Page 11 of Finding Noah
“One order of chicken fingers with extra fries and one burger with a side salad. I forgot to ask your preference in dressing and if you want gravy.” Gabriella gazed back and forth between Christian and me.
I was quite certain I’d be scarlet, if not for my skin tone. Undoubtedly, she’d heard thepenetrative sexcomment. I wasn’t a prude—far from it. But I didn’t generally have conversations like this. And never in public. Also, clearly never with Christian because I had no idea about the asexual thing.He didn’t actually say he was asexual—just that asexual people were fine without sex. And even somepeople who aren’t asexual are happy without sex. And, for the record, I’ve had lots of sex and I’m not all that happy.Well, unless I was with Christian.
“Uh, ranch is great.” He ducked his head.
“I’ll take some gravy.” I kept my voice strong—as if I wasn’t humiliated by using such graphic language in public.
“Be right back.” Gabriella hustled away.
“Christian?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Look at me?”
Clearly, he wanted to sayno, because he almost never said no to me. That wasn’t his nature. Actually, I knew he had a difficult time sayingnoto anyone. Which might’ve been how he wound up here with me—in Foggy Basin. “We’re going to find you someone, okay?”
Finally, he met my gaze. “I don’t want to meet someone. I’m fine.”
I snagged a fry and waved it at him as an idea coalesced in my mind. “Operation Find Christian a Girlfriend begins today.”
He groaned.
Probably he thought I couldn’t hear—but I could. I had excellent hearing.
“Noah—”
“No. It’s time you put Laura in the rearview mirror and move on with your life. I know you were humiliated—”
“Gee, thanks.”
“—but I think it’s important that you find someone you can spend your life with.”
“Like you?”
That fry, midway to my mouth, dropped to the plate.
“I’m done with me, okay? Fresh start means no more dating assholes.”Shit. I glanced around. No Gabriella— Okay, she was making her way to us.
“Onebowl of gravy and some ranch dressing. Anything else?”
“This is perfect.” My chicken fingers had come with a side of plum sauce, so I was literally in heaven.
“Okay.” She pointed to our plates. “Too hot?”
Crap.We hadn’t taken a bite. “Uh, an intense conversation. Just trying to figure out who’s single in this town?”
“Oh, lots of people.” She toyed with her apron. “I’ve got a friend, Joanie. She’s super cute and has a great sense of humor. I can call her—”
“No.” Christian said the words quickly. “But that’s awfully nice of you. I’m not actually looking.”
Gabriella pivoted her attention to me.
“Very gay and very not looking.”
She furrowed her brow as if trying to piece together why I’d just asked how to figure out who was single while simultaneously not looking for, uh, single people.
“If either of you change your mind, I know several single women.” She gave Christianthatlook. “I also know some gay single guys, and I know my brother could put out feelers—” Her gaze fell to me.
