Page 20 of Cluelessly Yours

His words are an instant balm for my anxiety. I don’t know what demands I was expecting, but I feel like he just let the hostages go for free.

“Thank you. And I’ll try to at least be a little better company for the rest of the night.”

“My current company is perfect, okay?” He gently squeezes my hand again. “I can’t have you insulting my date like that. I, personally, think she’s pretty damn wonderful.”

I laugh. “Thanks, Gavin. Really. I think I needed this, even if I didn’t think I needed this.”

His grin is brilliant, his bright white teeth showing out. “Happy to be of service. Truly. Anytime. I’m glad I called.”

I nod. “Me too.”

Our waiter returns with both of our drinks and a basket of bread, and I can’t help but dive face first into it like a starving animal.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize when I look up to see Gavin pushing the bread basket closer to me. “I didn’t eat anything today, and I just realized how hungry I am.”

“Are you kidding? I think I could watch you eat bread all night.”

I nearly snort. “Oh, come on.”

“I’m serious,” he challenges. “There’s something uninhibited about it, and I can appreciate that about someone who’s normally very careful.”

Taken aback, I search his eyes closely. “You think I’m careful?”

“Oh, Sam. Please don’t take that in any way as an insult. I think you’re careful because you have to be. You’re a single mom, you know?”

I nod, putting down my roll on my bread plate temporarily. “There isn’t a ton of room for taking chances.”

“I get that. And I’m thrilled you took the chance to come out with me tonight. But I also understand that I’ll have to earn another chance after this one.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Another chance? After this one?”

How is it possible that he’s not balls deep in escapingthisdate? If I were him, I’d be excusing myself to the bathroom and pulling a cliff dive off the roof just to get the hell out of here.

He chuckles. “Listen to me, already planning our second date. I should probably just concentrate on the first, huh?”

I nod slightly, picking up my bread to tear pieces off it again.

It might be harsh, but I truly don’t know if I’m ready to do this at all, much less commit to doing it again before our dinner entrees have even arrived.

“I am having a good time, though,” I add, my voice quieter than I’m used to. “Just…so you know.”

“Good. I’m glad. And you haven’t even tried their seafood risotto yet, so I can only earn more points from here.”

“So…I…” I put my bread down on the little plate in the corner of my place setting again and dust my hands before attempting to meet Gavin’s eyes. “Well, I know it’s a little strange for a grown woman, but I don’t actually eat seafood.”

“Really?”

I wince and shrug, bracing myself for criticism. “Really.”

Gavin’s smile is disarming. It’s the opposite reaction I used to get from my ex-husband Todd. He used to roast me to no end about being a full-grown woman who wouldn’t touch an entire category of food, and it wasn’t quite as fun as the ones you see celebrities do on Comedy Central.

“Consider your preference noted. What do you like? What are your favorites?”

“My favorites?”

He nods.

“Honestly? I’ll eat pretty much anything but seafood.”

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