Adriana nods her head. “Cool. I’m Adriana. This is Cecilia.” She dips her head to me. “What can we do for you?”
“Uh …” He’s visibly taken off guard by the question. It’s kind of adorable. She wasn’t lying when she said he was tall. Or that he’s cute. Not that I’m checking him out or anything. I just happen to have eyes. Wyatt’s dressed in a pair of loose fitting jeans and a PacNorth hoodie. He has a ball cap covering his hair and casting shadows over his face. His eyes are blue, but not as piercing as Austin’s. Wyatt’s eyes are softer, with a hell of a lot more warmth.
Sensing that her question has thrown him off balance, Adriana gives me a sly look. “I’m gonna head out so Wyatt can ask you out, but I’ll catch you later, okay?”
What? No. I cannot believe she just said that. My eyes widen in disbelief, and I shoot her a look that promises murder if she leaves me right now. Judging by the smirk on her face, she doesn’t care. She gives me a thumbs-up and then a wave before she walks away to her own car.
Great. She abandoned me with him. A guy I don’t even know.
Some friend.I grumble
“Sorry about that.” I clear my throat, feeling a little self-conscious without Adriana here to play buffer. “She can be kinda ... forward.”
Wyatt chuckles, his nervousness beginning to fade. “No worries. I appreciate a straightforward conversation.”
“Cool.” What am I supposed to say now? “Oh, and she was kidding,” I tell him, stumbling over my words. “About you asking me out, I mean. She just says weird things sometimes. So please, ignore that. What she said, I mean.”
God, I wish I could run away right now. Maybe find a hole to bury myself in.
He rubs the back of his neck. “I actually did want to ask you out. On a date. If you’re open to it.” The tops of his ears turn a bright shade of pink.
“You want to go on a date?” I ask. “With me?”
He nods, the top of his cheeks taking on the same pink hue. “Yeah. I do. You?”
Surprise flashes through me, and I blink at him. “Me?” I don’t know why I asked that again. I just can’t wrap my head around why he’s even interested. I mean, have you met me? I don’t exactly scream fun to hangout with.
Wyatt nods again, his gaze steady on mine. “Yes, you. I’ve seen you around, and I thought ... Well, I thought you might want to grab a burger or something sometime. I mean, if you’re not too busy, of course. I just figured it would be nice to get to know each other.”
His words are laced with a hint of awkwardness, but it only makes him more endearing. I don’t get any strange vibes from him, and he seems relatively safe.
I’m tempted to say yes.
But I wasn’t lying when I told Adriana I’m not looking for a relationship. Far from it, actually. But a date with Wyatt … it might be nice.
Besides, it’s just burgers, right?
I smile at him, ignoring the strange feeling in my chest. “I appreciate the offer, Wyatt. Burgers sound nice.”
His face lights up with a mixture of surprise and delight, and I can’t help but find his reaction contagious. “Yeah?”
I laugh and match his smile. “Yeah. Why not?”
We exchange numbers and decide on a date. Tomorrow night at seven.
As Wyatt waves goodbye and walks away, I watch him with a newfound sense of curiosity and, if I’m honest, a littleanticipation. Maybe Adriana is right. Putting myself out there might be good for me.
14CECILIA
“Idon’t think I can do this.” Wringing my hands, I look at myself in the mirror.
“You’ll be fine. It’s one date. You can do it,” Adriana says, coming up behind me. Her fingers comb through my hair, pulling it away from my face. “What do you think? Up or down?”
Biting on my lower lip, I shrug. “Does it matter? I think I’m going to cancel.”
She sighs. “No, you’re not.” Then, “I’m braiding it. You always use your hair to hide. It’ll be nice to get it out of your face.”
“Do not.”
