Page 21 of Here's to Tomorrow

As I had guessed, Tucker managed to get his ass out of the date and get me to go in his place. To be fair, he couldn’t really help it. I heard him puking his guts up at work earlier today, and he says he’s been at home vomiting since I sent him home earlier. So, I took his place because he didn’t want to let his brother down. I can respect that, but it’s not going to excuse him for leading me to believe this date was with someone other than Rae.

Fucking asshole!Heknewthat would be a big deal to me, knew I would have prepared more, wouldn’t have dragged my feet in agreeing to go in his place. He also knew I would have tried to wiggle myself out of this mess at the last minute because I’m so worried about screwing everything in my life up, I’d have let this opportunity pass me by.

So, I kind of want to kiss that asshole because I have a feeling he completely set me up.

I finally give myself a little headshake and find some manners. “Rae, it’s good to see you again, too. I had no idea you were my mystery date for the night.”

“Trust me, I’m equally surprised.” She looks over at Maura, who seems to be trying to discreetly shake her head back and forth.

“It was supposed to be Tucker!” she confirms, looking at Tanner with accusing eyes.

“He got sick at the last minute and asked Hudson to step in,” Tanner says defensively.

I chuckle. “Well, I’m very pleased with the outcome. I apologize for not being here to greet you. Like I said, I had an important phone call to attend to.”

“That’s okay. Is everything all right?”

“Yep.” My mother had called about Joey, who was complaining of a tummy ache and wanting to talk with me. Honestly, I think Joey just missed me.

“Good. This is a nice place you chose. I really like it.”

“I’m glad you do. It’s one of my favorite places to come for drinks and good entertainment.”

“It’s a fuckingperformanceclub! That’s weird as shit. Why anyone would want to embarrass themselves in front of a bunch of strangers is beyond me,” Tanner interrupts.

“It’s not that bad, Tanner,” Maura says in a reserved tone.

“I think there’s something brave about it—strangers performing for strangers, opening their hearts on the stage, leaving it all up there, airing their dirty laundry. It seems freeing and brave,” Rae says, peeking over at me. I dip my head, agreeing with her wholeheartedly because that’s the exact reason I like the place.

“Whatever. You’re all on crack,” Tanner huffs.

I look at Rae and roll my eyes. “I completely agree with you.”

She smiles and picks up the menu. “I’m starving. What are you getting, Maura?”

I watch her, not even bothering to look at my menu. She’s not like most girls, that much I know. I haven’t been a on real date in years, but I do know that the last woman I went out with hardly touched her food and kept holding her hand over her mouth as chewed. From what my buddies say, they’ve had similar experiences. It’s nice to know Rae’s confidence carries over into something like this.

I feel like the more time I spend with her, the more I like her. I love that I’m constantly on my toes, never knowing what she’s going to say next. She unpredictable and I love it. Her eyes—the darkest green I’ve ever seen—are so honest, they draw me right in. When you combine them with her long auburn locks, pale peachy complexion, and the dusting of freckles across her nose, she’s just as gorgeous as her personality.

I’m in awe of her. Knowing this woman isn’t afraid to be herself—or at least the version of herself I have seen so far—and the fact that she’s impossibly gorgeous is such a huge turn-on.

To think that I barely know her, that there’s more to her, excites me and worries me all at the same time. It excites me for the obvious reasons—hello, Iama guy—and worries me because I think I like her too much already.

I carefully pull my phone out and send a text to Tucker because I’m positive at this point that he set this up on purpose. Rae is just too much like the type of girl he’d pick for me.

Me: I see you, asshole.

He responds immediately.

Tucker: I see you, too, dick.

And then something occurs to me.

Me: Are you even fucking sick?

If not, he’s a good damn actor because Ididhear him puking earlier and he looked pretty damn sick to me.

Tucker: Ha! Nope! Thanks for letting me out of work early by the way.

I barely manage to hold in a laugh.

Yep, I’m kicking his ass.

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