Linc picked up one of the triangles and took a bite, spice-scented steam hitting his nose the moment he did. “You’re right, these are pretty damn tasty.”
She took another bite and gestured for him to continue.
“No judgement…”
“Well, I can’t promise that. But I’ll try.” She smiled, and for some reason he trusted her. Or maybe he needed to tell someone how he was feeling.
“I guess that’s good enough.” He took another bite while she picked up a second one and tucked in. “I don’t know her name. I don’t know who she is. I just text her. It started as a wrong number but now…”
Sabrina regarded him thoughtfully and nodded, pursing her lips. “And now you’re falling for her.”
Linc laughed, but it was brittle. “I can’t fall for someone I don’t know.”
“And yet, you’re not denying it, my doomed new friend. So your hockey pals thought you could get over the girl on the phone by throwing you at me for dinner?” She shook her head, tossing him a world class eye roll. “Men.”
“Tell me about it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“About my team setting me up on a blind date with you? I’m probably going to put super glue on their sticks, or itching powder in their jockstraps and helmets.”
“Uh… okay, sounds like we definitely have some rage issues to work through here, but I meant your lady friend.” She popped the last of the appetizer into her mouth, wiped her hands on her napkin and folded her arms.
“What am I going to do? Nothing. Why? What do you think I should do about her?”
“Christ. Will said you were smart. But for a ‘smart guy’, Lincoln, you really are dumb as rocks about this one, aren’t you? Meet her, idiot. You absolutely, positively, need to meet that woman.”
Linc dropped his forehead onto the table so hard the silverware clinked. “I was afraid you were gonna say that.”
Chapter 13
Lincoln
Linc: How was your day, Miss Bennet? Sorry I’ve been quiet. I’ve had an… interesting evening.
Elizabeth: Oh? Pray tell.
Linc: My friends set me up on a blind date.
The screen said ‘read’ under the message, but she didn’t reply right away. He sat up in bed to ensure he didn’t fall asleep.
Linc: Noooooooo. Please don’t freak out. It wasn’t an actual date. I had no idea it was happening. I thought I was meeting my friends. When I got to the restaurant there was a woman waiting for me. She was attractive, but I made sure she knew pretty quickly that I… uh, kind of have someone already.
Had he crossed the line? Was she not on the same page as him? Uncertainty clogged his throat as he swallowed.
Elizabeth: Who do you kind of have, Mr. Darcy?
Linc: Oh, no. I’ve had a night of full-on mortification, I’m not spelling it out for you Miss Bennet. But I will say I spent the whole meal wishing it was someone different sitting across the table from me.
Elizabeth: You kind of have me?
Linc: I’d like to all-the-way have you.
Elizabeth: When you say things like that it gives a girl ideas.
Linc: Would it be so bad for her to have those kind of ideas? I feel like it wouldn’t. I like you, Lizzy. I’m scared of you seeing who I am too.
Elizabeth: ‘Cause you’re a jock? You have to be a jock. No one spends that much time in the gym and isn’t a jock.
