Page 26 of The Wife Situation

“Do I? Much better than acting like a cold asshole, right?”

“It’s night and day,” I admit.

“Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment. Oh, there is one tiny thing. I need to apologize in advance, but so far, it’s been a delight.”

“Wh—”

He quickly interrupts me, “Take this parking spot. Can you parallel park?”

“You love offending me, don’t you?”

“I’m sure I say all the right things at the wrong time.”

He chuckles as I reach my arm across the back of the seat. I look into his eyes before glancing behind me as I inch the car into the tight place. After I engage the parking brake and turn the engine off. He holds out his palm, just like the first day we met, and I return his keys.

“Ready for the time of your life?” he asks.

“As ready as you are,” I tell him.

“A little secret: I was born ready,” he says, getting out of the car as I slide on my high heels.

He walks to the driver’s side and opens the door with his hand held out. I take it, and we walk toward the entrance. He’sclose to me, and I wonder if photographers are snapping photos of this.

After we enter, I turn to him. “I need to quickly stop by the ladies’ room.”

“I’ll meet you at the bar?” He points over toward it.

“Five minutes,” I tell him, knowing he has a thing with time.

I smile and move toward the restroom as excitement and adrenaline rush through me. I go inside the stall, ignore all texts, and call Carlee. I explain everything as fast as I can because it’s quicker than texting.

“Holy shit,” she says, and I can tell she’s smiling. “You’re on a date with Easton Calloway.”

“It’s not a date,” I explain.

“Call it whatever you want. If a man picked me up in that car, wearing that suit and giving me flowers … well, let your imagination wander.”

“I’ll leave and meet up with you so we can go out,” I tell her because I feel guilty.

“Don’t you dare! If the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t.”

I laugh. “Okay. That’s true. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” she says. “Go have fun!”

“Thanks. I’ll keep you updated,” I whisper.

“And don’t forget to say thank you to him.”

“I already did. Thank you for everything. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

I end the call and lean my back against the stall of the bathroom door. Once my heart rate has settled, I wash my hands and walk to the bar area. On the way there, I pass the same guy I saw in the park last weekend. This must be his bodyguard. I wonder where he’s been all night. Following us?

I shake my head at him. “You’re good at hiding.”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, but he doesn’t say anything. I move through the crowd and find Easton sitting at the bar with a drink.

I place my hand on his back as I climb onto the stool beside him. “Sorry. I’m back. Hopefully, I wasn’t a second over five minutes.”

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