Page 20 of Grace on the Rocks

“You went on a date with Kyle Underwood?” Vicent asked, deadpan.

“Why?” Carrie asked. “The guy is so cute!”

“Can I just point out that you’ve seemed to find something wrong with every guy you’ve dated since Paul and Paul was two years ago,” Michelle said.

“Vincent, you need to set Emma up with some of your friends,” Ariel suggested.

Emma threw her friend and dark look but Ariel just smiled as though she didn’t do anything wrong.

“Trust me,” Vincent said, and though he was speaking in response to Ariel’s question, he was looking at Emma with twinkling eyes. “If Emma won’t even go out with me, I highly doubt she’d go out with my friends.”

Thank God the waitress came with their food – save for Vincent’s due to the late order – at that moment because she wouldn’t have known what to say. Actually, scratch that, she knew what she wanted to say and might have said even though it probably was rude.

And anyway, Emma could leave right after the food – she’d throw enough cash for her food and a tip – and head over to the dance studio at UCI. Thank God school started so she wouldn’t have to see Vincent all that much anymore. Thank God she could focus on dance rather than boys. And thank God for her dad because even though he wasn’t a fighter, she was almost certain that if she needed it, he’d hire someone to take care of Vincent if he continued to bother her.

And who knew? Maybe Kyle Underwood would offer up his services as well.

---