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“I think we should order,” I reply, flipping open my menu.
He chuckles to himself and does the same. My heart pounds as I stare at the words on the page. What’s he thinking?
Probably that I’m an inexperienced young girl incapable of fun.
The rest of the evening is ruined by my inability to let go of my thoughts. I can’t get his words out of my head. What do I want? Why does it bother me so much that I have no idea what I want? I’m only twenty-two. I’m not expected to have my life planned out. Only I do. I’ve had it planned out since I was a child, and while the path I’m taking is not what was planned for me, it’s no less mapped out.
Romance has never been part of that plan. Not since Lucas rejected me. I throw myself into everything else to mask how lonely and unsure I am. But I’m only just now seeing it.
“Are you okay, Lacey?”
We stand in front of his car, outside my house. He insisted on seeing me to the door, a gesture which both impresses and embarrasses me. If Ariel sees him, the questions will be endless. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
“You’ve been quiet since dinner.” He hesitates, placing his hands deep in his pockets. “I’m sorry I asked if you had a boyfriend. It’s none of my business.”
“Why did you ask me that?” I say, turning to face him. I look him in the eye, shocked by the boldness of my own question, something I’d usually shy away from.
“Because I guess I like you,” he says, looking surprised himself. “But that doesn’t make it any less inappropriate on my part. And for that I’m sorry.”
“Because you’re my boss?” I ask. “Or because you’re nearly twice my age?”
He shrugs and turns on his heel, walking back down the driveway to his car. When he reaches the curb, he spins around and smiles at me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Lacey.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lucas
“Yo,” I say, into my phone as I peer through the window. “We have plans for dinner, remember?”
“Shit!” Lacey’s voice crackles through what is obviously a bad line. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. I had a thing to do for work out at Newcastle and I completely forgot we had plans.” I hear a male voice in the background. My grip on the phone tightens. Newcastle is a two-hour drive away. She’s been with him all day, alone in his car?
“Well, are you free now? We can still catch up.”
“I, uh…” Her voice trails off. My annoyance is growing by the second. “I’m kind of having dinner with someone,” she finishes, her voice weak.
“Okay, thanks for letting me know.” I hang up before she can reply. I’m annoyed, but it’s more that I don’t trust myself not to say something stupid. All I need is to upset her while she’s in his car.
My phone vibrates in my hand. I don’t bother looking because I know it’s her. I walk over to my car and climb in, and toss the phone over the back. I need to get my mind off the both of them.
“Ah, my new best friend,” Eva greets me with her telltale accent as I walk inside.
Grunting, I take a seat at the bar, not in the mood for talking.
“Uh oh. You don’t look happy. Bad day?” she asks.
“You could say that,” I mutter.
She pours me a drink and pushes it across the bar. I take it and knock it back, sighing as it burns my throat.
“Then I have good news for you.” She takes off her apron and stashes it under the bar. “I’m finished. Let’s go.” She grabs hold of my arm, dragging me off the seat as I laugh.
“Where?”
“Somewhere better than here,” she explains, rolling her eyes. “I know a good place over on Market Street. They do a fantastic citrus cocktail.”
“I’m not sure your boss would be happy that you’re directing their business elsewhere,” I say, amused. I follow her outside and over to her car, which is an old blue Corolla that I’m not convinced will get us to the end of the street, let alone across town.
