Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“I’m good.” I pause as I think of an excuse as to why I couldn’t invite him, how about….my best friend is a guard dog who will happily rip your head off. “It’s a girls’ thing.” I shrug. “Tickets were bought a long time ago.”
“Ah.” He takes my hand over the table. “But seriously, when can I see you again?”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I look at the gorgeous man in front of me. I really should be thrilled that he’s so keen. He’s called me every night this week. “How about dinner one night sometime next week?” I offer.
“Deal.” He smirks.
A deep voice interrupts us. “Hello.” I look up to see Nathan standing over the table. His eyes glance down to our entwined hands.
Oh, fuck.
“Nathan.” I drop Samuel’s hand like a hot potato.
“Please, don’t let me interrupt,” he says dryly. His eyes flick to Samuel. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
“Yeah.” Samuel’s eyes come back to me. “We’ve just connected… until you interrupted us on Saturday night.” He raises an eyebrow.
My eyes widen in horror…what the hell is that supposed to mean?
There was no connecting…. you dweeb, we didn’t even kiss.
Nathan’s eyes come back to me. “I see.”
My heart drops.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Nathan says.
“Join us.” I pull out the chair as an invitation.
“No. Thank you.” His eyes meet mine. “I hope Tiny enjoys her next meal. Send her my love.”
I cannot believe he just said that.
“Who’s Tiny?” Samuel smiles as he looks between us.
“Eliza has a friend that was a vegetarian.” Nathan smiles sweetly. “Recently converted to a carnivore and is apparently starving.”
I glare at him.
His eyes flick to Samuel. “Although, I thought she would have preferred a higher quality meat, to be honest.”
Samuel’s eyes flick between us, confused. “Why, where is she eating?”
“At an all-you-can-eat restaurant,” Nathan replies without skipping a beat. “The diseases at those places are next level.”
I sit back in my chair, affronted.
Asshole.
“Goodbye, Nathan.” I fake a smile.
“Goodbye.” He saunters over to the counter and orders his coffee like he’s a fucking rock star.
My blood boils.
Samuel’s eyes come to me. “How do you know Nathan Mercer?”
“We’re friends. There’s a group of us that all hang out together on the weekends.”
“I see.” He smiles. “And this Tiny girl—the meat eater—is in your group, too?”
“Yeah.” My furious eyes flick over to Nathan at the counter. “I’ll introduce you to her really soon.”
* * *
It’s Friday night and we are on our way to Brooke’s birthday dinner, we are walking down the street toward the restaurant. Nathan has been giving me the silent treatment since he saw me at lunch with Samuel yesterday. He read in bed last night, while I watched television, and he was conveniently asleep when I went to bed. Tonight, he picked me up and hasn’t said a word.
“Are you going to talk to me?” I ask.
“I am talking to you.” He keeps his gaze straight ahead.
“No, you’re not. It was just lunch, Nathan.” I sigh. “Stop being a baby. I told you I was ready to date and so I met someone in the cafeteria. I don’t understand what your problem is.”
He stops on the spot and glares at me. “You’re seriously pissing me off.”
“Because I dare to go on a date?” I unlink my arm from his. “I told you the other night I wanted to start dating.”
“You told me you were horny.”
“Same thing.”
“They are not the same.”
“So, what do you do when you’re horny?” I bark.
“I fuck someone, Eliza. I most definitely don’t have lunch with someone I work with in a professional environment.”
We arrive at the restaurant, and he opens the door with attitude. We walk in and see our friends sitting at the back table.
“For your information,” I whisper as we weave through the tables. “I don’t have sex with strangers. I’m not a fucking sleazebag.”
“And I am?” He growls.
“Shut up, Nathan. I don’t have to explain my dating life to you. You’re not my boyfriend.”
“Shut up?” He gasps as he pulls me to a stop. “Shut up?” His eyes look like they are about to pop out of his head. “Don’t tell me to fucking shut up, Eliza.” He growls. “Do it again and see what happens.”
I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Where am I, Nathan?” I ask him. He glares at me. “I am at dinner with you.” I prod my finger in his chest, hard. “I will be going home with you tonight, and I told Samuel I was busy all weekend because I wanted to see you instead. Although, if you keep being a dickhead, I may reconsider.” I storm to the table. “Hello.” I smile to everyone as I fall into my happy go lucky role.
“Finally.” Brooke smiles and stands. I pull her into a hug.