Page 111 of Unhinged

“No movie, just so you can ignore me for two hours.”

“There are other things we can do in there for two hours.”

She rolls her eyes. “Not for our first date. And it’s kind of skeezy. You will pick me up on time and drop me off two hours later. We can hold hands occasionally, but no further than that. If the date went well and we survived, you can kiss me goodnight on my lips or cheek for two seconds.”

“What the hell?”

“You expected more from me?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Not even. We can go mini-golfing.”

“Say what?”

“You know? Indoor putt-putt?” Simone grins as she walks to the bar, and I follow like a damn puppy dog. “We’ll then go to IHOP for French toast.”

“Are you serious?”

“You’re not?” Her blue eyes are effervescent, and I can’t look away.

“Okay.”

“And no sex. Scratch that off the list. Maybe if we make it to the third date.” She giggles, and I shake my head as I go behind the bar.

What the fuck am I getting myself into?

Simone ditches her teasing to give Clive a genuine, friendly smile and squeezes his shoulder. Seeing the crotchety bastard’s toothless smile and adoration in return, I know exactly what I’m doing. And it’s impossible to stop.

Chapter 20

Simone

“You look lovely, Simone.”

I grin as I shake my barrel curls. “Thank you.” I only burned my hands five times each.

He motions toward me. “Your outfit is very familiar.”

I look down at my yellow-and-black plaid capris and my sunburst-yellow sweater. “I know. The plaid. It’s so like Clueless, right?” A favorite of mine and a classic movie Greg hates. This will be fun.

“Where are you off to this evening?” Amos asks, pouring Frenchie some food.

“I have a date,” I declare with a giddy smile I can’t hide.

Amos watches me as I giggle to myself, spritzing my favorite Pink Sugar perfume on my wrists and neck.

“With the look on your face, this gentleman must be special.”

I clear my throat as I again check my lipstick. “He is. Very.”

“Did you meet him at the bar?”

I shake my head as I look into my mirror. “Richmond.”

Amos sighs, and I see his frown in the mirror. “I take it you’re not going out again with Officer Tesco?”

I laugh. “Nope. He left. This is the guy I’ve been dying, dying to ask me out for over a year now.”

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