Page 24 of Fight for Forever

Joey is now focused on me. His eyes sweep up and down my body, and I try not to fidget. I look amazing. I know this. Clearly he thinks so too because his grin widens and he steps around the doorman, like he’s forgotten all about him. Joey stops in front of me, a good distance between us that I wish he would close. But I get why he is doing it.

He’s very respectful of my boundaries. With a fortifying breath, I take a step closer to him. His brow lifts a little, but still neither of us touch.

“You look beautiful,” he says. He shifts a little like he doesn’t know what to do next. “Shall we go?”

“Thank you. Lead the way,” I smile.

I don’t want him to be nervous. So I need to stop being nervous and projecting that on to him. Joey is not a nervous person and me making him feel that way is not how I want this night to go.

What does it mean that he is nervous?

I’m reading way too much into this. It’s just dinner. We’re just friends. But he looks so smart, and I’ve made an effort to look nice too. This isn’t casual. I’m deluding myself into thinking it is.

Brooke’s words filter into my head as we head out to his truck.

“You don’t need to do anything you don’t want to, but if you’re comfortable, don’t be scared to show him you’re interested. Don’t think about what you should do on a date. Just be present, be yourself. And have fun.”

I’d asked her not to tell our other friends. Not because I don’t trust them, because I’m still not sure what this is yet. And I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Or let anyone down. That is always in the back of my head. Disappointing people terrifies me.

It’s a different fear now. I want people to see me getting better, and if I freak out about Joey, then they’ll think there is something still wrong with me.

If Brooke could hear my thoughts, she’d kick my ass.

“Meg?”

I’m standing in the middle of the street like an idiot. I almost say sorry but smile and head over. Joey holds the door for me until I’m inside, then he closes it and hurries round to the driver’s side.

In my whole life, no one has ever done that for me before. Stereotyping people is something I try not to do, but I never would have thought Joey could behave so gentlemanly. This whole thing is so foreign to me, but I’m going to do what Brooke said. Enjoy it.

“So there is something I should tell you,” Joey says as he starts up the engine.

My nerves race as I face him. He’s leaning one elbow on the center of the steering wheel, his body angled towards me. I can’thelp but notice how far back his seat is, so his long legs can fit. He is so big. So masculine, and he smells divine.

“My family owns the restaurant where we’re going.”

I snap out of the Joey appreciation haze. “Really? That’s good, right?”

He makes a pained sound. “It is, and it isn’t. I mean, the food is excellent, the place is spotless, you can’t fault the service. It’s just,” he rubs the back of his neck. “My aunt is a bit… Extra.”

I grin at how awkward he looks. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

“She’s nosy, overbearing, and I should have taken you somewhere else.” He shakes his head and looks through the windshield.

“Relax, I’m sure it will be fine, Joey. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Just promise you won’t walk out halfway through dinner, and I’ll consider it a win.”

“Now you’re freaking me out.”

He laughs, and it sounds strained. I don’t want to start this off on the wrong foot, and I’m sure he’s exaggerating. So what if his family is a little intrusive? It shows they care.

Tentatively, I reach over and touch his forearm. Joey’s eyes lower to where my hand rests.

When he looks back at me, the surprise morphs into a radiant smile.

“It’ll be fine,” I reassure him.

He starts the car and mumbles under his breath, but I hear what he says. ‘Famous last words’.

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