Page 137 of Love to Hate You

Chapter forty-Three

Daisy

How does that old saying go?

Getting back on the horse again is never easy?

Well, it’s true.

I glance behind me and smile at…crap, I’m blanking on his name.

I’m pretty sure it starts with the letter—

Adam!

There we go.

We met in line at the coffee house on campus and got to talking. By the time we had our javas in hand, he asked if I was interested in grabbing dinner some time. Before Carter, I wouldn’t have given his invitation a second thought. He’s cute with messy chestnut colored curls and has a few tattoos on his arms.

What’s not to like?

And yet I went back and forth about meeting up with him. Believe it or not, it was Olivia who pushed me into going on this date. And she was right. There’s no reason for me to sit home alone pining for someone who doesn’t want me.

It’s time for me to move on.

And Adam is the perfect one to do that with.

I think.

He made a few odd comments while we were out, but I brushed them aside. If nothing else, he’s a good rebound guy. Someone I can practice on.

I shove my key in the lock and push open the door to the apartment before walking in. Adam is hot on my heels. I frown when his hands settle on my hips. This isn’t the first time he’s touched me this evening. Maybe I’m making too much of it, but the contact feels too intimate for a first date with a stranger.

He needs to back off.

I hasten my pace and slip out of his grip.

Normally, I’d hope that Noah wasn’t home to spoil my evening but that’s not the case this time. The further we move into the apartment, the more I realize that I’ve made a tactical error in judgment.

Inviting Adam up was a mistake. I should have ended the evening when he dropped me off.

The apartment is dark, which means that Noah is out for the night. I wonder where he went. Ever since he broke up with Ashley, he’s become more of a homebody. It’s been nice. We’ve been spending quality cousin bonding time together. We buy quarts of ice cream and lament our single status as we binge watch Netflix.

I head into the kitchen to put a little distance between us and hit the lights. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Sure.” He shoves his hands in the pockets of his khakis and glances around the apartment. “Got any vodka?”

I almost snort. Yeah…That is so not happening. The last thing I need on my hands is another drunk asshole.

Instead I say, “Nope, fresh out. How about a water or Gatorade?”

He shrugs and positions himself in the middle of the couch. “Gatorade’s fine.” He pats the spot next to him in invitation. “Why don’t you get your sexy self in here.”

Sexy self?

Seriously? It takes everything I have inside not to burst out laughing. Poor Adam. He’s going to be disappointed by the way tonight turns out.

I grab a bottle of water for myself and a Gatorade for my unwanted guest and head back into the living room. I toss him the bottle as I bypass the couch, heading to the recliner which is on the other side of the coffee table. Hopefully he’ll get the hint that my sexy self isn’t interested.

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