Page 15 of Jake

“Thanks.” He knew he sounded ungrateful but they might have let him know; she could have let him know.

Pulling out his phone to check, he saw that she did, in fact, send him a message.

L: I got held up with work, sorry. I’m on my way. Please don’t leave.

Jake smiled. She had thought enough to let him know, probably only letting the restaurant know because he hadn’t replied half an hour ago. He’d have to make sure he paid better attention to his phone.

“Jake?” the server asked as they stepped out from behind the thick curtain.

“That’s me,” he answered.

“It looks like you’ve been here before. Would you like the instructions again?” the man asked.

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Follow me.” He nodded as he opened the curtain before letting it fall and plunging them both into darkness. “Your date is on their way. She notified us she was running behind schedule.”

“The host informed me,” Jake let the man know.

“Perfect, right this way.”

Chapter Six

“Catherine, I can’t stand here any longer,” Lauren whined as her friend stood back and looked her up and down.

“It’s hardly my fault you weren’t going to dress for your date,” Catherine told her.

“It’s in the dark!” Exasperated, Lauren dropped both her arms to her sides with a smack.

“Maybe you will decide you like him enough to meet him after.” She winked and handed her a pair of heels. “Here, wear these.”

“Thanks, I am already late. I have to go.”

Lauren held on to the desk and slipped one shoe on at a time before looking in the mirror and assessing the outfit. Catherine was good at styling her. The black pencil skirt was a delightful contrast to the white top, with a few large floral arrangements printed on it. The black heels gave her height but did a damn good job at making her legs look longer.

“Turn to the side.” Catherine urged.

She did and noticed how flattering the skirt really was. “Oh my God, is that my butt?” she said, only half-joking.

“Yes, ma’am.” Catherine giggled and pressed her clutch into her hands.

“I’m out of here, wish me luck.”

“Luck!” Catherine called after her.

Lauren walked as quickly as she could between the shoes and the skirt. She hurried to the waiting car that Catherine had insisted she take. Now that she was running so far behind, it was a good thing she had it.

The driver, dressed in a black suit, opened the door for her as she exited the revolving doors of the building.

“Thank you,” she said as she slid into the black car.

She rested her head on the back of the seat. Her blonde hair hadn’t cooperated when Catherine had tried to style it. It had always been too fine to hold much of a style, anyway. It was pin straight and fell to the middle of her back; it was straight down or in a ponytail, very little in between.

“We will be there in five minutes,” the driver told her.

“Thank you.” She pulled out her phone and opened the app to text Jake.

I’m so sorry I’m running late. I’ll be there in five.

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