Page 6 of My (Not So) Perfect Plan

“Oh, so it wasn’t about it being easier.”

“Not anymore it’s not, considering you’re shoving money at me.”

“What’s wrong with my money?!”

“Nothing. Here,” he places it underneath the salt and paper shaker. “If it makes you feel so bad, we’ll leave it for the waitress.”

The waitress comes back with the bill and he flips it open and signs it before I can say anything.

“You’re cute when you’re upset,” Evan says, leaning on the table with both elbows.

“I swear you say stuff just to try to get under my skin.”

“Is it working?” he grins wolfishly.

“Mmmmaybe. But I’m not near as cute as you are with that spot of ketchup on your lip.” I indicate where and grin. I’m pretty proud of my witty come back, hopeful that maybe embarrassment will throw him off his game. Or at least I’m proud of it until he gets this little smile like he knows what I’m trying to do and edges his tongue out to swipe in the direction of the ketchup, which he misses. But all his lip action has me feeling distinctly uncomfortable because I did mention the man is gorgeous and knows it, right?

I really don’t know where to look, which amuses him to no end.

“Did I get it?” he asks, so of course I look. Nope, still there, begging for me to reach across and wipe it off.

I shake my head.

“Would you mind…?” He leans forward, his eyes daring me to touch him. After a moment I reach out and wipe it off with my thumb. His skin is soft and smooth. I swallow, and pull my hand away as if I’ve been burnt and it kind of feels like it. My hand was on Evan’s mouth. OMG. Where are my smelling salts?

It’s really no big deal, Claire. He’s just trying to get to you. No biggie. It doesn’t mean anything to him. I’ve almost convinced myself of all that when I meet his eyes and he looks puzzled.

“Wha—“ I’m interrupted by the loud greetings of his team mates coming in the door.

“Carmichael!! You ready for this?” Derek, a tall rangy guy with a really loud mouth is followed by Troy Hollis and a few other football players. I wave at Troy because he’s the nice silent type that’s always been kind to me. He’s a beast of a guy, but his demeanor and size is at odds with his personality. He nods in greeting as the group of them come up to our table.

“Dude, we heard Sharona had it out for you. I want her to have it out for me,” Derek laughs gutturally and makes some crude movements like he’s performing a sexual act on an invisible female. I’m so disgusted I gag a little in my mouth and turn away. I’m aware that Evan is watching me, too, which makes this entire exchange awkward in the extreme.

Apparently my movement caught Derek’s attention though.

“Whazzup, home girl. Clara, right? Don’t leave me hanging!” I look up to see that he’s holding out a hand for me to clasp. I shudder because I really don’t want to touch him andhis skeevy hands. I manage to get through the moment of hand clasping though (and immediately want to wash my hand off but can’t). Derek looks back and forth between Evan and I. “I didn’t think you went out for the librarian type, yo. Niiiice.”

“Hello. Sitting right here,” I say, giving him my most lethal disgusted look. I’m seriously pissed off because no one deserves to be spoken to that way, not only in third person, but like they are an object. I wait for Evan to say something to correct the guy of his glaring misconception that we are hooking up, but he doesn’t. Instead, he watches me, this small smile plays around his mouth like he’s trying not to laugh. I kick him under the table.

Evan jumps and the laugh he was trying to contain comes out.

Before he can say anything Derek offers him a fist bump and says, “Don’t tire yourself out before the game, brah.”

My head feels like it’s going to pop with the amount of blood rushing to it. Did he really just suggest that Evan and I were going to be engaging in….images rush through my head unbidden. OMG, Claire stop thinking about that! I collapse my face in hands before I realize Evan isn’t saying anything. Again.

I pick up my head becausesomeonehas to do damage control here and apparently Evan is fine with letting it ride, probably because it’s good for his ego. But I can’t believe the nerve of this guy to be talking like this with me sitting right here.

“No,” I blurt out. “We’re not – this is not – he was just, um, being nice.” I am completely unintelligible. And his charge is beyond preposterous. But that does not at all matter because if Derek’s grin is anything to go by, he obviously doesn’t believe me.

“All right, girlfriend, all right.” He punches Evan in the shoulder and winks at him. “Check you later, yo.”

Evan jerks a nod in his direction, that same smile still on his lips, but I am pissed. The rest of the guys say bye and move off toward a different part of the restaurant.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I hiss at him.

“Didn’t feel the need,” he smirks at me. He picks up his water and slurps the last of it down, trying not to laugh.

“This isnotfunny. My reputation is going to be destroyed,” I frown. “People are going to think…”

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