Page 7 of The Waiter at Table 6

I shrug. “It’s okay. It was the only thing I wanted, to be honest. And it was nice to finally get out of the city.”

“Yeah, this place is way better than living in a city,” Ryder agrees. Then he clears his throat and takes another sip of his beer. “So, uh, was tonight your first date since the split?”

I don’t tamp down my cringe. “Don’t even remind me. The fact that you witnessed that humiliation makes it ten times worse.”

Is he moving closer, or is that just my imagination? “Trust me, the humiliation is completely on his end,” Ryder says in a low voice.

Spinning the glass in front of me, I have to tear my gaze away from his in order to answer the original question. “But, um, yes, tonight was the first one. If I can even count it.”

I hear the hesitation in his voice when he asks, “Is everything still…fresh? I mean, if you’d rather be alone, I completely understand. I know branching out socially after a breakup is hard.”

That amuses me, as thoughtful as it is. “Ryder, I’m the one who sent you a drink.”

I don’t know if it’s hearing me say his name—in this setting—or the flirtatious undertone, but the sparkle returns to his eyes, his lips lifting into a satisfied smile.

“You’re right, you did.”

Reality seems to settle, along with the seriousness of his question. Ryder feels it too, because he glances at the beer before asking, “So, not that I’m not ridiculously glad that your ex fumbled the bag, but I’m curious…what exactly did he do to lose you?”

And maybe it’s because it feels so easy to talk to him, or because I somehow know that Ryder doesn’t have a judgmental bone in his body, but I don’t question it, don’t even have to take a sip of my drink for the sad story to spill out.

I let out a heavy exhale, feeling lighter already. “I walked in on him fucking another woman.”

Ryder’s eyes widen at my bluntness. Even I’m taken aback by my words. I’m never crass, and so far, I’ve kept the real reason for our split under wraps when talking to other people, but…I’m sick of covering for my ex.

“Jesus. And I thought the blind date guy was an idiot.”

My shrug is stiff as I huff a laugh. “I guess I’ve never really attracted winners.”

Ryder’s eyes narrow. “Bullshit.”

Once again, his words steal my breath. “You don’t even know me,” I manage, feeling my cheeks flush.

“I know when a beautiful woman isn’t being appreciated,” he says. And yeah, he’s definitely gotten closer. “I said it at the restaurant, and I’ll say it again: anyone who isn’t dying to be with you isn’t worth a second of your time.”

I swallow against a suddenly dry mouth, lost in his intensity and unsure of what to say, but feeling my heart beat faster in excitement all the same.

He takes pity on me and breaks our eye contact, his gaze dropping down to his drink.

“So…I have a question for you. And you have to be honest.”

I nod. “Of course.”

“How was your dinner tonight, really?”

His question is so much more professional than I expected that I have to blink away my surprise before I can answer.

“I wasn’t lying at the restaurant,” I tell him. “It really was the best dinner I’ve had.”

His eyes search mine curiously. “And why’s that?”

I let out a puff of laughter. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

“I’m not sure I could handle a compliment from you.”

I arch an eyebrow in response. “The service was exemplary.”

An honest to God shudder runs through the man.

---