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“Hi,” Anna said with a nervous smile. “You look nice. Green is such a good color on you.”
I felt Wes’s heavy stare as I gave her a quick embrace and a peck on the cheek. “Thanks, Anna. You’re lovely, as always.”
It wasn’t a lie. Objectively, Anna was beautiful. She’d worn clingy jeans with a burnt-orange camisole and a crocheted white lace shawl overtop, giving her a shabby chic vibe.
Behind us, Bobbi said, “See, Wes? That’s how a date behaves. Where’s my compliment?”
“Sorry, my bad,” Wes said, his low voice rolling through me and pulling my attention from Anna with ease. “You look dressed to kill, Bobbi.”
She grinned and hooked her arm through his, leaning in close. “Thanks. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll be my next victim.”
I laughed a little too loudly. “Wow. I don’t know if that’s a come-on or a threat.”
She grinned. “Maybe it’s both.”
“Great.”
Now I was the one who was jealous. Bobbi tended to be flirty with everyone, but that didn’t mean I liked to watch her hang all over Wes. Besides, I was pretty sure in Wes’s case, her flirtation wasn’t all an act. She’d happily take him home and show him a good time anytime he liked. Me too, probably. Maybe even both of us at once.
I shoved that image out of my head, because just like Wes, I didn’t want to share.
Bobbi smirked. “What’s wrong, Beck? Jealous?”
My gaze flicked to Wes, who was already looking at me. I shrugged, trying to pretend her words weren’t true. If I wasn’t careful, I’d give away the truth, so I forced a grin to my face. “Nah, just hungry. Let’s go in.”
“Great idea,” Anna said brightly, reminding me she was still beside me.
I opened the door and followed her inside, Bobbi and Wes behind me. Behind us, I heard Bobbi giggling. “This is going to be so much fun.”
“You’re trouble, aren’t you?” Wes said, sounding amused.
“Didn’t you already know that when you invited me along?”
He huffed a laugh, making jealousy flare even hotter inside me. “I guess I did.”
The hostess, a teenager named Wendy, greeted us with a smile and invited us to write our names on the chalkboard. The Dinner Bell was a former schoolhouse that had been converted to a restaurant and was now Granville’s No. 1 romantic date spot. They’d incorporated a few schoolhouse traditions, such as the chalkboard where dates could write their names and other messages and take selfies, and the chiming of a school bell they played over the stereo system whenever a new couple dined with them for the first time.
Anna and I exchanged a look. She shrugged. I nodded and stepped up to the chalkboard, drawing a big heart and writing our names inside. Before I finished, Wes stepped up beside me, his shoulder pressing against mine.
“Don’t get too cozy with her,” he whispered as he took the chalk from me. “You’re coming home with me.”
I huffed out a breath. “Bobbi might have other ideas.”
He raised his hand, writing his name and Bobbi’s into the heart I’d drawn. I noticed he’d put his name directly beneath mine, the letters touching, while Bobbi’s name was spaced out a bit farther.
“Bobbi’s ideas don’t interest me.”
“Good. Then maybe—”
“How about a picture?” Bobbi said, interrupting our whispered conversation. “Share the fun, boys. I’m feeling a little left out here.”
Anna giggled. “Right? Those two are always connected at the hip.”
Bobbi grinned. “Yes, they’re very close. I’m aware.”
“When Beck and I used to date, Wes was always around. It used to drive me up the wall.”
“I’m hurt,” Wes said with a smirk. “I just wanted to share in the love.”
