Page 59 of Sliding Into Love
Ok
Shit, a two-letter response from Ivy, who usually at least spelled out the word. She must still be pissed.
Restless and unwilling to be alone after the day he’d had, Ethan fidgeted with his phone, debating with himself whether it would be worth it to text Jen and Derek to see if they wanted to get dinner.
Scrubbing his hand over his face, Ethan opened a text thread with them. Jen suggested a new restaurant downtown, and Ethan and Derek agreed.
A short, glassed-in counter and cones of spinning meat greeted Ethan as he pushed through the shop doors. Delicious aromas left his mouth watering, and Ethan almost didn’t wait for the others to arrive to place his order. But they’d wait for him, and since they were all apparently friends now, he had to do the friend thing.
In a few minutes, though, he wished he hadn’t bothered because when Derek arrived, Isaac Reyes walked in with him.
Well, shit.
This is turning out to be a hell of a day, he thought, trying not to bare his teeth in a grimace.
“Yo, Fisher,” Isaac called, holding up a hand for a fist bump.
“Who’s Fisher?” Derek asked, looking around the shop.
“He’s Fisher.” Isaac pointed at Ethan.
“What?” Derek still appeared confused.
“He’s Ethan Fisher.”
Isaac fucking Reyes, ladies and gentlemen, Ethan seethed silently.
“Huh,” Derek didn’t seem bothered. “Cool. So, food?”
Ethan thanked the stars for Jen’s lateness because she would not have let it go.
Jen came in after a few more minutes; she’d brought Ryan the announcer with her. Introductions were made, then they ordered and found an outdoor table.
The evening was pleasant, with the scents of the other restaurants downtown floating through the air along with the sounds of families playing at the nearby playground and music from the bars dotted along the street.
They’d begun eating and chatting about music and tv when Derek stiffened and turned to Ethan, pointing at him open-mouthed.
“EthanFisher?”
“What?” Jen’s laser focus zeroed in on Ethan’s ducked head and reddening ears. Ryan looked around curiously.
“As inJimmyFisher?”
“Yep! That’s his dad? Cool, huh?” Isaac answered for Ethan.
“Damn it, Isaac.” Ethan snapped. “Did you think I kept that to myself for a reason?”
“So youdoknow each other.” Jen looked between Isaac and Ethan. “Also, what the fuck? Jimmy Fisher? Your dad isJimmy Fisher? Legendary pitcher? Hall of Fame inductee? Whythe fuckdidn’t you tell me?”
“Seriously! Why the hell not?” Derek was bouncing in his seat, not unlike Janna. “If my dad was in the freaking Hall of Fame, I’d tell the world!”
Ethan looked down, twisting his napkin between his fingers, while Isaac looked the tiniest bit embarrassed.
Ethan ran his hands through his hair and decided to come clean.
“To make a long story short, my dad and I don’t get along, and after I left home, I didn’t want people to think I was handed my position because of who my dad is.”
Jen nodded, a cool expression sliding over her face.
