Page 28 of Hard to Get

“I already agreed to go out with you,” she says dryly. “You don’t need to convince me.”

She did agree to go out with me. Although our schedules don’t make it easy.

When we get to Richards, we pause on the corner facing each other, our park right across the street. “Sure you don’t want company the rest of the way?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for food and the conversation.”

“I had fun.”

“I did, too.”

I want to kiss her until she doesn’t know her own name. But after a beat, I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Remember. Text me when you’re home.”

She blinks a few times. “Okay.”

I watch her walk away, Betty leading the way like she knows exactly where she’s going.

Damn. I can’t wait till next weekend. I really like Stella.

9

STELLA

“That was the best!” Alexis says as we settle at our table at Rive Cocktail Bar.

We’ve just been to a concert at the Commodore Ballroom where one of our favourite bands, Gizmo, played.

“I loved it.” I’m all bubbly and happy from the great music.

“This place is so dark.” Gracie looks around.

She’s not wrong. Everything is definitely dark: the furniture, the carpet, the walls. We’re at a small round table with four club chairs. The wall behind Gracie has illuminated contemporary art and a big tropical plant casts shadows on the wall from the chandelier above us, tiers of modern crystal.

“This place is so cool, it hurts,” Lauren says in a low tone, and we all laugh.

“They have great cocktails,” Gracie says.

“Also very cool,” I put in.

We look through the menu.

“It’s hard to decide,” I murmur. “These are amazing.”

Eventually, we decide on food and drinks, and we order shareables: Wagyu beef dumplings, Ahi tuna stack, marinated olives, and truffle fries. My cocktail is a Pink Tea: vodka, strawberry, rhubarb, lemon and… yogurt. Why not?

“Okay,” Gracie says. “We’ve been waiting all night for the deets on your date with Jayden Wood.”

“Waiting impatiently,” Lauren adds.

“On pins and needles,” Alexis says.

“On the edge of my seat.” Gracie grins.

I told them about our encounters in the park and other places, and how I regretted initially turning him down.

“I don’t know if it was really a date,” I reply, hands folded on the table. “We just went for… well, we had food and drinks. With our dogs. After we met up at the park.”

““Accidentally”,” Gracie says, making air quotes with her fingers.