Page 55 of Maybe Yours (Love & Wine)

I swallow hard, looking across the table at her, who also just happens to be this amazing woman I know as Wine Queen. It’s literally like the universe is fucking with me right now, like it’s giving my dating and sex life a big fat middle finger as it decides whether I’m ever going to get laid again.

I don’t even know how to respond to Jack’s question and as I stare across at Penny, a part of me wants to know what her answer will be.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Penny

Tommy is watching me, his mouth opening and closing like one of those koi pond fish as Jack and Lauren stand by waiting for an answer. This boy is not quick on his feet and I’m trying to suppress the laugh that has been present since the moment they walked up.

“Kind of a date,” I say, winking at Tommy and his mouth remains open this time. I’m sure my smile is giving me away, but I don’t care. He should know by now that if he leaves me in charge of something, it’s not going to go the way he hopes.

I push my bottom lip out and look up at Jack and Lauren. “Tommy here got stood up by some flakey girl he met on the Internet.” I whisper the last part, like my mother would if she were telling her friends, like online dating is the equivalent to contracting an STD. “I popped in here to grab a drink and there he was sitting all alone at the end of the bar, practically crying into his drink. I mean, I couldn’t let his masculinity be mocked by a bunch of people in a bar, so here we are.” I shrug my shoulders and shoot Tommy a wry smile.

He looks none too pleased with my explanation, but he’s the one who left me in charge, and he’s also the one who decided I was a “it’s not you, it’s me” girl.

I’m still waiting for him to realize taking a chance on me might be worthwhile. We’ve had a great time with the bees and chatting at work and now this strangely coincidental online meeting, he can’t continue to deny there’s something between us. It’s something intense and consuming and it came out that night we slept together and in every conversation we had when we were anonymous.

“Aww, bugger,” Jack says, clapping Tommy on the shoulder with an open hand. “I thought that app was your ticket.”

“My ticket to what?” Tommy asks, an eyebrow going up as he waits for Jack’s response.

“Your ticket to pound town, mate.”

Lauren’s face is pretty much a wash of mortification and annoyance as she swats an open hand against Jack’s arm, and it takes everything in me not to laugh out loud. Little does either of them know, but we’ve been on that train and I’d ride it again. It’s Tommy who is hell bent on avoiding what is an obvious connection.

“Why? Why are you like this?” she mutters, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Jack shrugs casually, looking back at Lauren, but he doesn’t respond to her rhetorical question. “I’m sorry he’s such an idiot and I’m sorry we interrupted your date.”

“It’s not a date,” I immediately deadpan, checking the expression on Tommy’s face for any changes and all I get are his pink cheeks that are slowly starting to fade after Jack’s comment. I hope he’s thinking about the night we spent together at his house and regretting turning me away. “And since it’s not a date, we’d love it if you join us,” I add, pulling out the chair next to me in invitation.

“Oh, I’m sure you don’t want—” Lauren starts, but Jack cuts her off with a jovial agreement, and plunks his ass down in the chair next to Tommy.

“I guess we’re staying,” Lauren concedes, sitting down next to me as Tommy flags over our waiter and has Lauren and Jack order some drinks.

The night continues pretty casually, almost date-like with all of us sharing stories from working at Somerville’s and things from growing up. Tommy and Lauren have been friends since they were kids, so she has tons of dirt on him, and Jack even has a few things that make us all laugh out loud. He was quite the pain in Lauren’s ass when they were younger. And judging by the things Tommy shares, it wasn’t just Lauren’s ass. It’s good to see the two of them get along now, especially given Lauren and Jack are married.

The evening takes a weird turn when the bill comes, Tommy reaching for it before I can ask what I owe.

“I’ll pick this up,” he says, acting like this is commonplace between us. It isn’t and there’s no way in hell I’m letting him pay for my dinner since he was the one who wouldn’t label this a date when Jack and Lauren appeared.

“Like hell you are. We’re splitting it,” I demand, as Jack and Lauren look on with suspicion.

“I thought it wasn’t a date?” Jack questions, making me smirk a little as Tommy obviously squirms. I have no idea why he’s so against even considering dating me, but this is his stance on this and so I can take my stance of being a thorn in his side then.

“It’s not a date,” Tommy snaps, shaking his head, but behind his surly demeanor, I swear I see a faint curve of his lips, a simple but telling smile.

He likes the chase, but I’m not interested in games or waiting for him to get his shit together. He can smile with his perfectly aligned teeth and I can watch his eyes crinkle up in the corners. He can give off that happiness that only seems to be here when I’m in his presence. He’s like a ray of sunshine and with each smile, I’m about to be sunburned, but it’s time I back away.

“Next time it’s on me,” I say, letting him have his way, hitting him with a wink, knowing I’m making a big mistake. It’s the same situation I’ve been in before and in the end, I just end up hurt. He can chase me, but I’m done chasing him.

This “date” we’re on will be the last time I cross the line with Tommy Andrews even if I did have a good time. Even if he had a good time.

“Fine,” he concedes and again Lauren and Jack are eyeing us with suspicion and I’m starting to wonder if the only person who’s unaware of this connection between us is Tommy. Either that or he’s really good at denying it.

“Well, that was a great night,” Jack says when we exit the restaurant, making his way toward the parking lot.

“It was. I had a great time. I’m glad you two ended up here because I’m pretty sure it would’ve been quite boring hanging out here with the guy who got stood up.” I toss a thumb in Tommy’s direction, clenching my teeth and wrinkling up my nose.

“I didn’t get...” he stops himself from admitting this was actually a date. “How about I walk you to your car, Penny?” he adds, giving me a wide-eyed look.

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