Page 36 of Chasing Lyric
“You were serious?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “Way to my heart is through flora.”
He finishes pouring the champagne. “Noted. Maybe it’s not your heart I want to get into?”
I open my eyes wide in shock as he bursts out laughing.
“Kidding… kinda.” He tilts his head, raises his glass to take a sip, and I can’t help but be envious of those bubbles hitting his lips.
“Geez, Hallmark, you’re showing your true colors tonight.”
“Then let me be clear, Lyri. You’re stunning. Any man would be lucky to have you on his arm, not just in his bed.”
Holy cow.“I’m nothing special. And how the heck would you knowthatalready?”
“I just know. I’m Hallmark, after all. I have to live up to my name. Romance, swooning, the perfect lines, there all the Hallmark qualities, right?”
I scoff. “I think you’re trying to get into my panties. That’s whatIthink.”
“Think what you like, Lyri. I’m only trying to get to know you. What happenswillhappen. I’m certainly not heading into this expecting anything. I’m going with the flow. I’m leaving whatever happens up to our screenwriters,” he mocks.
Scowling at him playfully, I sigh. “Good to know you’re taking me seriously.” I pick up my champagne and take a sip.
I can’t read him.
I have no idea what he wants from me.
I need to figure him out a little more.
“Oh, Starlight, I am taking thisveryseriously. Just trying to meet you halfway with your banter, but maybe I’m not as good at it as you. I’ve been told I’m more dad-joke than debonair.”
I press my lips together, swallowing back the laugh threatening to bubble out. Better to steer us onto safer ground before I roast him any further. “So, what’s the deal? Food must be awful here for it to be this dead on a Tuesday night.” I lift my glass, letting the fizz tickle my tongue.
Chase leans in, his voice low and maddeningly calm. “I booked it out… just for us.”
The words detonate.
My brain stalls.
My body forgets how to function.
And suddenly, champagne is everywhere. Fizz tingles up my nose, down my throat, burning in my chest. I splutter and choke, and then as the bubbles overwhelm my senses, I launch into a full-blown spit-take.
The spray just misses Chase, but drenches the white tablecloth in sticky bubbles. Panic detonates in my chest.Oh God, oh God, kill me now.My cheeks flame as I grab for a napkin, my hands trembling as I try to blot at the mess before it spreads. But my elbow clips the bottle, and time slows as it topples, the golden liquid glugging out in a slow-motion across the table like a goddamn waterfall.
“No, no,no!” My pulse spikes as I lunge for it. In the scramble, I smack into my side plate, sending it clattering to the floor. The fine porcelain shatters into pieces as cutlery skids in every direction, chiming off the stone, announcing my humiliation. I duck after it, nearly cracking my skull on the table edge, my heart slamming so hard I hear the rapid pulse in my ears.
This isn’t happening.
Please tell me this isn’t happening.
Why am I like this?
“Shit! I’m so sorry!” My voice comes out higher than I mean, sharp with panic as I kneel beside the table, my knees cold on the stone while I blot furiously at the spilled champagne. Napkins become soaked in my hands, champagne covers my fingers, and words spill faster than I can think. “I swear I don’t usually… oh God, this isn’t… shit, I can fix—”
Suddenly, Sammy appears like an angel with cleaning equipment, calm and competent, while I flail and stammer apologies at her. My throat is tight, my chest hot, every nerve shrieking with embarrassment. And through it all, Chase doesn’t move.
Not once.
