“Smart girl,” the woman says. “With a face like yours, you wouldn’t have to build much of one otherwise.”
She cannot be seriously flirting with Zach right now, can she?
Why is it also infuriating that she’s right?
Zach isn’t just beautiful; he’s athletic and smart and dedicated. Just one of those qualities would make him win in life. Annoyingly, he got them all.
“Cruel girl,” he corrects, looking right at me. “But I’m committed.”
He’s not going to stop, is he?
He is going to keep pushing me until I’m left with no other option.
Resigned, I turn to look at my ex, and I see exactly why the lady was beaming at him. He looks unfairly good in dark jeans and a fitted hunter-green button-down that makes his eyes pop.
I’m lucky that I managed to put on a navy dress and boots before heading out, otherwise I’d look ridiculous compared to him.
“It’s not necessary,” I say quietly, pretending I don’t know everything about the man beside me. “I’m not hungry.”
I cringe as the words come out because my stomach gives me away, grumbling loudly at the worst possible time.
I grab my stomach, drawing Zach’s eyes to it. “You sure about that, Honeycomb?” His voice drops lower and he leans toward me so the other patrons can’t hear him. “It’s past your normal dinnertime. You must be starving.” His eyes track my body, stopping by the V at the front of my cress. “I know I am after seeing you in that dress.”
Heat crawls up my neck, and I hate—hate—that he can still do this to me with just a few words. That he can make me feel seen when all I want is to disappear into the background.
“Just have one dinner with him,” the lady butts in again. “Enjoy that look in his eyes while you can. My husband died three years ago, and I do anything to see that look from him again.”
Zach dips his head respectfully.
“I’m sorry about your husband, ma’am.”
She smiles sadly.
“Thank you, sweetie, but don’t pity me. I had a great love, and now I have a wonderful family. Not everyone gets that.” Her gaze shifts between us. “If you find yours, you hold on. Even when it’s hard.”
Zach goes quiet for a second, then looks at me. “That’s the thing,” he says softly. “I did find mine.”
He holds his hand out to me, waiting for me to accept.
I can feel the eyes of the entire line of guests watching me now as I swallow down the guilt. It’s not like I can say no now. Not afterthatdeclaration.
My stomach rumbles, and a slow smirk starts to grow on his face. He knows he’s got me.
“Fine,” I agree reluctantly, and I swear I hear a few sighs of relief.
The older lady exhales dramatically.
“Bless you,” she says. “Because I’m starving, and if you turned him down again, I was fully prepared to accept the invitation myself.”
A few people in line laugh.
She waves us off. “Go. Eat. Resolve your unresolved tension somewhere that isn’t blocking the hostess stand.”
I look down at his outstretched hand and flick it away, walking a few steps past him, only to realize I have no idea where I’m going. So I turn back to him. “This doesn’t mean anything. I’m just hungry, and I’ll book a place tomorrow.”
He raises his hands with a full-on beaming smile across his face now. The sleeves of his shirt ride up with the move, and I can’t help but see the hints of his gold and black tattoo.
The honeycomb.
