Page 42 of Cups of You

“Well darn,” Jackie said picking up her fork. “I was hoping it was a date.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s good one and you could use a little good in your life right now.”

Amber shook her head. She couldn’t deny that the idea of it being a date was attractive to her. But Benjamin seemed level-headed enough to know dating her would be a bad idea.

“He’s just being nice to the new girl in town.”

Jackie snorted but didn’t say anything else. They ate in relative silence as Amber thought about the texts and their conversation.

Was she disappointed in Benjamin’s invitation not being a date?

Did she want to date him?

Benjamin stared down at his phone with slight panic.Did I really just send back a smiley face?

He looked up at Sam’s and Randy’s hopeful faces.

“So? What did she say?”

“She said yes.” He almost didn’t believe it. “I think I might have freaked her out though texting out of the blue like that.”

“Maybe,” Sam conceded. “Apologize for it tomorrow. Play up your regret at not having gotten it from her previously and promise not to bombard her with annoying texts.”

He frowned. “Why would I send her annoying texts? I’m an adult.”

“Nah,” Randy spoke up. “Sam’s right. Remember when Olivia first showed you TikTok?”

Benjamin narrowed his eyes at him. He couldn’t help but get a little defensive. “What about it?”

“You spent three days sending us videos about cats.”

“They were funny! You sent one back.”

“Not the point,” Randy countered. “The point is, don’t be spammy.”

Benjamin grumbled but conceded they might have a point. Clearly, they didn’t appreciate funny cat videos like he did. “Any other rules you want to give me?”

“Yes. No garlic for dinner,” Sam replied. “We don’t want you two to kill each other with your breath if things get a bit more intimate.”

“I seriously doubt they would, but fine. No garlic. Anything else?”

“Don’t shave. And wear the jeans you had on at the grocery store a couple days ago,” she added. “According to Willie, Amber couldn’t keep her eyes off your legs.”

Benjamin tried to keep the smile from his face, but he knew he wasn’t successful. He didn’t know if Willie was just making things up for his benefit, but he hoped not.

“And wear the dark green v-cut shirt,” Randy jumped in. Benjamin and Sam stared at him. He looked at them both and shrugged. “It shows his tattoo and makes him look not so strait-laced. I have it under good authority that women love bad boys, or at least guys that look like they have an edge.”

Benjamin looked down at himself. “Do I not look like I have an edge normally?”

Randy laughed. “Dude, I love you like a brother, but normally you look like a damn golden retriever. Sweet. Floppy. Puppy dog eyes.”

That was the second time Benjamin was hearing about puppy dog eyes. He didn’t get it, but he would just have to trust them. “Alright. So less golden retriever and more…what? Doberman?”

“Let’s not get crazy,” Randy replied. “Maybe like a Min-Pin or something.”

“I don’t know what kind of dog that is, but I should probably be offended so I’m going to ignore it.” Benjamin could already feel a lump developing in his stomach. He wanted this, but he was unsure of how this would all play out. “Be warned. Amber is a bit…prickly right now.”

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