Page 41 of So Not My Thing
She gave a slow nod. “All right. I suppose it does make me feel better to have some say in who takes up after I leave.”
I gave her another hug full of relief, then headed upstairs and spent the next two hours trying to answer emails while my mind tried to figure out what to wear for my “not date.”
“Dear brain, you are very stupid,” I announced when I had to rein it back for the dozenth time. It answered by flashing an image of a cute red top that would look good with jeans.
I groaned and shut my laptop before I could click open Miles’s YouTube channel. Again.
I had a bad feeling that it wasn’t Miles who needed to be reminded that this wasn’t a date.
Chapter Eleven
“He’s a jerk, and I’mordering,” Chloe announced at seven-thirty.
I couldn’t disagree. Miles was late again, and even though Chloe and I had ordered drinks while we waited, I felt bad for taking up a four-top that could have earned the restaurant more money if it actually had four people at it.
“Let’s do it,” I said. “Let’s get the lemongrass chicken tacos and a couple more Sazeracs.”
“Does Miles do this a lot?” she asked as she flagged down a server.
“He did the first time we met.” He’d been perfectly punctual ever since the coffee spill. But something about him standing me up tonight was extra humiliating, like having a witness to his no-show gave the situation an extra sourness. I felt dumb for telling Chloe that he’d grown up over the last twelve years.
Our tacos arrived about two minutes ahead of Miles and Aaron. I was halfway through my first one when I spotted them weaving toward our table.
“Hey,” Miles said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear him.
Chloe studied him while she took another bite but didn’t say a word.
I wasn’t sure what to say either.Go awayfelt right, except my mother had drilled manners into me too hard for me to let the words out. I settled on, “Hey.”
“These our seats?” Aaron asked, already settling into a chair. The table was square with a seat on each side. He was next to Chloe and across from me.
Miles took the seat to my right. “I’m sorry. We got held up.”
I shrugged. “We already ordered, but I’m sure the server can add yours on.” I lifted my hand to call him over, but Miles shook his head.
“It’s my bad. I’ll do it.”
