us.
They seemed to be having a great time. There was no tension between them. I was willing to bet my very limited funds that their night would even end with sex.
“No, Atlas, I haven’t.”
“Really?” I hated the insecurity in my voice. I hated how much I hoped it was true.
“Really. You’re not just the first girl I’ve brought here. You’re the first girl I’ve taken on a date. I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing. This shit is new to me, but I was hoping we could have a chill night, get to know each other, and figure it out together. Is that cool with you?”
There was no arrogance in his tone. Only the same uncertainty mirrored in mine. It was all it took to knock down the last of my walls. I didn’t allow myself to think twice before I framed his handsome face in my hands and pressed my lips against his soft ones. I still hadn’t forgiven him for Friday night, but this was a start.
“I’d like that.”
He grinned at me, and I let him kiss me again until his nasty ass tried to slip me some tongue.
“Hello. Welcome to Taste,” greeted the cheerful voice belonging to our waitress. “My name is Felicia, and I’ll be helping you with your dining experience today. Can I start you with something to drink?”
Rowdy ordered his usual—a glass of Hennessy—and to my utter shock, a Passion Sunrise while I begrudgingly asked for a boring glass of lemonade.
I was going to have some of his cocktail, and he would just have to get over sharing it. Felicia smiled politely and wrote our drinks down before disappearing.
Rowdy and I made small talk until she returned a few minutes later with our drinks. I wasn’t sure what had happened in the space of time our waitress was gone, but she was extra friendly with Rowdy as she took his order while barely acknowledging me when I gave her mine.
