Page 28 of Not in My Book

“Seriously Aiden, how’d you get a reservation so quickly?”

His lips were set in a tight line. “I called my father.”

“You called your father?”

He flipped through his menu and hummed noncommittally. I wondered what it was like to have a father that could get you anything you wanted within just a few hours. A nice reservation at a fancy restaurant, a car, maybe a palace or two. If I called my dad for something, he’d laugh loudly and say, “I can send over some fresh basil from the garden, but that’s about it.”

I frowned and opened my menu, balking at the prices for each entree. Christ, even a side salad cost fifteen bucks, no way would I be able to afford any of this.

“Good evening.” A waitress stopped at our table. “Are we celebrating anything tonight?”

Just as Aiden was about to shake his head, I had an idea. My foot drove into his shin under the table and said, “It’s our anniversary!”

Aiden’s hand shot down to rub his shin, shooting me a bewildered look.

“Oh, how special! How long?” The waitress beamed at us.

“Happily together for three years! Isn’t that right, honey?”

Aiden narrowed his eyes. I widened my eyes, telling him to play along. “Three years of pure bliss,” he strained.

“Thank you for celebrating with us at il Buco. Anything to drink?”

Aiden nodded for me to go first. I didn’t have to open the menu to know a cocktail would be at least eighteen dollars. “Just water for me.”

Aiden ordered the same and our waitress smiled down at us, “I’ll come back in a little while to take your orders!”

I smiled sweetly at her as she walked away.

“What was that about?” Aiden asked, his brows drawing a V between his eyes.

“We’re supposed to be pretending to be a happy couple. I thought maybe she’d offer us champagne or whatever. It’s what they’d do in Tennessee.”

Aiden scoffed. “Welcome to New York. Nothing is free here.”

“I just thought it’d be a good idea,” I snapped. “We’re supposed to be Max and Hunter while we’re here.”

“Max and Hunter don’t like each other,” he countered. “They haven’t been together for three years.”

“Fine. Then I guess we can just sit here in silence and tell Ida it went fine.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” I snatched up my menu and skimmed it for the cheapest item. A light Caesar side salad should hold me over until tomorrow, and it wouldn’t be too costly on my bank account. I’d gulp it down, then get out of here as soon as possible.

I took in the tables around us. We must’ve looked like we were on a first date. A firstblinddate. The restaurant was bustling, the staff running around. I winced, knowing that this was what was probably happening at the Hideout tonight, too. I felt bad for all the workers, hurrying to bring food to tables and fill water glasses.

The minutes felt like agonizing hours as we waited for our waitress to return. I couldn’t take it anymore and had to break the silence.

“You know, this place is really romantic. I mean look at all the couples here.” I nodded toward another table where a couple was sitting on the same side of the booth. “It was a good choice.”

He gave me a tight smile. He was watching the crackling fire of the candle between us like it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. I blew out a breath, annoyed that Aiden wouldn’t contribute to the conversation, but pushed forward, nonetheless.

“This won’t work if we don’t talk.” Aiden’s eyes flashed at me again, then he carefully unfolded his napkin and placed it in his lap. “I just meant that maybe everyone in workshop has a point. As much as I love hurling insults at you in our chapters, we do need to make Hunter and Max fall in love. I know they aren’t there yet, but it’s up to us to get them there.”

“I’m having a hard timenothurling insults. It’s the norm with you.”

“Well then. Maybe we should say mean things.” I straightened.

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