Page 7 of Head Over Feels
IowedColeso hard for this.
“So,”Jaimeremarked as he forked up some of his osso buco, “Tellme your professional aspirations.Surelyyou aren’t planning on working in a call center forever.”
Theway he phrased the comment rubbed me a little the wrong way, butIbrushed the concern aside.He’dbrought up somethingIwas excited to share with him.
“I’mactually planning to go into business for myself,”Itold him.Hegazed at me with rapt attention while he sipped his wine.Itwas heady, let me tell you, to have someone that good-looking focused on me.
“Irecently got my certification to be a pet massage therapist.”
Jaimewent still, his wine glass midair. “I’msorry, a what?”
“Apet massage therapist,”Irepeated enthusiastically. “Animalsget arthritis or other mobility issues, same as humans.Massagecan help them walk more easily and reduce pain.Icompleted a certification course and in a few monthsI’llbe doing pet massage full time.”
WhileI’dexpounded on my favorite topic,Jaimehad slowly lowered his wine glass to the table.I’dbeen so energized by whatIwas saying,I’dfinished speaking beforeInoticed his expression was… not encouraging.
Jaime’seyebrows—whichInow noticed had been waxed—scrunched together. “Thisis a career you are set on?”
Hadn’tIjust said that? “Yes.I’doriginally planned to be aVeterinaryTechnician, butIdid some shadowing in a vet’s office and, well… it wasn’t for me.DocPinkerton, the vet there, suggestedItry pet massage therapy instead.Ilove it.”
Jaimefrowned and shook his head. “I’msorry,Felix.Itdidn’t occur to me to ask about this when we were chatting online.I’veenjoyed our dinner very much up to now.”
Mymouth dropped open.He.Was.Not.Andyet, hewas. “ButIcannot date someone with such an...”Hewaved a hand as if searching for the right word. “Unambitiouscareer.I’dbe the laughingstock of my friends and business associates.”
Isat there, staring in shock.Icould feel the blood draining from my face.Jaimewould be embarrassed by my being a pet massage therapist?Mydreamjob?
Cal’svoice rang through my head, reminding me how vulnerable my former dates had made themselves by sharing their unusual pastimes.
Jaimeinterrupted my awful epiphany. “I’dstill be down to fuck after dinner though.”
Whothe heck did this guy think he was?
Isputtered, trying to form the words to tell him to go screw himself, whenJaimeglanced past me toward the restaurant’s entrance.
Hefroze.Hiseyes went wide and his face wentOhshit. “Quick,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Youare my work colleague, an architect.Justplay along.”
Oh, hell to the no.Ontop of everything else, he wascheating?Mydream career was embarrassing to acheater?
Iconsidered throwing my drink on him, butIdidn’t have much left.Inthe spirit of getting something, however small, out of this debacle,Idrained my wine glass.ThenIset my napkin next to my plate and pushed back from the table.I’dwallow in my anger later.RightnowIneeded to exit, pronto.
“Sorry,Jaime,I’mnot helping you.You’rean ass.”
Jaimebarely had time to look confused before a harsh voice boomed out, “Whatthe fuck is this?”
Dangit, too late.
Icouldn't avoid looking at the man stomping toward us.Hewas in his mid-thirties, dark-haired, tall, and rangy like a runner.And—scowly glare notwithstanding—very attractive.Huh,Jaimemust be one of those rare people who didn’t have a physical type.Imean, my face was okay, but….
Whatthe heck wasIdoing?Itwas past time to leave.
Jaime’sboyfriend—hopefully just a boyfriend;Ididn’t see a ring—was followed by two other men, another tall dark-haired guy and a shorter blond guy.Theboyfriend’s entire body was taut with rage, and his friends’ expressions were grim.Anyof them could probably kick my ass.Crap.
Jaimeput out a placating hand toward his boyfriend. “Listen, babe,” he started.
“Yousaid you had to work late.Yousaid you’d be ordering dinner in with your team.Heisnotyour team.”Hepointed at me but stared daggers atJaime.
Jaime’sexpression said he was pretty sure he’d be able to talk his way out of the situation.Iwas pretty sure he was wrong.
Felix, get out.
