Page 19 of Asking For It

“You’ll like these people, not just as connections, but as people. And I had fun the other day, we’d like to spend time with you again.”

Uh-huh. “What’s your end game?” I didn’t understand any of this, including why I hadn’t hung up yet. Oh, right, because I wasn’t letting him see that I cared.

“As in, what am I hoping to achieve?”

“Exactly that. Is this the next attempt to lull me into a false sense of security, and then dump anotheryou won’t want to turn this downpitch on me? Tug at my emotions to get me to play?” My experiences said that was the only reason for someone to keep trying this hard to win me over—they wanted something.

“Do I strike you as atug on emotionskind of guy?” Owen asked flatly.

Mister Infuriating Logic? “No.”

“Myend gameis spending more time with you. And as Kingston would say, enjoying the view. We’ll pick you up at six Sunday morning.”

“I haven’t said yes, and I’m not up that early on a Sunday anyway.”

“You are, because you bake everything fresh the same day.”

Logical prick. I did still want to meet his friends. It may not do me any good, if this was some sort of cruel prank—my gut curdled at the idea mixed with memories. But if he was sincere, I may have a way to easily take care of this zoning thing, and if it was a joke, they’d never know they had any impact on me. I knew how to grin through the worst.

“Are you in?” Owen asked. “I should warn you, we’re not giving up on your café, but I’ll find a different way to convince you, and it won’t involve tricks or sex or asking over and over again.”

“I’m curious to see how what you think will work.” And I was ready to turn him down, regardless.

“Me too. Sunday at six?”

He wasn’t getting the best of me. Telling himnofelt like the easy out. I was going to make them work for a result they weren’t going to get. “I’ll be ready.”

Chapter Eight

Saturday night, Annewas already at the restaurant when I arrived five minutes early. So were Luna and Violet, but they stood several feet away from Anne.

I tugged them all together, and made introductions. I’d met Luna a few times, but she tended to be quiet unless she was talking about topics she was passionate about.

Sadie showed up just a few minutes later. “Oh, come on,” she called lightly as she approached. “I was even on time. Do you know anyone else who’s not early to everything?”

“Fashionably tardy is one of your charms,” I teased.

---