I can tell from Brian’s tone that he’s poking fun at Justin, but Justin doesn’t seem convinced that I know the man is kidding as well. I fold my arms and play along. “You mean this isn’t our special secret dating place?” I level him with a glare. “You bring all your conquests here for an intimate first date?”
“I…uh…I…” He heaves out a breath, rakes both hands through his hair, and looks ready to explode like a saturated rain cloud. “No, I don’t. I swear. I…”
Brian and I meet each other’s gaze, and I just can’t keep it together. I burst out laughing, then it’s my turn to be on the receiving end of Brian’s disdain. He curls his lip. “You couldn’t have hung in there a bit more? The man was near ready to cry.”
His words are sharp, but his lilting tone is playful, and his eyes sparkle. I want to know everything about the man. What brought him to the US from Ireland? What made him start a secret pie shop? Where’d he learn to make pies? What products does he use to make his hair look so damn amazing?
“I don’t need this.” Justin hands the menu back to Brian. “I’ve been here before.”
“Oh, I know you have. But she’s more inclined to know what to do because she’s a smart woman—except for the ‘being here with you’ bit.”
I’m living for the pie guy snark.
Justin rolls his eyes. “I’ll take beef and Guinness for my savory, and coconut cream pie, with lemonade please, Brian.”
Brian grunts, and I can’t tell if Justin’s selection is met with approval or contempt.
“I’ll take The Comfort please.”
Polish sausage, potatoes, and a light cheese sauce sounds incredible.
“Then I’ll have,” I tap my finger on my chin as I scan the offerings. “Pineapple pie please, Brian. Oh! With a lemonade too, light ice please.”
Another grunt and he’s turning to leave. “I’d avoid that one.” He tips the menus to point at the Scrabble box. “It’s missing a few pieces, but I doubt he’ll notice. He’s not one to go for the full package.” He makes a move to leave, but pauses. “Oh! And if you let him win, that’s an automatic second date.”
Justin is smiling, but his ears are still pink. “Next time you’ll have to try the breakfast pie, it’s orgasmic.”
Next time. He’s already looking forward to another date. I kind of am too.
CHAPTER18
Justin
Iprobably shouldn’t have eaten that much pie. I kind of gorged myself, and now I have regrets. That, and I really need to fart. I think Brian bakes something addictive into his pie crust that makes us mere mortals incapable of saying no, or stopping when we’re actually full.
I can’t fart, though, because I have Savannah next to me in the car, and I’m taking her back to her dorm. We had the best date—and I’m not just saying that because there was pie. Though I do fucking love pie.
Vannah went toe-to-toe with Brian and didn’t let his snark bother her, she met his sarcasm with barbs of her own, and she never let me win a single game. I had to work for it. And even then I didn’t clean sweep. We were very evenly matched.
I feel like that’s the theme of our entire relationship. She’s not open to giving me an inch, but any ground I do make with her, I seem to keep.
She takes my hand and pulls it onto her lap as I meander through the streets back to where I picked her up. Do I ask to walk her to her door? Will she think I’m pushing her into taking things further?
A girl got attacked on campus last week, and while UCR is taking it seriously, I’m becoming more aware of the dangers the females at college face. So I really don’t want to make Savannah feel at all uncomfortable, especially since we’re in a confined space.
At the same time, though, I don’t want her thinking I’m disinterested, that I want to drop her off and tire squeal away from her. I need her to know I’m interested, but not pushy. I want her, but I’ll respect her no. That’s a fine balance, and I need to get it just right. One look at the hard on in my pants and she’ll know I want her, but I don’t want to pressure her.
I shouldn’t have spent the drive running this over in my head, fretting over it, because as soon as I pull up she turns to me and asks if I’d like to come inside with her.
“Are you sure?”
She nods, curling her bottom lip between her teeth. I’d guess her cheeks are pink, but it’s dark out, and I can’t see them. My fingers itch to reach out and touch her, to tuck that stubborn stray piece of hair behind her ear so I can see her.
I hop out of Apollo’s vehicle and hurry around the front of the SUV to open her door, releasing my gas before I get there. Praise the Lord. We’re not at the “no boundaries” point in our relationship, and I don’t want to make it awkward by popping out a toot on our first real date.
I reach my hand out to help her down from her seat. The warmth from her hand seeps up my arm and nestles in my chest.
“I think that was the best pie I’ve ever eaten.”
