Page 195 of The Bluffing Game

“So, what would you like to eat?” Chad points at the menu. “I know you said you love some Mexican food. Maybe on our next date, I’ll fly you to Cancun, if you’re lucky.”

As I look down at the menu, my stomach growls. I know this date is going nowhere, but I don’t know if he knows this date is going nowhere, and I’m hungry—really, really hungry. And even though I’m super disappointed that this is my first date, I’m also practical. If I’m here, I might as well get something to eat.

“I think I might get the fajitas or maybe the cheese enchiladas.”

“Cheese. I know cheese will have you bloated.”

“What?”

“Are you sure you want that before we go back to my place?”

“Chad, I want to be really clear about something, and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I won’t be going back to your place, and I don’t think we’ll be going on a second date, and you can do with that what you will. If you don’t want to continue this date, you don’t have to. I don’t want you to pay for my meal when I know this is going nowhere. I just wanted to be really clear with you about that.”

“What if I can change your mind?” he says, eyes twinkling.

He reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a black leather wallet. I see that it’s stuffed with cash. He pulls out a stack of hundred-dollar bills and puts it on the table.

“I’m rich, you know?”

“Okay.” I stare at him and shrug. “Good for you.”

“Look, I’m really rich.”

“I know that might impress a lot of women, and maybe at some point in my life, I was one of them, but you lied to me. You used a false photo. You lied about your age. And as much as I am looking for a rich man, which I am”—I can’t believe I am admitting that to him—“I’m not looking for a rich man I can’t find some sort of connection with.”

“So, let me buy you dinner. Let’s see if we can make a connection.”

“I just …” I sigh as my phone beeps again. I look down. Bradley sent me another message. I decide to ignore it. “Chad, I just want you to know I am …” I pause because I have this strange feeling someone is staring at me. I can’t shake the feeling, so I look around the restaurant, wondering if Lucia or Izzy is here. I don’t see anyone I know, so I turn back to Chad. I’m about to continue talking, but I can’t shake the uneasy feeling that someone is looking at me. I look back around the restaurant again, and there, at the bar, I see Dalton. He’s got a drink in his hand.

He nods at me and offers me a smirk. Then he mouths, Good luck.

What are the chances that Dalton Leone would be at the restaurant at the same time I’m on a date? Just my bad luck, especially with Chad looking like such an old man. I don’t want Dalton to think I have no standards. He doesn’t know that Chad lied about his profile picture. He might be sitting there, thinking that I’m on a date with someone who looks like he is in his early seventies just because he has money.

“Would you excuse me a second?” I say to Chad, who is sipping his water slowly.

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

“Thanks.” I stand up, and I hurry over to the bar.

“I need to talk to you,” I growl at Dalton as I head toward the side of the room.

He stands up and follows me. We walk down a small corridor, and then I stop.

“I just want you to know one thing: this is not a date.”

“What? You and me?” He frowns. “I didn’t think it was a date. I’m just here, having a drink, and you are …”

“No, I mean, Chad and me, the guy over there.”

“Okay? I’m confused.”

“I’m saying, yes, this was a date, but I didn’t know Chad was, well, as old as he is.” I cross my arms. “Anyway, I don’t really owe you an explanation, but I didn’t want you sitting there, looking at me, thinking I was on this date by choice with this old-ass man.”

“Sure, Sage.”

“I mean, I knew I didn’t have to explain any of this to you.” I sigh. “I just didn’t want you to think that I was such a person. He lied to me on the app. Anyway, I know I’m not making sense, and I don’t want to be rude to Chad, even though he doesn’t really deserve my politeness, since he lied to me.”

“I see. He lied, huh?”