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“Seriously? After you just pointed out how I never go out, you think I’ve got suggestions?” And he couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure your friends will have better ideas than I can come up with.”
And while that was partially true, if she had asked for suggestions of things they could do together, well…the list would be endless.
“I’m really just hoping to go out for a couple of drinks and maybe a little dancing and dessert. Nothing wild or complicated.” She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s going to be fun, no matter what.”
He nodded. “I’m sure it will.” This time they were interrupted by his phone and he frowned when he saw it was the office calling. “Hello?”
“Hey, Noah, it’s Joanne. I’m sorry to bother you during lunch, but Mr. Halloran from JT Halloran and Sons called.”
“O-kay…”
“He’s on his way here and he’s a little freaked out that Jason’s away on vacation,” she explained. “He claims he has some investment concerns and wanted to talk to you about them face-to-face. Any chance you’ll be back in the next fifteen minutes?”
“Fifteen minutes? He’s going to be there that soon?” he asked a bit frantically, as he waved their server over and motioned for the check.
“No, he said he’d be here in forty-five minutes, but I want you to have time to look over his account before he shows up.”
“Oh. Right. Good plan.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll be there in fifteen. Twenty, tops. And thanks, Joanne. I appreciate the heads-up.” He slid his phone into one pocket and pulled his wallet out of the other, but Lily was already handing their server her credit card. “What are you doing?”
“Lunch was on me, remember?” she asked with amusement.
“Oh, right.” Raking a hand through his hair, he let out a long breath. “I guess you heard I need to get back.”
“Sure did, and I’m doing my best to make that happen.”
“Thanks.”
They didn’t talk much as Lily paid the bill and they quickly made their way out to his car. Honestly, he was too distracted and already thinking about what he was going to say to this Mr. Halloran to put his mind at ease. By the time they pulled back into the parking garage, he was more than anxious to get up to his office and was maybe a little distracted when he said goodbye to Lily.
“Have fun tonight,” he said with a wave before stepping into the elevator, all the while thinking that maybe he should make plans of his own tonight.
SIX
“Wait…what are we doing?”
“We’re going to The District,” her friend Morgan repeated. “It’s this crazy awesome game complex downtown. It’s got a bar and they serve food and there are a ton of game rooms with things like pool, darts, ping-pong, and even laser tag!”
“It’s so much fun,” her other friend Bree said excitedly. “You’re going to love it! Plus, Micah and his friends are going to be there too! I thought it would be fun if we all met up and hung out together.”
“Um…”
“I think Ty and Scott are going to be there too,” her friend Sue added. “And they’re bringing some friends too, so…”
“Who are Ty and Scott?” Lily asked.
“Oh, Ty’s my boyfriend and Scott’s his brother,” Sue told her before adding, “And Morgan’s totally got a crush on him!”
“Stop! I do not!” Morgan said with a laugh. “But he is totally hot!”
This so wasn’t the girls’ night out she was envisioning.
Actually, this entire night hadn’t gone as planned.
Dinner with her grandfather had been fine, but her uncle tagged along and the two of them seemed hell-bent on keeping the discussion off of her grandfather and completely on her. They talked about doctors and specialists, and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that tomorrow she was going to have several medical offices calling her to schedule an appointment. And when she didn’t seem too thrilled about any of that or the possibility of surgery, her grandfather offered to fly her to whatever port her folks were going to be at next so she could join them on their trip.
If she even had the teeniest of doubts that he was looking to get rid of her, that pretty much confirmed it.
So she ate her lobster ravioli, which was delicious, and was home by seven and met up with the girls at eight. And now she was apparently going on a group date.
