Page 62 of My Rock Star Neighbor
I cringe inside.That sounds so cheesy.I sit, a little embarrassed.
But Maddie gives me such a warm smile, and she reaches for my hand this time.
“We seem to be superfluous,” says Sarah’s boyfriend.
Maddie and I both say that it was nice to meet them and turn our attention back to each other, as he pulls her away.
“Thank you,” Maddie says simply.
“I can’t believe she said that in front of me.And I meant it,” I say.“Thoroughbreds are smart and hardworking with an even temperament but also spirited.”
A faint blush stains her cheeks.
“You last likened me to a bear.I seem to be improving.”
“Bears are also very intelligent and social, but they do like to sleep, so that was a compliment,” I say.
Maddie tilts her head, as if considering this, but then nods.“She seems to be our main stalker.I can’t believe she followed us to this restaurant.Are they seated so they can see our table?”
“Yes, and Sarah is the one facing us,” I say.
“That’s too bad,” Maddie says.“She’ll probably study us to see if we’re really dating.But that was so great that you knew she was a colleague, and brilliant job on mentioning Jing.Well done.”
Now it’s my turn to look pleased.
We study the menus and give our orders to the waiter.
Maddie is wearing this light-green scoop-neck dress, and she looks really pretty.I mean, she always looks pretty, but that scoop-neck collar is driving me insane because it shows off her creamy skin.I want to feel if her skin is as soft as it looks.
“Do you know where or when the paparazzi will photograph us?”Maddie asks.
“No,” I say.“We’ll have to be romantic all night.”That’s my plan, anyway.
“Do you have any romance game?”she asks.
“Are you doubting me?”
She nods.“Other than singing love songs to someone, because I’ll grant you that, I’m not sure romance is your specialty.”
“Why would you think I can’t be romantic?”
“It’s not like you could think of a particularly good cover story for how we got together, and you haven’t dated in a while, and…”
“Counting with your fingers as you itemize my flaws is definitely not going to look romantic in a picture,” I say.
Maddie drops her hand and flushes.“You’re right.Sorry.”
I lean forward.“I’ll pretend you were enumerating all the things you want to do to me later.”
Now she really blushes.I chuckle.
“Still, not exactly romantic,” she says.
The waiter places our appetizers in front of us.I pick up one of my gougères and say to Maddie, “Here, try this.Isn’t feeding you romantic?
“Mm.”She bites into the cheesy filling.I have to look away when she gives a murmur of satisfaction.Maybe being romantic right now is not such a good idea.
I eat one too.
