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I shrugged. “That’s not really a great feat, since Idolive in the neighborhood. Also, you know my actual name, so…”
“I do,” he conceded, his lips spreading into a grin that brought inappropriate things to mind. “But Isoenjoy reminding you of that, since you did, indeed, end up quite interested.”
“In your talent as an artist. Not your dick,” I said bluntly, even though I was, actually, very much interested in that.
“Fair enough. Although…” he glanced around, then leaned across the table a bit. “You should know… I’m about forty percent sure you’re actually trying to convince yourself of that.”
I smirked. “Forty? That’s pretty damn confident.”
“I think it’s pretty solid too. Am I right?”
“This wouldn’t be much fun if I justtold you,now would it?” I asked, lacing my fingers together and propping my elbows on the table as I leaned in a bit myself. “You’ll have to figure it out. And risk me stabbing you in the process, if you’re wrong.”
One eyebrow shot up. “Stabbing? Damn. I know you’re mysterious and all, but…”
“You’re the one who sat down to flirt with a stranger,” I reminded him, glancing up as a staff member brought out my food, which I’d luckily orderedto go. “Don’t act scandalized now.”
He chuckled. “Nah, that’s not it. I’m just not sure what it says about me that the threat of being stabbed has me evenmoreinterested in your lack of interest.”
“You should examine that,” I said, rising with my food tucked in one arm, umbrella tucked in the other. “By yourself.”
I left him sitting there laughing, knowing he couldn’t follow me without leaving his own food behind – and as good as this place smelled, he wasn’t doing that.
The endless storm had picked up, so I spent a few moments underneath the awning outside the restaurant getting myself situated – wristlet and food secured, umbrella held high to protect from the elements.
That didn’t last long.
I’d barely made it half a block when a sudden, heavy gust flipped my umbrella inside-out, making a complete mockery of the “heavy duty” claim that had been all over the packaging. Foolishly, I struggled with it for a few moments, working to get it flipped back into the right position while huge drops of rain pelted me from what seemed like all sides.
Finally, after a couple of tries, I managed to flip it back the way it was meant to be.
Only for it to happen again a few steps later.
“Goddamn it!” I yelled… at the weather, I guess, only to hear a rumble of laughter start up from behind me. When I turned around, Tristan was sauntering in my direction, food in hand, holding an umbrella that looked a helluva lot moreheavy dutythan mine.
“You look like you could use somebody to come to your rescue,” he teased, holding his big ass, tough ass umbrella over both of us. “You’re lucky the hail already passed.”
I blew out a sigh, dumping the useless combination of metal and cutesy fabric in a nearby trashcan before wiping my face dry with the sleeve of my hoodie. “Thank you,” I told him, peering at my bag to make sure my food was still safely secured in the recyclable containers it all came in. “I’ve never had that happen to me before.”
“I could tell,” he chuckled. “I’ve got you from here.”
Immediately, I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that,” I said. “Going out of your way.”
He shrugged. “You passing UG?”
“The coffeehouse? Uh… yeah.”
“That’s not out of my way at all then. Let me at least get you there.”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
He switched the umbrella to the same side where his food was looped over his arm and put a hand at the small of my back, easily steering me like we knew each other.
Entirely too familiar.
I wanted to mind it, a lot.
The fact that I didn’t made me temper my reaction, simply moving away from his touch without mentioning it. I really didn’t want him walking me “home” either, but if he was already going that way I wasn’t about to get soaked for the fun of it.
