Page 66 of Summer Ever After
“And then are you having dinner?”
“No, we’re not staying. Just meeting here. I don’t like to give strangers my address. It’s better if they pick me up at a public location.”
“But you’ll go on a date with strangers, as opposed to men you’ve known since middle school?”
Jane’s lips knit together. She knows I’m talking about her dating me.
“Oh, Walker”—Marlyss comes out of the kitchen—“I just saw your order. Let me grab it.”
“Thanks.” We both watch as she rounds the corner back to the kitchen.
“So, where’s this guy taking you on your date?”
“Somewhere near the mainland. We’re going fishing in his boat.”
“I don’t remember reading a fishing trope on your list.”
“I’m letting him teach me how to fish.” She flashes a tight smile. “He can wrap his arms around me, pull me close against him, his lips close to my ear as he whispers instructions.”
I tug on the collar of my shirt, suddenly feeling like it’s choking me.
Her smile grows. “It’s allveryromantic.”
Yeah, if I was the one doing it to her, but thinking about Serial Killer Brian doing it makes me sick.
“Here you go.” Marlyss sets my bag of food on the bar in front of me. “One order of buffalo wings and a side of French fries. Do you want some ranch to go with the wings?”
“That would be great.”
“There’s some in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”
The door opens, and we both turn to see who it is.
A man in his mid-forties, wearing a button-up shirt, pleated khakis, and a bald spot, glances around the restaurant as if he’s looking for someone.
“Is that your date?”
Jane’s lips turn into the cutest frown. “Could be. It’s hard to tell from his picture.”
“That or you got catfished.”
“I didnotget catfished.”
“So you were planning on going on a date with a guy who’s, like, fifteen years older than you with a dad-bod?”
“Saying someone has a dad-bod is body shaming and offensive to dads everywhere. Besides, age-gap romance is totally a trope.”
The guy stops searching when he sees Jane at the bar. He does a little half-point at her with his index finger.
“That’s him, alright.” I can’t help my smile. This guy doesn’t pose a threat to me—unless, of course, he kills Jane.
She hops to a stand and greets him as he walks to the bar.
“Hi.”
“I wasn’t sure if I was here for you or not,” Brian says.
“Yep, I’m your girl.” Jane’s overdone smile covers her entire face.
