Page 147 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
"And I'm extremely picky," Jackson said.
"I think I can handle it. I'm pretty much a pro now."
Rory laughed. This time it was his normal, captivating laugh. Whatever had been bothering him didn't seem like an issue anymore.
"Okay, well, I should probably head out. Sorry again, guys."
"Have fun, Keira," Jackson said.
"Don't play strip poker without me!" I said as I walked over to the door.
All three of them laughed as I closed the door behind me. Now I just needed to find something to do for a few hours.
***
I sat down in my favorite ice cream shop with a huge bowl of forbidden chocolate. My appetite had finally returned after reading in the park until it grew too dark to see. And this ice cream was the best. I needed to go on dates with myself more often.
I stared out the window, watching the people walk past on the sidewalk. Ice cream and people watching would definitely occupy me long enough. I wondered if they'd still be playingpoker when I got home. It was silly, but I kind of wanted to play. I liked hanging out with them.
Rory and Connor appeared at the window of the ice cream shop.
Wait. What?
Rory turned and looked through the window as they walked by.
Shit!I quickly ducked down.Please don't see me.I got down on my hands and knees underneath the table. A few of the other patrons laughed.Shut up!
There was a ding as the ice cream shop's door opened, alerting the people at the counter that a new customer had arrived.
Please don't be Rory. Please oh please.
I saw two pairs of men's sneakers slowly approaching me.Shit! Maybe I can crawl by them.I'd be out of the door in no time if they were just heading to the counter.
"I could have sworn I saw her," Rory said.
Oh God, it's them.I felt my cheeks turn crimson. I cringed as one of the pairs of shoes stopped right in front of me. The familiar scent of cinnamon entered my nose. I had never noticed how big Rory's feet were before. Maybe that old saying about penis size and shoe sizes being correlated was actually true.
"Keira?" Rory said.
Part of me was hoping that he still couldn't see me. I closed my eyes tight, somehow thinking if I couldn't see them, they couldn't see me either.
"Keira, are you okay?" Rory put his hand down for me.
"Oh, hi, guys." I could feel my face turning an even brighter red. I grabbed Rory's hand and he pulled me to my feet. "I just dropped my earring." I laughed awkwardly.
Rory starred at me. "Both of them?"
"What?" I quickly put my fingers on my earlobes.Shit, I'm not even wearing earrings."Yeah, I guess so. But they weren't on the floor. I must have lost them earlier at the park."Why the hell did I just say that?
"I thought you were going out to dinner?" Rory and Connor looked at each other.
"Right. I did. And then we went for a walk in the park. It was very romantic." I was completely flustered. I had been playing it so cool around Rory, but now I was spiraling out of control. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.
"Does very romantic usually end with you eating ice cream alone?" Connor asked.
I laughed. "It's not like I was going to put out on the first date. I'm not a whore."
Rory pulled out the chair across from mine and sat down. "So you've never slept with someone on the first date?"
