Page 48 of Wild Pitch
“Hi.” I try for a smile and a wave of my hand as the hostess abandons us—me, abandonsme—but there’s no reaction from Frank, other than blinking up at me. Slowly, I lower my hand. “Um…”
“Oh, hi! Of course. Hi.” He jumps to his feet and offers his hand for a handshake like this is a business meeting.
I shake it because what else can I possibly do? But I don’t like his hand. Not because it’s clammy with the same nervous sweat that’s coating my own, but because it’s too smooth. More than mine. It’s just so unfamiliar.
We both take our seats in uncomfortable silence. Audrey’s purse falls over my thighs and I lift the strap over my head, twisting to hang it from the back of the chair. And I don’t know how or why, but I lift my face and make direct eye contact with Cade Starr.
He has his chin propped on his hand, watching me. They’ve found a table clear across the floor plan, slightly farther up so my dating coach can catch all the action easily. I don’t know if that’s more unnerving or relieving, knowing that I’m not alone. But Ireally wish he was looking at the menu right now like the other two are doing.
Like it’s no biggie and he does this everyday, Starr tugs at his sleeve and presses a button. Even though I know it’s coming, I still stiffen at his recorded voice softly whispering the wordoneabove my ear.
I tuck my hair behind my tingling ear and turn to my date. He’s still blinking at me like he’s seeing a ghost or something.
“So…”
That snaps him out of the trance and a slow grin takes over his features. He’s cute in a boy next door type of way and the smile does him justice. “Sorry about that,” he says while clearing his throat, “I was just stunned by how beautiful you are.”
“Uh, thanks.” My face twitches and I force a smile out. That is such a canned phrase that of course I only receive while I’m wearing a dress that’s a bit too revealing. I wonder if he’d notice if I try to close the cardigan over my chest and over the open triangle that shows a sliver of stomach.
“I’m sorry if this is forward of me but I can’t believe you’re single.” He leans forward and props to him that he keeps his attention on my face. “Can I ask why?”
“Why I’m single?” I repeat, my hand sliding towards the napkin I want to use for blotting the sweat of my brow.
“Two.”
A tiny gasp escapes from my lips at the instruction. I abandon the idea of the napkin and instead prop my elbows on the table to lean forward. Frank’s eyes fly to my chest for a second too long, and I don’t give a shit about Starr’s instructions anymore. I lean all the way back against my chair.
“Hi, my name is Mandy and I’ll be your server tonight,” a woman says appearing beside us. “Are you ready to order or do you need a few minutes?”
I open my mouth but Frank is quicker. To me, he asks, “Since this is a seafood restaurant I assume you don’t have any allergies, right?”
“Oh, yeah. None.”
“Great.” He turns to the server. “Then we’re going to start with the oysters for two and the white Zinfandel.”
Mandy gives me a quick look but I’ve turned into a statue. “Good choices, sir. Please call me if you need anything else.” She retreats quickly.
That’s when I notice my mouth has been hanging open this whole time. I snap it shut and glance down at the menu that I haven’t even had a chance to touch.
Is it too early to tug at my ear? Because a guy ordering for me with no consideration for what I want is a red flag the size of Texas. And like, yeah, at least he checked that nothing here could send me to the hospital. But maybe he could’ve taken a second to ask if I even like the goopy things. Better yet, let me order for my own damn self.
I slide my hands below the table so he can’t see how hard I’m squeezing my fists.
“So, why are you single?” he asks again, holding his chin like he’s ready to hear my life story.
Not only do I not owe him that, I also have zero interest in sharing it.
“It’s just how things shook up. How about you?” I ask in return, without even waiting for the pitch four call.
With a chagrinned expression, he says, “I’m just coming out of a long relationship that didn’t work out…” He trails off, giving me an expectant look I can’t decipher. “Aren’t you gonna ask me why it didn’t work out?”
“Oh.” I squirm, trying to find a more comfortable spot on the plush chair. “No, I wasn’t going to. That’s private.”
He laughs. “But isn’t that what we’re here for? To get to know each other?”
“I guess but?—”
“She cheated on me.” Frank sighs, shaking his head of thinning dirty blond hair. “With another teacher at my school.”
