Page 59 of Sven

“It’s not a date. It’s just two couples and then you and Murphy. That is a fucking date.”

“Alice is the one who invited me, not Murphy.”

“Alice is trying to set you up with him.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she said, gaping at him.

“I’m being ridiculous...” He shook his head. “You’re being naive.”

She huffed at him with a glare he’d not seen before. He didn’t even feel bad. She was not going on a date with Murphy.

Then she pushed back her chair and picked up her food.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to eat in the pool house. The company is better there.”

“What time is your date?”

She shook her head, turned on her heel, and marched out of the room.

This was not happening. He was going to put a stop to it.

22

Natalie

Natalie’s car pulled up to the escape room. She was still flustered by her fight with Sven but was ready to put this all behind her. With a deep breath, she watched the raindrops track down the windshield. Opening the door, she quickly jogged through the storm to where Alice and Taylor were already waiting in the lobby.

“Natalie, I’m so glad you could make it. Have you met Taylor?”

“No, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure,” she said as Taylor stuck out his hand to shake hers.

“Taylor Campbell. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said, smiling.

Natalie knew she was short. She was five-two on a good day, but as Cash and Evie entered, these men towered over her. While Sven was tall, both Cash and Taylor made her feel tiny. They both had to be well over six feet.

“Is your party here?” asked the attendant.

“We are waiting on one more,” Alice said.

“Hi, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Evie,” said the beautiful woman who had come in with Cash.

“Natalie,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”

“You are Sven’s nanny, right?” asked Cash.

“Yeah.”

“I still can’t believe he has a baby,” remarked Cash.

Cash gave a rough chuckle. She knew from her google detective work Cash had a bit of a playboy reputation as well. Evie gave him a raised eyebrow, and knowing his reputation, Natalie could read the subtext of “you know it could have been you.”

“He’s really great with her. I can’t believe he hasn’t been with her all along,” Natalie said.

Even though he had been a dick to her tonight, she still felt like she needed to put in a good word for him.

---