Page 43 of Love Resurrected
“With you?”
“Yeah.” He ducks his head, as though he’s feeling shy all of a sudden.
“Uh, sure?” I say it like a question, even though I meant for it to be an answer.
“We don’t have to.”
“No. I want to. Let’s go. Where’s good?”
“There’s a place up the street I like. Kind of hole-in-the wall, but the food is great.”
“Okay. Should I follow you?”
“Nah. My truck is right here. I’ll drive and bring you back when we’re through.”
“Okay.” I say okay. I even mean okay. I think. The thought of being inside Brad’s truck makes me a little nervous.
Wait. This isn’t a date, is it?
Before I can stop myself, I ask, “This isn’t a date, is it?”
He stops and looks at me. “Do you want it to be?” he asks after a moment, tossing his keys from one hand to another. The jingling noise echoes through the parking garage.
“Do you?” I return his question.
“Well, Idoneed a practice date.” He smiles.
“That’s it.” I turn to leave. I didn’t want to be his practice date before, and I certainly don’t want to be it now. Just when I thought we were kind of getting along. I don’t know why I keep thinking this guy is capable of normal human emotion when it’s clearly so out of his realm of attitudinal aptitude.
“Wait.” He reaches out to grab my upper arm. The heat from his touch sears through my clothing to my skin beneath. “I was just kidding, because I knew that pissed you off the other night.”
“I’m surprised you remember what you said the other night.”
“Why? I wasn’t drunk.”
“I assumed that was the only way someone could be so rude.”
“I apologize for that.” He steps back, his hand dropping back to his side.
“Why?”
“Why?” His eyebrows raise. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he actually wasn’t sure why I was asking.
“Yeah, why are you apologizing?” I cock my head to the side. I know I’m being a tad difficult, but at least my moods don’t swing back and forth between cold and arctic blizzard.
“Believe it or not, I can be a nice guy.”
I stay silent, waiting for him to continue.
“I’m just trying to make the best of the situation. We are working together on the recruitment fair, so obviously we will see each other. Plus, Ethan is my best friend. Sadie is your best friend. They are about to have a baby and we’ll be seeing more of each other with that.”
I nod, agreeing with him.
“And I’m hungry.” He smiles. It’s disarming. And charming as hell.
So, I smile back and gesture for him to lead the way to his truck.
“It’s just breakfast,” he says. But the way he says it, I’m not sure if he’s trying to reassure me or himself.
