Page 43 of Wallflower No More

"I assumed as much, but I can't take you to those places, and you'll never hear me ask you something I can't do equally. Plus, I love books and haven't really had the chance to do a good book crawl since being in Austin." My words end in a shrill because the thought of being surrounded by that much romance and smut is exciting.

He kisses my forehead. "A book crawl?"

"Yeah, you go to a few bookstores and scour the shelves for the best deals. Then buy them all. It's the best, but it may be boring for you. We can do something else if you want?" Disappointment hits me in the gut.

"No, that sounds like a perfect date to me, actually." He tries lifting my shirt, but I kick him out of the bathroom. He's got to help Jaxon and Toby with something, and I need to start planning for our date.

Texting Jared seems like the perfect thing to do.

Me: First date vibes over here! What do I wear? Going to brunch, then doing a book crawl.

His reply is instantaneous.

Not a Basic Bitch: You let him see that money spot yet?

I roll my eyes and laugh.

Me: Yes! And his dick is big and beautiful. Like, my Hoo-Ha is fragile right now. But focus! I need an outfit.

Not a Basic Bitch: Sneak a picture, you dirty whore! Those dark mom jeans with the massive rip on the left side. They make your ass look positively dangerous! Pair it with the tightish white open-shoulder shirt you have, the one with the teal polka dots. Wear it with some dark brown sandals. You'll be comfortable but still fashionable.

Me: That's perfect. What did I ever do without you?

Not a Basic Bitch: You almost died from all the boredom!

Me: Accurate depiction!

After some much-needed pampering, I place my long hair in a ponytail and dress in the outfit Jared told me to. I put on light makeup with clear lip gloss. Axel doesn't make me as nervous as he used to, but going on a date with him is still nerve-wracking. Axel arrives to get me and I’m appreciating that his hair in that sexy man bun. He looks delectable.

The restaurant we are eating brunch at is named A Taste of Louisiana. It's super busy, making our wait forty-five minutes, which is fine, but I'm starving. The restaurant is near the waterfront, and Cajun music can be heard on the outside speaker. The smells coming from the kitchen are delicious and are making me a little homesick. This bar and grill is actually on my list to review for the Austin City Limits column for the school news site.

When we're seated, we scour the menu and settle on shrimp and grits, and Axel orders us some beignets to try as an appetizer. "I'm very impressed with this Louisiana cajun-inspired menu." I fidget with my napkin. Axel looks so hot. Not jumping his bones is becoming near impossible. Is it normal for a girl to just want to have sex all the time?

He gives me a wink. "I thought you might be. One of the guys on the team told me about this place. He said it was good."

I put my hands on my hips. "We shall see. I'm a harsh critic regarding the food from my home state."

Staring down at my plate, I'm apprehensive to taste this delicious-smelling dish. Axel taps the table with his fingers. "Ummm Scar?

"Yes, sir?" I ask while still staring at my food.

"Why are you looking at your food like who did it and why?"

I give him a look. "Because I'm from Louisiana, and if I don't like this dish, I will consider it a declaration of war against us."

He laughs. "I've realized that Southerners get very hostile regarding their food." Yeah, Axel being from New York City, he wouldn't understand. "Let that be a lesson to everybody who has the nerve to mess with our heritage of homemade deliciousness."

Axel smirks. "Can you cook?"

"Not as good as Jake. Can you?"

He looks mortified. "Let's just say I tried once and almost burnt down the fearless house."

My giggle comes out more like a snort. "Oh, I can't wait to ask Jaxon or Toby about that."

He snickers. "They'll never tell you where all the bodies are buried." Rolling my eyes because bullshit. Finally, gathering up the nerve, I take my spoon and mix the concoction together. This is the first time I've ever tasted shrimp and grits with white gravy on top. Tasting my spoon, I can't help the sound that comes out of me. It's pure heaven. Axel grabs my knee under the table. "Make that sound again, and I won't be able to stop what my hands do to your body."

He doesn't mean that, does he? We are literally in public with people surrounding us. It's one thing to have sex in a secluded part of a parking lot. I squeal when his fingers dig firmly into my flesh—heat pools between my thighs. I whisper gently. "Axel, we can't do that here."