Page 47 of Fierce-Hyde

“Ahh,” she said. “So you told him where you worked and most likely your relationship to the Fierces?”

“Where I work but not my relationship to them,” he said. “I’m not one for boasting about who I know. And the only reason he knew that was because I came in one day and my badge was still on my neck and I hadn’t realized it, so he saw it.”

“I hate having the badges too, but I get it. Everyone will know who you are and it allows you into the buildings.”

“I carry mine in my hand now or my pocket,” he said.

Which explained why she didn’t know who he was the first time she’d seen him and thought he was just a visitor in the building.

The server came over. “Hi, Hyde.”

“Heather,” he said. “How are you doing?”

“Better now that you’re here,” Heather said. Another twenty-something. She didn’t sound as if she was jealous that Hyde was here with a date though. Tori didn’t know why she might have thought that. “What can I get you both to drink?”

“I’ll take a white wine. House wine is fine,” she said.

“How about number three,” he said. He’d been looking at the beer menu that Jimmy had set down.

“You got it,” Heather said. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

“How do you know her name?” she asked. “Is she in college too?”

“She is,” he said, smiling. “But it’s Jimmy’s girlfriend. I tend to tip well, so you know, they are extra nice to me.”

She laughed. “You’re so full of yourself.”

“I’ve heard that before. The question is, is that a negative or positive in your eyes?”

“I’m not so sure myself,” she said. “I can’t figure out what it is about you that has me coming back for more.”

“I don’t think I want to answer that.”

“I’m sure I know how you’d like to answer it but are telling yourself not to be that person? That’s the thing,” she said. “It’s fine to want to change or make improvements in our lives. But do you want to be someone you don’t feel comfortable with?”

Guess this was starting exactly as she’d thought it’d go.

He appeared to be in thought, then said, “I feel comfortable not being the guy who didn’t care what he did each night or who he was with. Those days are behind me. I can own them and at the same time want to still have some fun banter and playfulness without someone holding it against me that I’m reverting to that college kid. We all did things in college that we might not be proud of.”

If he hadn’t said the last part she might have brushed off his words as just blowing smoke her way.

But he was right.

She knew that herself.

There were a lot of things she did in college that she wished she hadn’t.

“You’re right,” she said. “Part of me wishes I didn’t know what I did about you.”

“Meaning that it clouds your opinion of me instead of judging me on just the past month or so?”

She put her chin in her palm. “Well now. If all I had was the few times we met, that might be worse. So it’s a no-win situation.”

He smirked. “Good point,” he said.

Heather returned and put their drinks down. They listened to the specials and rather than look at the menu, Tori ordered the fish special and Hyde got some seafood dish.

“I have to know, what changed your mind? Why did you decide you wanted to seek me out and do this again?”

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