Page 31 of Love Me Like It's Real
What a small world.
Then again, we do live in a small town. And Cheyenne does offer babysitting for pocket money.
I wave at them and I can hear the screams of joy pouring out of them.
“I…I’m not sure I understand,” I tell Felix when I turn back to him.
“What’s confusing about it? I only agreed to this date because they orchestrated this whole thing and it’s brought a little peace in the house.”
I frown.
“No sex, Hayworth. This ain’t a hookup. If you thought I’d follow you home now or after dinner and bring you to Cloud Nine, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Oh,” is all I manage to say and follow him down the steps toward my parked car.
So much for a good time.
TEN
FELIX
Call me a flake but I changed my mind. About screwing Hayworth, that is.
I still need to go on a date with the guy or I’m not sure either Elsa, nor Arya, or even Cheyenne who decided all of a sudden she’s also invested in my love life, would let me forget it.
I want to get down and dirty. I do. But…I don’t know what it is, but as soon as Hayworth is out of my peripheral vision I come to my senses. Which is why I’ve added an elastic band to my accessories tonight. So I can snap myself out of it if I come anywhere close to succumbing to this man. I’m already tempted enough. I don’t need to tempt fate.
I would have cancelled. I probably should have. But the girls…damn I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so cheerful in a while. The whole day after meeting Hayworth at Special Blend they’ve been allies—against me, mind, but allies nonetheless. I’m sure I can survive one date with Hayworth if it means my girls act like sisters and not enemy forces. It’s bad enough we’re on the verge of World War III—I don’t need it starting in my house.
So yeah. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m out. For the girls. For my peace of mind.
Even if I wasn’t, as soon as I open the door, I become certain.
“Youaresingle, right?” As if I’d do anything if I was still happily married. Or married, full stop.
I march right to his car and I wait by the door for him to unlock it but instead he stands there, with a raised eyebrow.
“Do you expect me to open the door for you?”
I snort. “No, I’m waiting for you to unlock the car!”
He laughs, the fucker. What did I say that was so funny? I huff at him but I can’t lie. That sound makes me feel some kind of way deep down inside. His laugh is deep and guttural and it reverberates through me just as strong, making me desperate for oxygen as if I’ve been denied it for years.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s unlocked already,” he says.
I roll my eyes and pull the handle. Yup. Unlocked. “How was I supposed to know that?”
He laughs again.
“Where did you live before Maplewood?”
“Why?” I ask.
“Big city, right?”
I sigh and nod.
