I square my eyes at him. “I want that on the pro level.”
His lips turn up and he gives me a nod. “Hard same.”
Farah doesn’t interrupt our chatter this time. Maybe she’s given up.
We whip through the last two questions, sticking to the planned flow. They are supposed to show off our “normal” side, with innocuous personal questions.
What’s your favorite food?
Him: Anything I make myself. I love to cook.
Me: I’m a New England girl and would eat seafood three times a day if I could. And I need my Dunkin coffee.
What music do you listen to when you work out?
Him: Bad Bunny. I wish I understood more Spanish.
Me: Whatever is playing in the gym, but I’ve been listening to classic Selena Gomez a lot lately otherwise.
Once we get through these final questions, Rawley pushes the paper away from him a couple of inches and turns to Farah. “That’s it? That’s what you need?”
“Yes, all set.”
Thank god. We survived.
“Nice doing business with you, Rawley,” I joke.
After hitting the stop button on the recording device, I stand up and stretch my arms out wide, trying to loosen up my shoulders.
Like it’s in slow motion, I catch Rawley’s eyes unmistakably roll up my body in response, from the bottom of my legs all the way to my face. He has an appreciative look in eyes though, not lecherous, which keeps me from feeling uncomfortable about it.
He canlookall he wants.
Except after another moment, he stands too, and does more than that.
“I have one more question. After this bonding experience, have I changed your mind about giving me your number?”
I’m reminded of his impressive physical presence as I’m forced to tilt my head up to catch his gaze.
I debate giving my number to him. He’s an interesting guy, and while I wouldn’t break my rule for him on the dating front, hanging out platonically could be fun.
But in the interest of caution, I stick with: “Never gonna happen, Rook.”
He grins and sweeps his sheet of paper off the table in front of him.
“See you around, Avery.”
7
RAWLEY
RAWLEY: Con, you know that thing I do?
RAWLEY: [“I’m obsessed” gif with David from Schitt’s Creek]
CONNOR: Can you be more specific?
CONNOR: Is this related to a person or a thing?
