Page 18 of Made Over by Meredith

I set the cocktail down with a thump, and forced myself to eat some of the salmon, trying to make myself forget about Aiden.

And it almost worked. Until my cell phone buzzed with a text from Aiden.Where are you?

I didn’t know if I should lie or not. I went with the truth.The bar at Crave.

Really? I was there tonight, he replied.

I swallowed a gulp of my drink, that was more vodka than grapefruit this time around.I know. I saw you.

Why didn’t you say anything?

Because you were with your girl.

It was a long time before he texted me back.She’s not my girl.

Coulda fooled me, I messaged because I was on my way to tipsy, and my fingers hit send before I could think better of it.

What are you doing?he asked in his next text, and, again, I told him the truth.

Getting drunk.

Why?

I rolled my eyes.Go back to your date. Get your girlfriend.

The date’s over, he texted.I’m coming. Don’t move.

Fifteen minutes later, after I’d finished my drink and about two-thirds of my salad, Aiden marched over to me. “Hey.”

I whirled around to him.

I’d been expecting him. Anticipating him showing up.

What I didn’t expect was the heavy feel of his palm on my shoulder. That warm sensation that started in my belly to flow out to the rest of me. And to him to be wearing his glasses again.

It made me inordinately happy.

She could have Superman. I got Clark Kent.

“What’re you doing here?” he asked, crowding my stool as a trio of women passed behind him.

“Having dinner.”

“By yourself?”

I shrugged, shaking my empty cocktail glass, knocking the dregs loose as something to do. Something to occupy myself. Then I used it to point to Atlas, who winked at me, mouthing, “Another?”

“Sure.”

I felt more than heard Aiden’s huff, his hot breath on my neck, rustling my hair. “No,” he said to Atlas, “we’re good. Just the check.”

I craned my neck back, glaring up at Aiden. “I’m not done.”

“Did you drive?”

I shook my head. “I intended to have a friendly date with myself.”

“Yeah?” His stupid mouth curved up in that stupid half-smile.

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