Page 66 of Stick to the Plan
Feeling a little better after my self pep talk, I square my shoulders and take another sip of my drink.
“Bachelors, find your first table number on the card in your hand. Let’s begin!” Nic’s voice rings out in the quiet space.
A familiar face sits down across from me and I feel myself relax further. A genuine smile crosses my face as I look up at Johnson, who smiles back down at me.
Nic plays some sound effect on her phone like harp strings. “That’s going to be the sound to switch partners. Have fun, everyone, your six minutes starts…NOW.”
“Hey, sorry if this is weird, since you’re my boss now. I won’t suggest a match. Not that you’re not great! You’re great, just not appropriate.” Johnson’s cheeks blush as he stumbles through his greeting.
Seeing the typically so cool man frazzled breaks my remaining nerves. The stress releases in gales of laughter. I clutch my hand to my chest as my shoulders shake.
“Somebody is enjoying herself,” a voice mutters behind me.
Reigning in my amusement with a sigh, I look up. My eyes are wide as I wipe the tears from the corners. “Shit, I probably look like a raccoon now.” Still smiling, I meet Johnson’s shocked gaze and pat his hand on the table. “Absolutely no offense taken. Honestly, I’m glad you’re the first bachelor. I’m just filling an empty seat and I was freaking out a bit before you satdown. But yes, I agree that dating is a bad idea. We can still chat a bit, though.”
Johnson looks relieved. “You said you were filling in? How’d that happen?”
“I actually own this restaurant with my two best friends and helped plan the event. There was a cancellation, and I got stuck in the hot seat.” The bourbon is kicking in. Warmth spreads in my stomach and my frazzled nerves calm. Clearly my tongue loosens too. I even manage a self-deprecating smile.
“Wow, how do you have the time?”
“Well, obviously I’m single.” I chuckle dryly. “Honestly, Pop isn’twork. I get to enjoy delicious food I don’t have to make and spend time with my friends. If I have to do some paperwork for that, I’ll happily take the trade. What about you? Any hobbies?”
He smiles slightly and blushes again before clearing his throat. “Promise not to laugh?”
“Of course!” I find myself leaning forward, so curious to hear the answer. With his cleft chin, square jaw, and perfectly tousled black waves, he looks like a walking GQ cover. What could he possibly be embarrassed about?
“I’m a gamer - fantasy co-ops mostly like World of Warcraft.” He nervously plays with the beer glass in front of him, shooting glances at me to gage my reaction.
Huh, didn’t see that coming. “I’ve never met a gamer. Is it good stress relief?”
His eyes widen, as if that wasn’t the reaction he expected. “Yea! it’s very immersive, so you tend to stop stressing about real life. It’s actually a lot more complicated than most people think. There’s a lot of strategy and planning that goes into a campaign. You meet someinteresting people too.” Johnson gets more animated as he speaks, clearly enthused about the topic.
“That’s probably why you’re so good at your job. Planning, strategy, communication...all key aspects of project management. Well, you’ve convinced me. Maybe we could find a shorter game to play as a team builder.”
As Johnson opens his mouth to reply, the harp timer sounds. We wish each other luck as he moves to the next table. Maybe I should try some video games. Eviscerating orcs sounds more cathartic than Jane Austen or smutty novels about now. I’ll have to ask Johnson for some entry-level suggestions on Monday.
Taking another giant swig, I finish my drink and wave at Asher, who salutes me back. My next date sits down as I’m fishing out one of the delicious cherries from my glass. As I finally free the fruit and pop it in my mouth, I look up and choke.
Sitting across from me is none other than Colin McLeary.
Eyes wide with concern, Colin jumps up to tap my back until the cherry dislodges. “Brianna, are you ok?”
Through a wheezing breath, I hold up my hand and wave him away. “What the fuck are you doing here? You know what? Nope, I’m not doing this. This date is over.”
As I push my chair back, Anna appears behind me. “Sorry, darling, rules are rules. No skipping a date. You only have to hear him out for another five and a half minutes.” With a comforting squeeze of my shoulder and a meaningful look at Colin, she escapes back to the kitchen.
This is starting to smell like a setup.
“Traitor,” I mutter at her retreating figure. Crossing my arms, I sink back in my seat and glare boldly at the man who just broke my heart. A man I’d somehow greatly misjudged.
Chapter forty-four
End of the Line
Colin
Ilean forward with my hands clasped on the table. Brianna has shuttered her expression, her emotionless mask firmly in place. Although I’ve studied the nuances of her moods over the last three months, I have no idea what she’s thinking. My stomach in my throat, I take a deep breath as I try to pour every ounce of emotion and sincerity into the speech I prepared.
