Page 68 of The Thorne at My Side
"Yeah, she is, but you'll never know who she is."
"Because it's over?"
"Because it's over." I confirm before I loosen and retie my favorite necktie, again; for the third time.
"Wow, man, this is weird. I've known you for five years and I've never seen you this wound up about a date."
"Well, if this woman turns out to be even remotely attractive I might propose on the spot."
"Really? Maybe I should sign up for this thing."
"You sure man? I was ready for a relationship but I honestly didn't believe that the first person they matched me with would be this great. It's been a surprising journey. And since we've made such a strong connection I couldn't imagine stringing her along for a few years until I'm ready to get married. I have to decide quickly but if she returns my feelings, she'll be it for me."
"That fast huh, maybe not."
I laugh as he swipes open his Instagram and there is a message waiting for him. Of a girl, topless.
"Want me to drive you?" Felix asks when he checks the time.
"Sure, I can always call Greg for a ride later if I need him."
"Or maybe you can take text girl for a ride!" Felix laughs as he grips my shoulders and I have to shake my head to clear the image of Maggie from the first time I offered her a ride home, well before our arrangement.
She seems to be the only person I want to ride anymore.
I'm quiet, pensive, on the way over but my knee bounces in the front seat of Felix’s Porsche the whole way. He parks outside the restaurant and I run my palms down my pants to dry the sweat accumulating there.
"Time to go, bud," he says.
"Yeah, I know, but," I turn to him and he must see the desperation in my eyes because his expression turns serious. "Will you look for me?"
"What?"
"Just hop out, peek in the window and see if you see a woman in a red dress with a phone in a flower case on the table."
"You're crazy man." He says ashe pops open his door.
"Thank you!" I call out after him as he walks across the front of his car. I don’t know what I would do without him. The sayings are true: sometimes your found family is just as strong as the one you are born into. I know in our case, we have each other’s back, no matter what.
Felix tries to be casual as he looks inside but I see a few people give him double takes. It’s tough for a guy who is 6’4” and built like a grizzly bear to blend in when he has his hands up next to the glass to improve his view through the window. It doesn’t help that he’s wearing a Renegades sweatshirt and his signature long hair is sticking out the sides of his beanie.
I watch him scan the restaurant and hold my breath when he stops, leans in a little closer, and then turns back to the car.
"So?" I demand as soon as he opens his door.
"I saw her," he tells me.
"And?"
"She's very pretty."
"Hell yes! Fuck. Thank god." I say on an exhale.
"Yeah, good, okay, one problem."
"What? No, you know what, it doesn't matter." I decide it as I say it out loud.
"That’s the spirit Thorney, the election is almost over anyways."
