Page 25 of Halloween Hottie
A couple hours later, I’m showered, dressed, and have my hair and makeup fixed. I drive to the restaurant that Margo picked and walk in, finding her in the back corner booth, all alone.
I slide into the booth across from her.
“Yay! You’re here. I thought you might stand me up.”
I laugh. “Why do you always think I’m going to stand you up? It hasn’t happened yet,” I point out, picking up the menu.
She shrugs. “I don’t know. You and Jake, you’re such homebodies that I feel like I have to bribe you to have dinner with me.”
“Have you seen Jake?” I jump to ask.
She just slowly shakes her head. “No, it would take more than a dinner invite to get his hermit ass out of that bar.”
I sigh and lean back in the booth, feeling defeated. “I guess the party was just a hook-up then, huh?”
She shrugs.
“I should let it go, right?”
Again, she shrugs.
“I just… I really liked him, Margs. I was hoping this was the start of something, but I guess I shouldn’t have allowed myself to think that way. We both knew what we were getting ourselves into.”
She reaches over the table and places her hand on mine. “Just give him some time. This is the first relationship, or whatever, he’s engaged in since his wife died. He’s going to take a little longer than a normal person. And if he decides he isn’t ready to move on, it’s not your fault, it’s nothing against you.”
“I know,” I agree. “It’s just… ugh! He’s perfect. He’s cute and sexy. He’s funny and we got along great. Clicked instantly. He’s super good in bed. Why does he have to be unavailable?” I pout.
She laughs. “Take a breath and give it time, Liz,” she repeats.
I agree, and we both pick up our menus.
“So have you seen Steve since the party?” I ask, sipping my glass of water.
She nods. “Yeah, he was asking about you, actually.”
“Was he?”
She nods. “Yeah, he came over the next day, this past Sunday. He wanted to apologize for how trashed he was. I laughed and told him that I didn’t even see him, but I heard about what he did. Told him it wasn’t me who needed the apology.”
I offer up a small smile. “Thank you.”
She nods. “I think he still has feelings for you.”
I laugh. “Well, that’s too damn bad. I learn from my past mistakes. Him and me, we’ll never happen again.”
“He was asking if you and Jake were dating.”
“He knows Jake?”
She nods. “Yeah, we all knew one another in high school, silly.”
“Oh yeah.” I always forget that I’m the new one to the area.
“Jake and Steve never got along. Steve used to have it bad for Trish, but she only had eyes for Jake. As you can probably figure out, she chose Jake, and Steve didn’t take the rejection lightly. Hasn’t liked him since.”
“Huh, small world.”
She laughs and nods.
