Page 36 of Love Rescheduled

I wanted to kick Josh. I couldn’t believe he had shown up. That wasn’t exactly true, but it floored me he actually would.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I just had to say hello to my old friend.” Josh batted his eyes at me.

He was a dead man.

“You should join us,” Seth offered.

My brow scrunched. What kind of guy invites another guy on his date?

Josh waved his hand around. “No. No. No. I couldn’t.”

“See you later—” I grumbled.

“Of course you can. I’m sure Natalie wouldn’t mind.” Seth didn’t once look at me or try to get my take on the situation.

Because I certainly minded.

“Well, all right.” Josh scooted his butt into my side of the table at light speed, pushing me farther into the booth, all while flashing me a charming smile.

I so badly wanted to elbow him in the side or dig a heel into his foot.

“I’m Seth, by the way.” He held his hand out to Josh.

“Nice to meet you, man.” Josh shook his hand while his other hand had the impudence to land on my knee. “It’s really decent of you to let me crash your uh …”

“Date.” Seth grinned at me before going right back to ogling my ex.

“Date?” Josh sang. “Wow, you’re a lucky guy. This girl here is hard to get.”

I pushed Josh’s hand off the knee he was caressing, causing a flock of seagulls to take flight in my stomach. That was so not right.

Seth focused back on me, seemingly pleased I was hard to get. He had no idea. And the way this “date” was going, he had a snowball’s chance in hell of ever getting the privilege of meeting me at another safe location of my choosing. “I can imagine she’s broken a lot of hearts.”

“You have no idea,” Josh lamented.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stab Josh with my fork for that comment or hug him. I pushed my fork farther away. I felt a bit stabby at that moment.

“How did you two become friends?” Seth asked.

It surprised me he hadn’t considered the possibility Josh and I had dated. Most guys don’t believe men and women can just be friends. Perhaps, though, he thought there was no way someone like Josh would ask me out. Or maybe he was just oblivious. Or it could be he was so starstruck, he couldn’t think straight.

“It’s a long story,” I jumped in before Josh said something inappropriate or telling.

Seth smiled and shrugged as if he didn’t really care for an answer to his question. “So, are you going on tour again soon?” He was back to fangirling over Josh.

Josh tugged on the collar of his T-shirt. “Probably. I have some things in the works,” he didn’t want to say.

I got his reluctance, but he didn’t need to hide anything from me. I knew that was his life.

“Cool. I’ll definitely get tickets.”

Our server walked by, and Seth got his attention. “Can you bring my friend here a menu?”

I rolled my eyes and Josh laughed. I wasn’t sure why. If he thought this helped his chances, he was in for a rude awakening.

Once Josh received a menu, Seth commented on his T-shirt. “I saw Aerosmith a few years ago in concert. What a ride. I dressed up as Steven Tyler for Halloween in high school.”

“Dude, me too.” Josh high-fived Seth.

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