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Just put the phone down, Dom.
Faith
Ditto what Dad said.
Dominic
Ugh
I burst out laughing, feeling lighter than I had in the last twenty-four hours.
Soon my café au lait arrived, and I sipped on it as I people-watched, drowning myself in the atmosphere. People laughing, forks clinking against plates, jubilant hoorays as a group decked out in suits took a round of shots.
Charlie stood near the entrance. The man shot everyone a grumpy look, as if everyone were a potential threat.
It allowed me to relax further into my seat and enjoy the chaos around me. God, I missed this. This is what made the city exciting. It bustled no matter the day of the week. People could find entertainment around every corner. Between taxis, ride shares, the subway, and your own two feet, you never had to drive after having a drink. You could enjoy and then explore.
This was home.
Except that didn’t feel totally true anymore. Not without Sebastian here. I glanced at the empty seat next to me. It would take just a few taps of my phone to text Sebastian. This wasn’t his scene, but I bet he would come if I gave him the opportunity.
I turned my phone face down. The waiter came over and asked if I wanted a refill. “Sure, one more would be great.”
Just then a man slid into the empty chair next to me. For a brief second, I thought it might be Sebastian himself.
But it wasn’t. I didn’t recognize this man. Didn’t know him, except that I thought I saw him with the group of professionals at the bar earlier.
He gave a chin nod. “Hey, sexy.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me. “Seriously?”
He leaned toward me and invaded my space. I tilted on the back legs of my chair. His cologne was an assault on my senses.
“What’s your name?” he asked, his gaze focused on my chest.
I made a sweeping gesture with my hands. “Nope. Not interested. Please leave my table.”
The man spread his legs, taking up even more space, and remained firmly in his chair.
“The audacity,” I murmured just as Charlie approached the table.
Charlie placed a hand on the stranger’s shoulder. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
A “v” formed between the man’s brows. “I don’t think so. I’d like to stay and buy this lady a drink. What are you drinking?” He lifted my mug and sipped from it.
A total stranger just drank from my cup.
“What the fuck?” I wanted to drink that. There was no way I’d touch it now.
Charlie’s jaw clenched. “That’s it, you’re out of here.”
We were starting to draw a crowd.
A few people gasped, and I sensed the recognition. Soon the cameras would be out too.
So much for my quiet evening.
The man continued to put up a fight, but Charlie had served two tours in Iraq. He could handle himself.
