Page 22 of Love to Prove You Wrong

Half an hour later, we arrived at Roger’s. We asked for a table at the back in the hopes that no one would bother us in a dark corner like that.

“I still don’t know why I’m here with you,” I said as I slid into my seat. “We’re not even friends.”

Justin leaned back in his chair, a lopsided grin on his face. “I had a burger craving. And I hate to eat alone.”

I put my menu down and folded my hands. “That’s such a rude thing to say.”

My gaze was met with a look of surprise from him. “Rude?”

“It’s like I don’t matter at all. I’m nothing but a convenience to you. Some prop you can use just so you don’t have to look pathetic eating alone. And you know that I don’t even like you. Why would you want to have a burger with someone who hates you?”

Justin let out a puff of air, his features softening. “You don’t hate me.”

“Who are you to say what I am feeling?”

He leaned forward, our hands inches from touching. “Addy, I’m sorry I made you feel like a prop. You’re not, okay? I don’t always pick the best ways of saying something, I know that.” He took a deep breath, then continued. “To be honest, I thought it would do us both good to spend some time together. Maybe if you get to know me, you’ll be able to see me in a different light. And for the record, I like hanging out with you. Despite the fact that you’re convinced you hate me and serve me snarky comments all the time.”

“You were the one who started that back in high school.”

He held his hands out, palms up. “You’re right, I did, but I also apologized. If you can’t look past what happened when we were younger, fine. But you can’t expect me to keep groveling forever.”

He picked up his menu, signaling the end of our conversation about the past. I slumped down in my seat and buried my head in my own menu. If I were completely honest with myself, I had to admit Justin did seem like a changed man. I wanted so bad to give him some credit, but at the same time, I was terrified of him hurting me again.

Placing the menu back on the table, I let my gaze wander to his face. It was a pleasure to look at. I just hoped what went on behind those gorgeous eyes of his was equally pleasant.

I slowly exhaled my breath. “Let’s call it a truce. For tonight. Then we’ll see.”

He laughed and held out his hand. “I’ll take tonight to start with. Shake on it, woman.”

Smiling, I pumped his hand up and down with mine. The warmth in his eyes was almost as electrifying as his touch.

Then I pulled back, not wanting to give this moment more weight than it deserved, and nodded toward the menu. “Have you decided yet?”

“Burger with extra cheese, onion rings, large Coke and a large portion of fries.”

“Wow, you’re hungry,” I said, signaling one of the waitresses to our table.

“I love to splurge occasionally. My agent has me on a strict diet, but she’s not here. I figure I’m allowed the occasional treat.”

“That sounds like a nightmare to me. I love to bake, and someone has to eat all of those cookies and cakes I make,” I said. “Not that I do that every day. I try to be conscious about what I put in my mouth.”

Justin’s brow arched up and he bit his lip to keep from smiling.

I rolled my eyes at him, my cheeks flushed. “Don’t make everything dirty.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “I for one don’t care what you put in your mouth.”

A cough made us tear our eyes away from each other. “Have you guys decided what you want to eat?” a waitress asked.

I wondered how much she’d heard of our conversation. I hoped none of it, but feared the real answer was all of it.

I slid down a bit in my seat. “I’ll have a burger and onion rings. And some water,” I added.

“Water? Come on, Addy, live a little,” Justin said.

“I thought you didn’t care what I put in my mouth?” I said in hushed tones.

His eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’re right, I don’t. Water it is.”

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