Page 12 of Some Things Never Change

I looked around the small and quaint restaurant to remember the ambiance. I knew it would probably be awhile before I came back to visit.

“Really?” The tone of Andy’s voice was so surprised and taken aback that it drew my attention back to him. His brows knitted together. “Don’t you come here often, though?”

“I used to, but that was with David. I ran into him once with his current girlfriend. I think he comes here often since I ran into them here again on a random weekend.”

Andy grimaced. “Sounds horrible. But didn’t you say he was transferred across the country for work?”

“He did, but I think he was transferred back. That’s why I kept running into him here with his new girl.”

Andy winced. I shrugged.

“It’s fine. I had the opportunity to discover new brunch spots in the city with my roommate. But this place will always be the best.”

“But you still haven’t explored Santa Mariana with me yet.”

“You’re going to be my tour guide, then?” I couldn’t help but smile.

“Duh. Why wouldn’t I be?”

I shrugged again. “I don’t know. I just figured that you have better things to do. Like, hanging out with your friends. Or going on dates.” My eyes quickly scanned him from head to waist, trying not to stare too hard at his well-maintained body. He looked like he dedicated hours to the gym on weekends. “Or spending six hours at the gym each weekend.”

Andy let out a laugh that was easy, yet deep and mellow. “Seriously, Tink? Why do you have to say it like that? You’re more important to me than all that. And I never spend six hours at the gym. I’m not a gym bro, and you know that.”

I laughed. Of course, I knew. If I wasn’t important to him, then why would he offer to come all the way up to San Ignacio just to sit in my car back to Santa Mariana? He wouldn’t make all this effort to be here just to keep me company.

“I know. I just feel like you’re being too nice to me if you plan to spend weekends with me and show me around too. You’re already doing enough by being here for the move.”

“Who says that I’m nice? I’m not doing this for free. You’re going to be paying for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and all the things we do.”

I raised a brow as I teased him. “Sounds like a series of many dates to me.”

Andy’s lips curled into a small smile before he took a sip of his water. The green in his hazel eyes was more vibrant than usual as he stared back at me. “Dates they are, then.”

I wasn’t insinuating we go on actual romantic dates, and neither was he. Yet, hearing those words from him made my face hot. The small smile on Andy’s lips crooked into an arrogant grin. He was getting a kick out of me blushing, again. I leaned over the table to playfully hit his arm.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?” His eyebrows shot up, confused. But he was still wearing his smug grin.

“That.” I pointed to his face.

“What?”

“That—that smug, cocky smirk!” I moved my pointer finger a bit closer to Andy’s lips.

As I was about to pull my finger away, Andy’s reaction was to take it into his mouth. I felt his teeth on my finger for a millisecond before he nipped it. I let out a small yelp and immediately retracted my finger as he let out a mocking laugh. Thankfully the young worker at the cash register and other patrons didn’t seem to have seen it, because it was embarrassing as hell.

I was about to observe and nurse the red teeth marks he left behind, but then realized what he did was a tactic to distract me. He quickly headed toward the front, to the cash register. I clamored out of my seat to tail behind him as I tried to pull my wallet out of my purse, but I was too late. Andy already handed the worker his credit card.

“I thought I was supposed to pay.” My voice was breathless, not only because I was disappointed, but because of how quick this guy could move despite his larger frame.

“It’s fine. Think of it as compensation for the bite mark I left behind.” He said that so casually that I started to laugh awkwardly.

The worker, who clearly heard him, looked back and forth between Andy and me. The young man asked Andy to sign the tablet in front of him and kept up the insistent stare, which Andy was completely oblivious to. Now my face was full-blown bright red as I let out another stiff laugh, trying to mellow out the awkward atmosphere.

“Stop that,” said Andy, as he glanced at me.

Without a single look back at the worker, he turned to look at me. He immediately headed outside and held the door open for me. I gave him a look of disbelief as we walked out.

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