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Samantha nodded, “Of course. We eat there at least once a week.”
I had been thinking about the food when I suggested it to Phillip, not the fact that the waitresses all knew me by name. We’d be getting stared at even more at that place. Damn it. This is all wrong. I never should’ve agreed to go to dinner with him in the first place, never mind doing it again.
“We’re supposed to go there. I can’t take someone like him there. He’ll hate it.” Last night should’ve been enough to tell me that. You don’t go from five-star dining to diner food.
“No, he won’t. Everybody’s Favorite has great food,” she replied.
“Maybe for us, but it’s not gourmet.”
“Then suggest you go someplace else,” she suggested.
“I already told him about the place.” I bet he googled it and is already thinking of a way to back out.
“It looks like you have two choices. Either call him and cancel or put on your big girl panties and suck it up. I say go out and have fun.”
I pulled the pillow out from behind my head and hit her with it. “You’re the one who got me into this by having me get all dressed up last night. Now you have to think of how to fix it.”
Samantha laughed and held onto the pillow, knowing better than to give it back to me. “First of all, I lent you a dress. The rest was all you. If you didn’t want him to like you, I’m sure you could’ve thought of something outrageous to do so he wouldn’t want to see you again.”
I chuckled, remembering that I almost did that exact thing. I’m glad I didn’t. There was something I liked about Phillip, and it had nothing to do with his bank account. Maybe taking him to the diner would reveal what it was. Or it will highlight why we don’t fit.
“Did you want to go shopping for something to wear? Because we could do it when I get off work tonight.”
I appreciate the offer but there was no need. “The good thing about the diner is I have plenty of jeans and t-shirts to choose from.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I should’ve told you who he is.”
“Why?”
“Because now it sounds like you’re going to intentionally sabotage your own date.”
Was she right? Is that what I was doing? It’s possible, because I already knew that Phillip and I wouldn’t work out. Better to end it quickly before I like him any more than I already do.
“I’m not getting all dressed up to go to a diner. I’ll look ridiculous,” I stated.
“Never said you had to, but there’s nothing wrong with shopping for something new. Who knows, maybe it will make you excited about seeing him again.” She leaned over and put an arm around me. “Just think about him like he was any other guy.”
Ha. That was going to be impossible if he showed up in a limo again. “I’ll try.”
“Good, then we’re going shopping tonight and you’re taking me to dinner after,” Samantha said. I shot her a look and she shrugged. “I don’t have a date.”
“What happened to Marcel?”
“He has to work at the hospital. I guess when he said he was a doctor, he failed to mention that he was an emergency room physician and works a lot,” she sighed.
“And you’re not going out with someone else?” I asked. I couldn’t remember the last time Samantha didn’t have a date on a Friday night.
“I am. I’m going out with you,” she smiled. Slipping out from beneath the blankets she added, “But I’d better go get ready for work before I’m late.”
She bolted from my room and shut the door behind her. I snuggled back down and closed my eyes, chasing a little more sleep. All I could do was think of Phillip. Why does he have to be rich? Why can’t he just be an ordinary guy? I laughed to myself. I had to be the only woman in the world who would think such a thing.
I wished I weren’t looking forward to seeing Phillip again. Last night had been wonderful, and I enjoyed his company, but I hadn’t been myself. I was quiet and reserved. Maybe it had to do with the dress and not wanting to spill anything on it, or watching to make sure I was using the correct fork for each course of the meal. To me, dinner isn’t about the food, it’s about the company you’re with. No matter how hard I tried last night, I found it exhausting trying to be what I thought I needed to be.
Right from the start I felt different. I may have looked beautiful, but it had been Samantha’s dress, not mine. I prided myself on being independent and self-sufficient and that’s not who I was last night. I didn’t even have a problem paying for dinner occasionally when out on a date, not that I could afford last night’s dinner, but that’s what credit cards are for. I don’t want to pretend. I like myself and if someone doesn’t like me, then that’s their problem, and they can move on.
Not that paying last night had ever crossed my mind, but I could imagine Phillip’s face if I grabbed the check before he did. It would be a statement, but at least he would see the real me. I wasn’t going to waste another night or dress-up and pretend. Saturday night, Phillip was going to see the real, one-hundred-percent Lindsay. Take it or leave it. I’m not changing for anyone!
But the real me wasn’t opposed to doing a little bit of shopping with Samantha. It just meant I was going to be true to my style, not hers.
