Page 34 of What If I Knew You

I cannot believe I’m here right now.

How is this even happening?

Quickly, I scan the rooftop for signs that anyone else here recognized him—or me for that matter—but just like before, everyone else up here is focused on their own conversations. We have the area completely to ourselves.

“Have you ever been here before?” Bodhi—I mean Alan—asks me.

“A couple times but it was years ago. It’s gorgeous up here. I had forgotten just how far you can see.”

“Right? It’s the best on a clear night like this too.”

“So, you’ve been here before then?”

“Only once with…uh…a client. It’s a nice place to wine and dine.”

I take a long sip of my vodka cranberry and then boldly ask, “Is that what you’re doing with me? Wining and dining?”

“Well…” He shrugs. “You did ask me to take you to dinner first.”

Actually, Layken’s words were ‘Might fuck for food though’…but I digress.

His innocent honesty breaks the ice and I let out a laugh, my anxiety dissipating little by little. “Except this isn’t dinner. It’s just drinks.”

“You’re right.” He nods in agreement. “But I find that preventing dehydration is key.”

With a smirk, I retort, “Right. Definitely wouldn’t want the dreaded Big-D. Best to curb the dehydration with a whiskey sour and a vodka cranberry, am I right?”

He passes off an innocent shrug. “We do what we can, but I can get you a water if you prefer.”

“Nope.” I lift my glass to clink with his. “You’ve just met me and I’ll be doing things with you by the end of this night that I’ve never done before on a first date. The alcohol is making me brave.”

Looking equally nervous, he nods. “Understood. Do you want to sit?” he asks, gesturing to the loveseat under the cabana.

“Yeah. Sure.”

As we take our seats I run through a few possible scenarios of how this night could go.

Is Bodhi really a virgin?

His reputation makes it seem like he’s a player, but what if he’s not and that’s just how the media, or an old marketing team, likes to spin his personality because in reality he’s just the opposite? Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen it done with professional athletes.

There’s only one way to figure this out.

I’ve got to ask the right questions.

“So, Alan, what is it you do for a living?”

“Uh.” His brows pinch slightly. “I’m in team building and physical fitness.”

Hmm. So, he doesn’t want me to know he’s a hockey player.

Why?

“That sounds exciting and busy.”

“Very busy.” He nods. “It’s a lot of travel and a lot of time management. My company keeps a busy schedule but the job makes me happy.”

“And you know what they say,” I tell him. “If you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.”

---