Page 15 of Here In Your Arms

“Rory,” she says with a small but pleased smile.

The crowd has thinned some now that we’ve reached the interlude between dinner crowd and night crowd, so Rory has time to chat with us more. We spend time getting to know each other, mostly likes and dislikes, but sharing some fun stories as well.

“So you were at the pool with your niece, right?” I ask her.

“Yeah, she takes advanced swim lessons, so I just wait there as part of my taxi driving duties.”

“Were you guys also at the diner the other day? I saw you and I thought it was you from the pool, but I was distracted and wasn’t totally sure. Although with eyes like yours, I should have known.”

“Yeah, it was us. I was so fucking embarrassed. Claire has no filter.” She laughs.

I like it when someone can laugh at stuff like this. Wes is the joker of the two of us, but I like people who don’t take life too seriously. I guess it makes sense that Wes and I are together then, actually.

“Don’t be. Kids can be little shits, but she seemed cool just based on the fact that she tried to call me over.” I chuckle.

“That girl has got some spunk in her, let me tell you. I couldn’t be prouder.” She grins.

Rory sees some drink slips come in and excuses herself.

“What do you think, man?” Wes turns and asks me.

“About what?” I ask, wanting to force him to say it.

“Oh my God, you’re so difficult. What do you think about taking her out? Seeing if she could fit?”

“It seems awfully quick for that,” I tell him, feeling unsure how we would come off asking her on a date.

“I know, but I think she feels the connection, too. Maybe we could just suggest a walk in the park or something.”

“Cuz that’s not cheesy,” I mutter.

“Fuck off,” Wes says, chuckling.

“Okay, but you have to let me ask her. You’re gonna make it weird.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Wes says, straight faced as he puts his hand as high on my thigh as possible.

I look down at his hand and pointedly back up at him. He grins, shamelessly.

“So, you guys were just about to tell me how amazing I am at this job, right?” Rory says as she walks back over.

“Oh, for sure, nobody slings a beer like you do, baby,” Wes says with a wink.

Rory rolls her eyes but laughs at his antics, anyway.

“So, Rory, we have a question for you, and I’m hoping you’ll hear us out,” I start.

“If you’re going to ask me to join your secret cult, it’s a hard pass.”

Wes starts cracking up, and I look between them. “You’re as bad as he is,” I tell her, chuckling.

She cackles in glee, and I wait until we’re all under control again.

“Wes and I would like to go on a date with you,” I tell her, point blank.

She looks between us; her face a little uncertain. “Both of you?”

“Yeah, it’s the trifecta of perfection,” Wes insists.

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