Page 33 of Forever Wild

It’s clear she can feel it too, her shoulders climbing higher with each passing minute. Finally, she turns to look at me. “I thought you didn’t want it to be a date. That’s why I said it. You told me you weren’t looking to date. I wanted to make it clear I knew that.” She rolls her shoulders down her back, clearly unsure.

I drop my head back on the headrest before quickly pulling it forward again. I know I have to explain. “I get it.” I pause and glance into her eyes—gray today. “The problem is that I meant it when I said I wasn’t looking to date. It’s just—”

She cuts in. “I—”

“No, please, let me get this out. I wasn’t looking to date anyone. I’m pretty fucked up from a past relationship, and yeah, I don’t want to enter into the dating scene. Don’t want to do the apps, the blind dates, the awkward double dates with friends of friends.” I run my hand through my hair. “But I do want to date you. I know I joked around about Mila Kunis, and honestly, I stand by that—she’s hot. But I was actually hoping today could be a real date.” Noting her slightly confused look, I add awkwardly, “With you.”

The driver—like the saint that quiet Uber drivers are—makes a show of pulling out a pair of earbuds and putting them in. I guess this is getting too personal for him.

Bryn, on the other hand, is chuckling and has a genuine, full grin making the whole back seat of this car light up like it’s Christmastime. “Thanks for clarifying. Here I thought that whole speech was just to let me know that you’re interested in Mila Kunis if she and Kutcher ever break up,” she teases. “Hmm…so is this you officially asking me out?”

I tap my lip with my finger, pretending to ponder the question. “Official makes it sound so…official. But, since you’re really pressuring me into things here, I guess I’ll go with the audible and say, yeah, I’m officially asking you out. Will you go on a date with me?”

“Gosh. You’re asking me out and using football terminology. It’s really throwing me for a loop here.” Her eyes are dancing.

“Okay, fine,” I say. “Will you do exactly what you planned to do with me today but call it a date?”

“And who, exactly, do you imagine I’m going to be sharing this ‘official date’ news with?” she asks.

“Well, this is where things do get a bit more complicated.” I pause, not quite sure what to say. “It’s just that, my PR team and sponsors”—I’m basically whispering now, just in case the Uber driver didn’t actually turn on their headphones—“well, they were pretty upset with me last year. I totally get it. I was in a bad spot, and I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have, including being photographed with a lot of different women. So I’ve been warned, a lot, that I can’t be seen dating casually…which I definitely should’ve thought of yesterday before we went to dinner in California of all places. I was just so excited at the thought of getting to see you, I didn’t really think about it.” I guess word vomit is a thing I’m doing now.

“So we can’t date?” she asks, her brow drawn in confusion. “I thought you wanted me to call this a date?”

“Right. I do. I definitely want to date you in a non-weird, normally paced way, where we don’t have a conversation about being official or dating seriously or anything until at least date three or four.” I take a deep breath, winded from saying so much at once. “But, I’m me. Which makes things more difficult. So, to casually date me, I kinda need you to officially date me. Like exclusive, boyfriend/girlfriend date.”

“You’re asking me to be your girlfriend?”

Why do her questions feel like a tiny jab to my gut each time? I should’ve known the casual/committed relationship was a terrible plan. JT and I most certainly cannot be trusted to handle a situation like this. I should’ve called Lila.

“Yes. But I don’t want to rush it. I want us to date like we would’ve. Just call it something more official-sounding if asked.”

“But you do want to date me? This isn’t some media thing where you need a fake girlfriend?”

“No. Basically everyone who works for me would prefer I have no girlfriend. But I want to get to know you. I’m not willing to give this up before we even get a chance to try.” I shrug. “So officially dating is the best I can do.”

She nods. “Officially dating. Noted. Will you expect me to be at all your things? I’m sure you’re super busy with tournaments and galas and whatnot, and I am swamped with work, and, even if I tried, I can’t make everything. Or really most things.”

“Nope. You’re welcome to join but not expected to at all. I don’t think I would ever expect that of my girlfriend, but definitely not my officially casual one.”

“And it’s exclusive. No dating anyone else?”

“No. Is that a problem for you?” Why am I suddenly jealous of the faceless man I’m imagining taking Bryn out for dinner? If I weren’t in this situation, I would’ve never asked her to be exclusive at this point.

She scoffs. “Definitely not. But are you sure it’s not a problem for you?”

“Definitely not,” I parrot her answer. “I haven’t talked to another woman since I met you, and after last night, it’s literally the last thing from my mind.”

My heart double taps at the sweet pink color rising to her cheeks. “Okay. Well, as long as you understand I may not be around a lot and that my work is really important to me, I think I can make officially dating work.” She looks down at herself. “Though I wish you would’ve told me earlier. When I got back from the office, I changed three times and, after giving myself a firm talk about how I should not get dressed up for two friends hanging out, I finally decided on this. I may have actually said out loud at one point, ‘This is not a date. You do not have to wear real pants.’”

I chuckle and take the opportunity to really check her out, something I had been trying my hardest to avoid since the full-body ogle I snuck in earlier.

“Work-of-art status, I know,” she says. “I feel the messy bun really pulls together the whole twentysomething look I was going for.” She says it with confidence, but I can tell from the shift in her eyes that she’s feeling unsure of herself.

“You are gorgeous, Bryn. You looked beautiful last night, and you look even hotter today.” I slowly peruse her body one last time, not even trying to hide the lust I’m sure is in my eyes. She should know how hot I think she is.

Her cheeks flush, and she bites her lip.

“Damn, Jameo. Really coming on strong. Message received. You think I’m gorgeous. You want to date meee.” She says the last in a singsong voice, clearly quoting someone, though it’s completely lost on me. I raise my eyebrows in silent question.

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