Page 7 of Loving the Sinner
“Please, call me Elli. It’s nice to meet you too, Luke.” I shake his hand with a smile. “You two head to the car,I’m just going to make sure everything is locked up and I’ll meet you out there.”
They don’t answer verbally, too busy making heart eyes at each other.
Izzy pulls Luke from the apartment while I take a few breaths to gain my composure.
I hate dating. I hate first dates. I hate meeting strangers. I don’t know what Matt knows about me already, but I’m always afraid I won’t live up to other people’s expectations. I’m not thin, I’m not outrageously smart or witty, and I don’t have a lot of romantic experience.
Once I turn from locking my front door, I stop in my tracks as I take in the man leaning against the black Honda Civic Luke and Elli are sitting in, chattering away with each other. He’s looking down at his phone, so his long, wavy, jet black hair falls in front of his face. He’s tall, probably six feet, and lean. He’s dressed all in black. Black t-shirt with some band on it, black jeans with rips in the knees, and black boots.
In this Texas heat? Bold.
His left arm is covered in intricate tattoos. His hands are adorned in chunky silver rings, as well as a thick silver chain bracelet on his wrist. A red guitar pick hangs around his neck on a silver chain.
As I get closer, he looks up and my breath hitches when I’m met with coffee brown eyes so dark they’re almost black, framed by thick, dark lashes that any girl would kill to have. He tucks one side of his hair behind his ear and pockets his phone.
This man has a nose ringandtwo piercings in his ear. The silver jewelry in his nose glints in the sunlight, drawing attention to it. The silver hoops in the first piercing on his lobes contrast his dark hair.
I wonder if they match the other side.
He looks like every girl’s bad boy dream, and he is most definitelynotmy cowboy fantasy. His facial expression remains impassive as I approach, and I can almostfeelthe broodiness and angst rolling off of him. I get the distinct impression he doesn’t want to be here.
Looks like it’s going to be a long night.
Chapter 3
Wes
Luke insisted it was thegentlemanlything to do to wait outside of the car so I could open the door forElliana,so that’s where I am when he comes walking down the pathway holding hands with a giggly blonde, but no one else.
I’m going to be really fucking mad if she’s standing me up.
“Wes, Izzy. Izzy, Wes.” Luke says as soon as they make it to the car.
“Nice to meet you, Izzy.” I shake her hand and she gives me a confused look.
“Wait, I thought your name was Matt?” She looks between me and Luke.
“Luke! You didn’t tell them Matt isn’t coming?” I lightly slap his arm.
“Sorry! I was preoccupied.” Luke shrugs and opens the door for Izzy, still giving each other gooey smiles as they climb into the back seat and start nuzzling each other like puppies.
Ugh. Young love is so gross.
“Ooo Elli’s going to lose her freaking mind.” I hear Izzy not-so-quietly whisper before the door closes.
After two minutes, I think she’s standing me up, which would be awkward as hell, but then I hear footsteps growing closer so I glance up from my phone and there she is.
She’s shorter than me, hell, she’s shorter than her own sister. Even in the oversized shirt dress thing she’s wearing I can see she’s curvy as hell. Her chocolate brown hair is pulled into two long braids, and she’s got barely any makeup on. The total opposite of her little sister.
The thing that surprises me the most is the beat up black converse that look like they’ve seen better days. A prissy, stuck up girl likeEllianashould be wearing sandals or heels or whatever the fuck, right? Anything but beat up sneakers. She has a bored expression on her face which makes me think she matches my level of enthusiasm about all of this.
“Hey, Matt?” She asks quietly.
I try to contain my eye roll since it’s not her I’m upset with, it’s Luke. “Wes, actually. There was a bit of a mix up- Matt had a prior engagement. Luke forgot to relay that information.” I say brusquely.
“Oh. Well, nice to meet you, Wes, I’m-”
“Elliana. Nice to meet you too.” I grab her extended hand and give it a quick shake, noting the size difference of our hands. Her hands are so tiny I could probably fit both of them in one of my own. I’m a good foot taller than she is, so I can see the way her eyelashes cast a shadow on her cheeks when she blinks.
