Page 9 of Please Don't Leave Me

We all curl up on the couch together, with me seated inthe middle. Pepin sits on his favorite chair across from us and stares lovingly at me, like he always does.

My finger hovers over the call button, and I can feel my hands getting clammy. B taps the top of my hand, forcing my finger to press down on the screen, and the phone starts ringing. Against my better judgment, I quickly put it on speaker so they can hear.

After a couple rings, he answers, "I was wondering when you'd call."

"Hey, it's Lou." Why am I so awkward?!

"I'm glad the barista gave the cup to the right person. I was worried she would accidentally give it to another pretty brunette with brown eyes."

I can feel my cheeks turning red, and I don't know how to respond to that. I've always been horrible at taking compliments.

Luckily, he continues so I don't have to. "Are you busy next weekend?"

He's straightforward, and it takes me by surprise. Of course, I was hoping he would ask me out on a date, but I was so sure this was a joke that I hadn't thought of what I would do if he actually asked.

B reaches over and taps the 'mute' button. "Say something! You're not busy next weekend."

I unmute the phone before saying, "No, I'm not busy next weekend."

"Great. Would you like to go to dinner with me on Friday night?"

My heart is racing, and I'm about as giddy as Iris and B are on either side of me right now. I can tell they’re trying to hold in their excitement so they don't make any noise. "Yeah, I'd really like that."

"I'm glad. Text me your address, and I'll swing by to pick you up around seven."

B reaches over again to press the mute button and misses. "We'll need way more time than that to get you ready after work."

"Sorry, I missed that. What did you say?" Oh my god, he heard her say that.

I shoot a death glare over at B, and she sucks air through her gritted teeth before mouthing the word, "Sorry."

"Nothing, seven works great!" I stumble to recover. "Is there a dress code for where you'd like to go?" I figured it was a safe question to ask since he clearly likes nice things. I didn't want to show up to a fancy restaurant wearing jeans, but I also didn't want to show up in a little black dress and heels to a burger joint.

"I got us a reservation at Orion's, so whatever you deem fitting for that."

"I'm sure I can dig something up that's nicer than what I was wearing at the coffee shop."

"Well, anythingor nothingwould be just fine with me." I can hear his smile through the phone, and I'm instantly wet again, thinking about wearing nothing under him while he makes me scream.

"Noted. I'll see you Friday."

"See you then."

Chapter Five

LOUISA

It's Friday evening, and B has been doing my hair and makeup for what feels like hours. I'll hand it to her, though; it does look really good. She does her finishing touches and then walks over to my closet to grab the dress I bought earlier this week.

"And now, it’s time to put on the dress!"

"You're acting like it's my wedding day, B. Try to remember that this is just a date."

"Yes, but it's your first actual date since Jay. And I have all the confidence in the world that Mr. Sexy Voice is going to make it a good one." She takes the dress off the hanger and opens up the hole for me to step into. "I mean, he's sending a car for you and taking you to dinner at one of the hottest restaurants in the city. No way it won't be amazing."

Matt texted me earlier this week saying that he has some business to attend to before our date down by where the restaurant is, so he’s going to have a car sent to get me. I told him I was perfectly fine driving myself or taking an Uber, buthe insisted.

When he said he had a reservation at Orion's, I was shocked. Reservations are nearly impossible to get there, especially on such short notice. Either he had this reservation for someone else, and it didn't work out, or it was a situation where he knows someone who knows someone.

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