Page 9 of Love at First Slice
“Thanks for the warning,” I mumbled even though I didn’t need one. While I appreciated his vote of confidence, I would be the one going in there and getting to know just how loyal and funny she was firsthand. I didn’t need anyone giving me a heads-up or warning.
Thankfully, Brewster changed the subject.
I knew he was committed to Miss Nuñez, but I didn’t like the idea of him watching my woman.My woman.Fuck, I’d only exchanged a few words with her to be thinking about her in that way.What the hell is wrong with me?
We kept talking about minimal things, like what to expect this winter in Moonlit and upcoming events throughout the town. But as the conversation flowed, I couldn’t help the way my gaze gravitated towards her. Sought her out like I needed to always keep tabs on her and where she was.
A couple of the others who had been invited stopped by—one of the bartenders from the brewery, a tall good-looking guy about my age, maybe a little younger, a waitress from the diner I recognized, and the librarian from the town’s public library.
Everyone was in a good mood, and it only improved as the wine started to flow and appetizers were set out. The redhead, who introduced herself as Rosie, started some games to keep everyone entertained before dinner.
Games I might not have participated in but enjoyed watching.
Then it was suddenly time for dinner.
Everyone was heading to the long table that had been set up in the backyard that was surrounded by a couple of outdoor heaters. I wasn’t sure what I had done in a past life to have been seated next to her, but I wasn’t going to question it. Fuck I was grateful for it.
“Hi,” she said, her smile shy as she approached. Those pretty, hazel eyes locked with mine, and I fucking felt the need to touch the spot over my heart. Like that gaze penetrated right through me and was slowly stealing the damn thing.
“Guess we’re sitting together,” I noted, and I wasn’t sure if it was the cooler night air that had her cheeks rosy or if my words or proximity made her blush.
“Guess we are.” When she bit that pretty lower lip of hers, everything inside of me ached to do it for her. Fuck, when was the last time I had wanted to kiss someone more than I wanted to breathe? Never. Not once.
Mine,the word echoed through my head like a claim I was more than ready to make even though it confused the fuck out of me.
5.Abby
I’d switched the seats.
I didn’t care that it made me feel like I was in middle school trying to sit next to the cute baseball boy or that I had probably messed up Tabby or Ember’s hard work. I wasn’t sure who had created the seating chart or what their thoughts behind it had been, but originally, they’d placed me next to Lola.
And while I loved Lola, she wasn’t who had been distracting me all evening despite the fact I hardly knew him.
Mark. Tabitha’s boss and principal had been watching me throughout the night. I’d felt his gaze like a tender touch. One I wanted to actually feel. Revel in.
So, I had snuck outside under the pretense of making sure the rolls were outside and switched the colorful cardstock leaf with Austin from the brewery’s name on it with my own, putting me next to Mark. I glanced around, and my eyes locked with Ember’s. I could tell by her little grin that she knew exactly what I had done.
I looked away so the guilt I kind of felt wouldn’t be so damn obvious only to look right into his beautiful dark eyes. There was something about his gaze that made me weak in the knees.
“Here,” he said, pulling out my chair for me. I blinked.
“What are you…” My voice drifted to nothing before I looked towards where Ember had been. Her eyes widened, and a smile grew on her pretty, almost princess-like face.
Mine simply heated up, and I could only imagine what embarrassing shade of red I was. Mark waited for me to sit, and when I did and glanced up at him, there was something in his eyes, an emotion I wasn’t sure I wanted to name. It made my throat tighten as I looked out at the table while he pushed my seat closer to edge. So easily. Like I didn’t weigh what I did. Before I could overthink, he was seated next to me. His thick thigh brushed against mine, and I had never been happier about wearing a skirt in my life.
He turned his attention fully to me, bumping his knee against mine again. I shyly glanced up at him. Sitting next to one another this close and now with better lighting than we’d had when we first showed up, he seemed even more handsome.
“Hey,” he said with a wink, his brown eyes kind and warm. Inviting.
“Hi.” I blinked up at him, shocked at how easy it was to be next to him. How his nearness, his heat didn’t bother me in the least.
“How’s your night been so far?” Genuine interest laced his voice.
“I should be asking you that.” I laughed softly, changing the focus towards him. “You’re our guest. First-timer.”First-timer?God, I was terrible at flirting.
Why couldn’t I have thought ahead of things to talk about? Especially after switching the name tags on the seats! I should have locked myself in the bathroom and looked up videos on how to flirt on TikTok?
“It’s been a lot of fun. Lots of food.” He towards the table that could have easily collapsed under the weight it held. Thenthe warmth of his hand moved and covered mine, and my breath hitched. “And even better company,” he complimented.
