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The server, who I think is no server at all, doesn’t seem fazed. Her megawatt smile remains plastered on her face. “My apologies. We are currently at full capacity, but I can assure you if a spot opens up, we will reach out to you about a membership. However, right now, you will have to leave.”
“We have an appointment with Mr. Grant,” Ainsley blurts out, making me almost choke on my own spit.
“Is that so?” Pencil skirt lady raises one eyebrow.
“Yes, it is so, and we both know Mr. Grant doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Now scurry along and tell him we’re here.” Ainsley dismisses her like she’s sitting on a throne, and the woman in front of her is nothing but a peasant.
“I see,” she responds. She spins around and walks away in the same direction she came from.
I turn to Ainsley and scowl at her. “Are you crazy? Wait, don’t answer that. I already know you are. Although, this might be a new kind of crazy.”
“I hate to say this, but I actually agree with Jase for once. You need to chill out a bit. Don’t tell him I said that, though.”
“What if she calls him? And he asks us to come upstairs. Then what?”
“Then I get to see what he looks like.”
Sometimes I just want to slap her, and this is one of those times.
“Oh my God, is that him?” Ainsley looks at something—or someone—behind me. “Oh my, you didn’t tell me he was that hot!” If it wasn’t for the flustered look on her face, I would think she’s joking. But her wide eyes, red cheeks, and slightly open mouth make it all too real.
“Ms. Bennett?” His deep, rumbling voice startles me. He is way closer than I expected him to be.
Sitting up a little straighter, I try to swallow past the giant lump in my throat, but my tongue getting stuck to the roof of my mouth is all that happens. I sit perfectly still, looking straight ahead at Ainsley. As if ignoring him will just make him go away.
He moves out of my peripheral vision into my line of sight, making it impossible to pretend he isn’t there anymore. “Oh, hi,” I say with an awkward smile, giving him an even more awkward wave. Who waves at somebody who’s standing right in front of them?
“I’m afraid I wasn’t aware we had an appointment today… or any other day.” He adds the last part with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Today, he’s wearing a suit again. “As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember telling you not to come back here.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out. Not because my mouth is dry but because I don’t know what to say. I sit there with my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, hoping for a freak earthquake to crack the floor wide open and the earth to swallow me.
“Actually, it’s me you have an appointment with.” Ainsley to the fucking rescue. “I was recently made aware of the mistake you made by not inviting me to be a member here. See my family—”
“Cut the crap, Ainsley,” Mason orders, achieving something that very few people before him have managed, making Ainsley speechless.
“How did you know her name?” I manage to say.
“After you left the other day, I took it upon myself to look into you. I had to make sure your story was true, and you weren’t a real threat. It was either that or go to the police and press charges. Of course, we can still arrange that.”
“No, there is no need to involve the police.” I jump up from my seat so fast I almost tip over. Steadying myself, I wipe my hands down the front of my jeans. “We were actually just about to leave.”
“That’s right,” Ainsley agrees, getting on her feet. “I think this is all just a big misunderstanding. I’ll just put in my application for the membership online.”
“I’m afraid we’re not taking any new members right now,” Mason explains as I reach for my friend and grab her wrist to pull her away.
“Got it! Bye, Mr. Sex on a Stick,” Ainsley yells over her shoulder as I drag her toward the exit. I don’t turn back around to look at Mason or anyone else.
“You didn’t tell me he looks like a lead in the next Magic Mike movie,” Ainsley says as soon as we’re back outside.
“That’s your takeaway? He knew your name!”
Ainsley rolls her eyes like it’s no big deal. “You know we both have social media, right? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out my name. Like you said, be glad he didn’t call the cops on you. We probably shouldn’t have come here.”
“IT WAS YOUR IDEA! You basically dragged me here.”
