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“I was trying to be a gentleman, but you are correct.”
“No, don’t do that.” Meegan turned in her seat to face him. “Be nasty about my tits, please.”
He glanced at her before they stopped at a red light. “Later, when we’re alone and I’m trying not to drive us up on the sidewalk, I will be very nasty about your tits.”
“Good,” she replied with a bright smile that lit another fire deep in his chest.
Traffic wasn’t as bad as Olin had anticipated and soon they were making their way up the Westfield escalators, hand in hand. They agreed that if Olin got overwhelmed at any point during dinner, they could change the conversation or call it a night. They were Meegan’s people and they knew her in ways Olin was just starting to understand. She’d prepared him for how casual and upfront Daniel would be about all of this, so Olin understood. He recognized that it was unusual to meet the men who knew the new woman in his life so intimately and that they were still close, but he was ready.
When they reached the restaurant, the hostess showed them to their table, where Daniel and a very fit, beautiful Black woman were waiting. They were both dressed in mostly black, the woman in a tight, low cut t-shirt that showed off her toned arms and black joggers with little flowers on them. Daniel was in black t-shirt and dark jeans, and Olin wondered if he only wore black. Daniel was a little shorter than Olin, but not much. They were both very attractive, like models out in the wild.
“Oh my god, I haven’t seen you guys in forever,” Meegan said as she hugged the woman.
“I know. It’s been the longest twenty hours of my life,” she replied.
“Hi, babe.” Meegan flashed Daniel a saucy smile and moved around the table to hug him. Olin watched as Daniel wrapped his silver and black prosthetic arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“Keira, Daniel. This is Olin.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Olin said. He realized a moment too late that he hadn’t moved to shake their hands. When he pulled it together, though, they both greeted him with smiles and hugs. He pulled out the empty seat next to Daniel for Meegan and then took his own seat to her left.
“Claudia had a meeting run a little late,” Keira said. “They’re on their way.”
“No worries,” Meegan said, sliding her hand into Olin’s lap. He realized his chest was tight and her touch made him feel like he could breathe again. He laced his fingers with her hers and let out a slow breath. Food. Food would help.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Olin. Meegan tells me you're a Batman guy,” Keira said with her own bright smile. He could see why she and Meegan got along. They had the same levity in their energy.
“That is true, but I have to clarify that I am not a Nolan guy.”
“Oh, what’s your poison? I was obsessed with Burton’s movies as a kid. For, like, three years straight I’m wearing a Batman t-shirt in every photo of me.”
“I’m an OG West guy, but the Animated Series really got me hooked.”
“Oh my god. Someone on Twitter was talking about the Baby Doll episode the other day, so I rewatched it? Genius. Impeccable writing.”
“You have excellent taste,” Olin replied.
“If you need to talk about anything nerdy, Keira’s got you covered,” Meegan reminded him.
“Daniel and I met at aGalaxisconvention.”
Olin schooled his expression because now was not the time to reveal how upset he was when the sci-fi show ended.
“Great show. Are you a bigGalaxisfan?” he asked Daniel.
“Only to make my mom happy. My brother was on the show. JD Song.”
“Oh.” Olin blinked, looking a little closer at Daniel’s face. JD played an alien that wore a lot of makeup, but he was pretty famous. Olin had seen him without the fake nose and blue and green paint. “You and your mom must be proud. He's a great actor.”
“We are and he is.” Daniel’s attention was suddenly focused over Meegan’s shoulder. Olin glanced toward the entrance and spotted a curvy brown-skinned woman in an expensive looking trench coat, her dark curly hair swept over her shoulder. The man behind her looked like he'd just walked out of a logging camp. As they got closer, Olin realized they were about the same height, but the other man was broad shouldered and pretty jacked. His long brown hair was pulled up in a high bun. His thick beard looked like he’d just been to a barber for a fresh trim. Daniel handled the introductions this time. Shep and Claudia Olsen.
“Sorry we’re late,” Claudia said as she slipped out of her coat. Olin noticed she had scars on her arms and her hands, and a small but noticeable scar on her forehead. “My bosses are freaking out about some fashion influencer on Instagram and I’m trying to get them to keep their eyes on the prize.”
“Claudia works atModemagazine,” Meegan told him quietly. Olin nodded as Claudia let out a loud sigh. Shep reached over and massaged the back of her neck. She relaxed into his touch before she went on.
“More likeModeis working my last nerve. Not to be rude, but I am fucking starving.”
