Page 51 of Drawn to You
“Nothing,” I say. “You want to keep shopping or head back?”
She pauses for a second at my question, and then she says as she scrapes her cup with her spoon, “This ice cream is awesome. I’m gonna get one more.”
“Are you serious? It’s an 8-oz cup. I’ve never seen anyone consuming two at a time.”
“I know. I guess I’ve gotten hungry with all that shopping.”
“But it’s already four. It’ll ruin your appetite. Andrew says the restaurant serves fantastic French food.”
Dana shrugs. “I don’t care for French food.”
It dawns on me what she’s doing. She’s finding an excuse not to go to dinner with us, and that’s because of Connor.
My heart aches for my friend—I know how much she loves Connor. Or used to love him. Connor was the only guy Dana dated, although it was brief. After he left Clover Valley, she never even gives another guy a second glance. At least until I left town less than a month ago.
“Please, Dana,” I say to her. “Connor asked about you last time when I saw him.”
“Oh, really?” she says, avoiding my eyes.
I detect a bit a pink on her cheeks, and I continue. “Why can’t you two be friends?”
“We are friends,” she says, playing with her spoon mindlessly.
“No, you aren’t,” I say. “You keep avoiding him. I know he’s hurt your feelings in the past, but it’s time to forgive him.”
She chuckles. “What’re you talking about? It’s been so many years. I forgave him a long time ago!”
“Then why do you keep avoiding him?”
Her lips twitch but she doesn’t speak. “I just can’t stand him.”
“For what?”
“For being such a man-whore.”
My mouth opens. I have not expected this. “But he isn’t!” I say. Connor is actually quite chaste comparing to Andrew. “He’s been with fewer women than your brother.”
“That’s true,” she says. “Maybe they both are.”
“Come on, Dana,” I say, feigning anger. “I don’t appreciate you calling my boyfriend a man whore.”
Her eyes widened with amusement. “Wow,boyfriend, huh? I like the sound of it!”
I regret blurting the word out, but it’s too late. “I like it too,” I say, smiling.
We giggle like teenagers for a moment, and then she says, “What if Connor takes his cougar with him to dinner?”
I haven’t thought about that. “Then I’ll leave the restaurant with you because Connor is a jerk if he does that.”
She grins. “Deal.”
My attention darts around as soon as we enter the premises of the Au Revoir restaurant. I’ve never been to anywhere so fancy. Although it’s on a busy street, it’s hidden behind some large ficus trees and nearly inconspicuous. Once we’re on its property, it feels like a different world other than LA. Between the parking lot and the restaurant is a small rose garden, and then we cross a bridge over a creek.
We’re greeted by a stunning hostess that might be an almost-famous actress in a vest over a white shirt and a tight skirt, with smoky eyes and sultry lips. “Hi Mr. Adams, how are you? Mr. Miller is waiting for you.” The way she smiles at Andrew makes me jealous. Although she is subtle, she can’t hide her obvious interest in him. It’s one of Andrew’s favorite restaurants in town, and he comes here often. I wonder how close they’ve been.
I’m so preoccupied with the thought I don’t even register anything around me until we’re inside the restaurant decorated with Chrystal chandelier, luxurious cotton tablecloths, classic dining chairs with carved backs, sateen upholsteries, and mosaic art decors on the walls. The place is huge without many tables. Everything looks so expensive I’m afraid to look around. Andrew spots Connor first, who’s waving at us at a table near a window. “There he is.”
To my relief, the supermodel is alone.
