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Sometimes he’s really obnoxious.

“Look, I just found out that Waterman’s having a party, and the rumor is, he has some cash to invest. I really want to convince him to invest with me.”

“Why do you need money?”

“I want to hire some new developers,” he says. “Only?—”

“I don’t care,” I say. “Good luck.”

“Wait,” Ace cries. “Don’t hang up. I heard you got invited to the party.”

“So?”

“You’re not going?”

I snort.

“Okay, but youcouldgo, and you could take me with you.”

“This is a you problem,” I say. Only Ace would be so self-centered that he’d call me on the first real date I’ve had in a decade to ask for a favor.

“Easton, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t serious.”

Sounds like Ace needs more than just a few developers. I exhale. The night’s been great, so maybe I should end on a high note. Leave her wanting more. “Fine.”

“Thank you. Should I come get you?”

“No.” I can drop Bea off and swing around the loop faster than heading home. “I’ll go straight there myself. Give me a little bit.”

“Need to go?” Bea doesn’t look upset, but she does look curious.

“A large part of my job, unfortunately, is knowing the right people, and it’s taken me years to meet some of these people, and even more to convince them to take me seriously.” My parents didn’t do me any favors, there. “My buddy Ace?—”

“I heard,” she says. “He wants you to introduce him to some people at a party?”

“A party he can’t get into without me,” I say. “So if you don’t mind if I?—”

“It’s fine,” she says. “I’ll go with you. Unless you think I’m underdressed?”

I blink. She’ll go with me? I thought she hated stuff like that—I was sure this would be the end of tonight. But if we keep hanging out after the party. . .I could take her to get dessert or something. And if I’m not in a big rush, I might be able to kiss her.

No.

Iwillkiss her. Screw Ace and his demands. I’ll get him into the party, and then I’m bailing. This is still my night. I smile. “Sure. Great. We don’t need to be there more than a few minutes.”

“Okay.” Her smile’s shy, and I love it. More than I should, probably.

It feels like she’s smiling just for me. I think that’s the thing that I like the most about her. I’ve never in my life felt as special as I do when I’m with her. When she smiles, when she glances my way, when she turns and her eyes meet mine. . .it feels like the world is ours.

13

BEA

Idon’t date much. It’s not that I don’t want to, but mousy girls aren’t asked out very often. When we are, it’s usually by guys we don’t want anything to do with.

The last time I had a date, a little more than six months ago, it was with a guy who came into the restaurant. He was with his parents, celebrating a new job, and at the end of the meal, he asked for my number. He was reasonably cute, so I figured, why not?

That date became mywhy notgoing forward.

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