Page 87 of One Life to Loathe

“We can walk,” I protested. “Cabs are expensive.”

He pinned me with a dirty look. “What did I say?”

A sigh escaped my lips. “Sorry. It’s habit.”

“Well, it bugs me. The walk will take forever. If we get a cab, we can walk around Chinatown for a bit and debate what we’re doing for dinner. Do you want to eat over there?”

“That’s fine,” I replied automatically.

That face he made when I was being exasperating was back. “I don’t want to hear about it being fine. In fact, we’re definitely not eating in Chinatown.”

“I like Chinese food,” I assured him.

“Shut it. I’ll figure out exactly where it is you want to eat. You just … sit there and look pretty.”

My mouth fell open. “Did you really just say that to me?”

His smirk was fast. “Yup. I meant it, too. You don’t get a say in dinner.”

“You’re very bossy.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

I’D BEEN TO CENTRAL PARK BEFORE, BUTit was somehow different being there with Leo. We got hot dogs and fries, sat on a bench, and told each other some of our favorite stories about rude New Yorkers.

“I like the people,” I insisted as Leo typed on his phone. He was ordering a cab for us on an app, something I didn’t even know was possible.

“The people here are unbelievably rude,” he countered. “I thought you didn’t like mean people.”

The statement was pointed, and I didn’t blame him for going there. “The people here are authentic,” I corrected. “You weren’t being authentic. You were just being mean to be mean.”

He lowered his phone. “I wasn’t actually being mean. I just… I don’t know how to explain it. I like having a wall around myself. It makes things easier.”

“It’s how you protect yourself,” I agreed. “It’s okay. I know you’re not really mean.”

“No, I was mean. I just didn’t realize I was doing it. I won’t be mean to you again.”

“What about other people?”

“Oh, I’m definitely going to be mean to other people. I can’t help myself.” He stood and held out his hand. “Come on. The cab is picking us up down by 5th Avenue.”

I slid my hand in his without thinking about it. “Have you decided where we’re going for dinner?” I was honestly curious.

“I have a few ideas.”

“Such as?”

He chuckled. “It’s going to drive you nuts until I tell you, isn’t it?”

“I kind of like being able to plan for things,” I agreed. “For example, look at my outfit. It’s fine for a walk around Manhattan. It’s not okay for a ritzy place, though. In fact, I don’t really have any clothes with me that are good for that.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Leo kept his gaze straight ahead when we passed a group of people in leather jackets. He gave them a wide berth and puffed himself out a bit when making eye contact.

“That was very alpha,” I noted.

“I just wanted to make sure that they didn’t say anything to you.”

“What do you think they were going to say to me?”

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