Page 14 of Zero Pucks Given
He snorted at me.
“What?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Damnit. He’d caught me looking.
“What do youwantto do in life?” Grayson asked. “I’m assuming being a beer girl isn’t your dream job, but correct me if I’m wrong.”
“You don’t have to pretend like you care.”
“Idon’tcare,” he said bluntly. “I already told you: I’m just trying to make this date go by faster.”
I finished a plate of appetizers and pushed it away. I was weirdly annoyed that he didn’t want to be on the date either. Sure, I knew he wasobligatedto be here, but I at least expected him to pretend to be polite.
Maybe opening up a little bit would help.
“I’m trying to start my own career,” I admitted. “On TikTok.”
Grayson immediately began laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “It just seems like everyone wants to be an influencer these days.”
“I’m not an influencer.”
“Oh? Then what do you do? TikTok dances based on whatever the newest trend is? Or do you review products or something?”
I tried to keep my expression blank, but I must have failed based on his reaction.
“Ah, so it’s the latter. What kind of products do you review? Makeup? Workout clothes? Don’t tell me you wear those ridiculous yoga pants with the padding that makes your ass look bigger.”
“I don’t need to wear pants like that to get views.”
“Sure you don’t,” he said.
“Okay, fuck offa lot,” I shot back at him. “Do you know how it sounds having a super rich asshole making fun of someone just trying to get by? You’re not the good guy here.”
“Sorry.” He pulled out his phone, and I thought that was the end of our conversation. I was grateful for the silence.
But then his eyes widened and a smile split his chiseled face. “Hah! Itismakeup videos! Called it.”
“How’d you find me?”
“I Googled your name. First thing that came up.”
“We can’t all play agamefor a living. If I could make a stupid amount of money by waving a stick around like Harry Potter, I’d do that, too.”
Anger flashed behind his seafoam green eyes. “Your latest video has barely a hundred views. Doesn’t look like you’re making a living at all. Maybe youshouldwear tight yoga pants to get more views.”
That was the last straw. The last veneer of politeness disappeared and I slammed my palm down on the table.
“You’re exactly what I expected. A cocky asshole who’s used to everyone fawning over him.”
“I hate it when fans fawn,” he growled back at me. “But it would be nice if you were grateful for the opportunity you have. Do you know how lucky you are to be here tonight?”
“Oh yeah,lucky,” I replied. “I get to eat dinner in the presence of the great and wonderful Grayson Steel! A man who wears ice skates for a living. Just being within ten feet of the Steele Wall causes an involuntary orgasm every fifteen minutes. I’m on my third one right now! So lucky!”
