Page 24 of The Billionaire's Commitment

“Violently,” Eric said.

“There were no fists thrown,” I said.

“Yet,” Logan said.

“There will be a fight if you keep calling this meeting with Zoey a date,” I said.

“He’s a bit sensitive about his date. Though, I could be overreaching? What do you think?” Grace asked Logan.

“Nah, I don’t think he’s sensitive about it at all,” Logan replied.

“Thanks,” I said.

“I think he’s petrified,” Logan added, and Grace nodded.

It was early for us all to be in the bar, and I wasn’t even sure why they all were except to give me a bad time, which might have been the exact point. I had come to make sure the lights were set up for the band that was coming in that night when I saw first Logan and then Eric and Grace walk into the bar. They all gave excuses as to why they were there, but it sounded false to my ears.

“Date night. Good luck,” Eric said.

“It isn’t a date. It’s an outing between two friends. Nothing more.” I don’t know why I was trying to convince them that it wasn’t a date; I had been trying for the better part of the last two days with no luck.

After Zoey had agreed for us to see the city as friends, we had exchanged numbers and had started texting back and forth. I wasn’t one who liked to text or even talk on the phone; I preferred face-to-face interactions. But I got the impression this would be better for Zoey and would help her feel more comfortable.

I sent her a few website links that had what were considered the best things to do in New York City, both as a tourist and not. We had gone back and forth discussing which ones we wanted to do and had decided to go to the Museum of Modern Art. It was on almost all the lists, and it sounded like something that was a very New York thing to do. I figured it would be a good way to show Zoey that I was a bit sophisticated and could be more than just a guy who grew up on a farm in Oregon or owned a bar. We had agreed we would meet outside the museum on Saturday.

Logan had been his usual nosy self and had quickly surmised that not only was I texting a woman, something he had never seen me do, but Zoey. He hadn’t gotten the information about us meeting out of me, but Grace had. After she did, Logan gave her five bucks, telling me they had placed a bet on who could get the information out of me.

I kept telling them it wasn’t a date because I needed to remind myself. I wanted it to be more. I wanted it to be the start of the future for Zoey and me. I also knew that I couldn’t even consider it being any of that if I wanted to have Zoey in my life. She was timid about getting involved. I understood all her reasons, and I admired her for coming out and telling me. I also didn’t buy them, I was going to do everything in my power to convince her that she was just hiding behind her emotions, and I was going to change how she felt about me.

“Well,” Logan said and pressed down the collar on my shirt. “Be sure to always be a gentleman, hold open the door for her, tell her she looks pretty, and get her home safely at the end of the night. If you’re going to be later than ten o’clock, call me.”

“Dude, what are you doing?” I asked and moved away from him.

“I’m just so proud our little boy is growing up,” Logan said and pretended to wipe a tear away from his eyes.

“Asshole,” I muttered, and he laughed.

“Do you need money?” Eric asked and gave me a smirk.

“I think I have enough of that to handle a date and then some,” I said.

“See, he called it a date. It is one,” Logan said and slapped his hand on the bar.

“Slip of the tongue,” I said.

“Maybe you’ll do more of that later,” Logan said and raised an eyebrow.

“What happened to being a gentleman and holding the door open for her?” I asked.

“Oh, you can do all that, and if you do it right, you might get more than the slip of the tongue. If you catch my drift,” Logan said.

“We all caught your drift,” Grace said and threw her towel at him.

“Have fun. We got it covered here,” Eric said.

“Is that you giving me permission to stay out all night? Gee, thanks, Dad,” I said.

“Hey. I thought I was Dad?” Logan asked.

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