Page 31 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
I haven’t texted him yet tonight, mostly because I’m still bugged by his assessment of me. He seems to think I’m some sort of player, or whatever the female equivalent of that is, even though I want to settle down and find true love more than anything. Does he know that about me? No, because he only just today started askingmequestions.
Why does no one ever want to know about me?
“Sort of,” I say because that’s easier than explaining why I’m frustrated by how confusing this man is.
“You know there’s gotta be some good biceps above those forearms,” Kinley says, eyes growing wider as if she can see him. “Okay, but you seriously have to get me a picture of this guy. How many times have I told you I need to see him? Now I definitely need to know what he looks like.”
I can’t help but laugh as I shake my head at her. She’s been asking for a picture of Fischer since the minute I told her about him, but I don’t think she realizes how observant he is. I’ve tried once or twice, and he always seems to look up whenever I point my phone toward him. And I definitely didn’t try today. Nope, I mostly avoided him after our walk in the park.
I don’t want to say he put me in a bad mood, but… He put me in a bad mood. I didn’t even think that was possible! But when he started telling me I was a shameless flirt, I didn’t like it. So I played dumb. And then I ignored him, even though Grant spent most of the day at Ember, which meant Fischer camped out in the corner of the office with his laptop, right where I would be stuck seeing his glare the rest of the day.
“I told you,” I say. “Fischer looks like Ian Somerhalder but with brown eyes.”
“And every time you say that, I only want to see a picture more,” Kinley replies. “I just picture a dark and broody vampire every time you mention him.”
That isn’t far off. Especially the broody part. He was even grumpier than normal at work today. Not that I was paying attention. I was ignoring him, remember? But it seemed like every time Grant asked for something, he growled a little more loudly.
I never understood the whole “growly” thing until I met Fischer. It’s the most curious phenomenon, and I’m pretty sure he growls more than I know because it’s not generally very loud. It’s just a low rumble in his sternum, and I have no idea how he does it. I’ve tried, and I can’t replicate the sound. Sometimes I want to ask him to do it on command, and I can only imagine what it would feel like to have him growl while I’m pressed up against his chest.
“Um, what’s that look?” Kinley asks.
I blink, realizing I was staring at the tablet she uses to assign tables. “What look?”
“The dreamy look you just had.”
“I did not look dreamy.”
“Wait, are you crushing on Fischer?”
“What? No!”
Kinley grabs my wrist, pulling herself in until we’re only a few inches away and I go cross-eyed trying to see both her eyes. “You’ve never gotten a look like that when we’re talking about your grumpy coworker, so you’d better start talking, girl.”
Thank goodness Brennan chooses that moment to step into the restaurant. I was absolutely not getting dreamy while thinking about Fischer, and there is no way in heaven and earth that I would ever crush on him. He’s attractive, yes. I’m woman enough to admit that. But we’re complete opposites, and if today is any indication, I can only spend so much time with him before his perpetual bad mood starts rubbing off on me.
Who would want that?
I’m clearly not gaining any ground in the “making him happy” department, and I’m almost ready to give up.
“Hey, Micah!” Brennan says, giving me a wide smile, even if he seems confused about me being behind the hostess desk. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“He’s cute,” Kinley whispers, loud enough that I know Brennan hears her because his smile grows.
Yeah, Brennan is fairly handsome. He’s got some good muscle definition—though he was good enough to dress up so I can’t see it right now—and a broad smile that seems to come easily. I’m not especially fond of blonds—I have too many blond brothers—but he works the surfer look pretty well, even if his hair is a bit messy for my taste.
“Let me grab you guys a table,” Kinley says and throws me a not-even-a-little-bit-subtle wink.
As always, she brings me to a table in the corner where there’s a light out overhead, so it’s a bit dimmer than the other tables. She thinks it’s romantic and refuses to seat me anywhere else, as if dim lighting is all it takes to make a romance bloom. At first, I thought she could be right, but I’ve eaten at this table enough times to know it takes more than mood lighting to make the magic happen.
Who knows? Maybe with Brennan there will be some sparks. He seems more cheerful than most guys, and that could be a benefit. Maybe what I need is someone to match my enthusiasm so I don’t have to deal with whatever Fischer was dishing out today.
My heart wants me to believe he was jealous, but that’s just stupid. Fischer has told me more than once that he has no plans to date me, which means he has no right to be jealous.
“This is cozy,” Brennan says as he helps me into my chair. Point for him, though I’m not sure how I feel about the cozy comment.
“Your server will be right with you,” Kinley says with another wink.
Brennan picks up his menu, shoulders relaxing as he scans the prices. Or maybe he’s just glad there’s some good variety. I’ve seen both. It’s two of the reasons I started picking this restaurant to meet guys when they ask me out. One: I don’t feel bad if he’s offering to pay because the prices are decent, and I’m not spending a ton if I end up paying for myself, which I do about half the time. And two: there’s enough variety that eating here a couple times a week doesn’t get old.
