Page 27 of Book Boyfriend
“He’s on line one. He asked if he could make a lunch appointment with you tomorrow. You know, just like in the story.”
My face tightens. Is he for real? I drum my fingers on my desk. “Put him through, please.”
Brenna scurries away and I stare at my phone, waiting for it to ring. As soon as it does I lift the receiver and let loose. “You can’t be fucking serious?”
“Well, hello there. I don’t remember Kasey picking up the phone. I’m pretty sure she just said no.”
“This isn’t a book, Fisher, and I’m not Kasey.”
He laughs lightly. “And thank God you’re not. I had a dog growing up named Casey and that would be really weird for me.”
I try my hardest not to smile. He’s not cute. He’s not. “What do you want?”
“You didn’t really think I was going to let you walk away and never talk to you again, did you?”
“Look, I have no interest in dating you.”
He laughs. “Good. I think dating is overrated. I think we should hang out, not date.”
“I don’t want to hang out with you either.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm . . . that’s weird. I was thinking about how excited you were to see me yesterday. I’m guessing if those hulks of yours hadn’t pushed me to the floor, I probably would have gotten, at minimum, a hug. Maybe even a kiss.”
“I don’t want to kiss you either.”
“Not even a tiny little peck on the cheek?”
“No. Not even that. I don’t like you.”
He laughs again. “What’s the saying about someone who protests too much?”
“I’m speaking the truth. I’m sorry if that hurts your tender ego.”
“Ouch,” he says with a snicker. “I knew going into this you were going to be hard to crack. I’ve always liked that about you. The fact is, I really didn’t get much of a chance to talk to you yesterday. All I’m asking for is one meal. If after that you still want me to leave you alone, then I will. Deal?”
“How about if you just leave me alone now?”
“I suppose I could do that, but what fun would that be? Don’t you feel the least bit bad about the bruised ego I now have to go along with my bruised face?”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I remember his bloody nose. “Are you okay? I’m really sorry about all that.”
“Are you?”
“Of course I am. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“What if it would hurt me if you wouldn’t have dinner with me?”
I sigh. “Are you trying to play on my guilt to get me to cave?”
“Is it working? If it is, then yes. My nose really hurts.”
I can’t help but grin. I roll my chair around so I can look out the window. “How do I know you aren’t crazy?”
“Aren’t we all? Listen, if you had given me your real number months ago, I would have called you the next day to arrange to see you. I told you back then I wanted to see you again. Why are you surprised?”
