I rolled my eyes and stepped to the side.
“You bet I am,” Jade said, replying to his question. “She wouldn’t reply to my texts, so I came to talk about you in person instead.”
“Ah, the best friend intervention.” He glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “Are you going to subject me to questioning?”
Oh, my God. No.
“I like you. You’re smart.” Jade grinned. “Not right now, but I might have some after the date.”
“Oh, so there is a date, is there?” Cameron’s gaze slid to me, amusement shining brightly in his eyes. “Good to know.”
“Don’t you have to get to work?” I said to Jade, telling her with my eyes that she did.
Instead, being the insufferable little shit she is, she checked her watch and said, “Nope. I’ve got another ten minutes.”
I ground my teeth together. “Of course you have.”
Cameron’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter, and when I glanced over at him, he was already looking at me with a smile.
I wanted to go to my desk, but if there was anything worse than being in the room while my best friend talked to my boss, it was not being in the room.
God only knew what she’d say if I weren’t here.
So, instead, I sucked it up.
Not that anyone really said anything. It was mostly silent except for Cameron being polite and asking Jade about her job.
I stood and sipped my coffee, just waiting for her to leave. The following conversation with Cameron stood to be embarrassing enough as it was without her sitting here and deliberately causing tension.
And I knew that’s what she was doing. She was a pain in the ass, and if I hadn’t known her my entire life, I might just kill her.
After another minute of painful silence, she checked her watch and drained the last of her coffee. “All right then,” she said as she stood. “I’ve gotta get to work. Mal, I’ll call you later.” She tossed me a wink, dumped her cup in the trash, and with a quick goodbye to Cameron, finally left us alone.
I blew out a long breath and shook my head.
“Wow. She’s a character.” He chuckled.
“She’s a pain in the ass, and just so you know, she’s part of the package. Trust me. I’ve tried getting rid of her. Still want that date?”
“A weird best friend doesn’t change my mind.” His eyes sparkled, and he put down his mug before standing in front of me. He gripped the edge of the counter I was leaning against and blocked me in so I had no escape.
“Are you sure? She’s even weirder when she’s drunk.”
“So are most people.”
He wasn’t backing down.
“All right, that’s it. She was my last line of defense.” I shrugged and sighed. “I guess I’ll let you take me on a date.”
His grin was lopsided as he leaned in, quirking one eyebrow. The look was oddly sexy. “Tonight?”
“Tonight? Can’t you give a girl some warning?”
“I did. I warned you on Monday I’d be taking you on a date. It’s not my fault you didn’t listen.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he was right, so I closed it again. He had said he’d get his own way, so…
“Whatever,” I muttered, looking away.
He leaned in even closer to me. “What do you want to do? Dinner? A movie?”
“Aren’t you supposed to decide? You’re the one taking me.” I looked up into his eyes and almost stopped breathing. His eyes were so bright, and there was nothing I could do but just stop and make sure my heart didn’t beat right out of my chest.
Oh, I was in so much trouble with this man.
“All right, I’ll decide,” he said in a low voice, his thumb stroking my hip. “I’ll surprise you.”
“Okay, but can it include food?”
He stilled for a second. The laugh poured out of him, and he dropped his forehead to my shoulder for a brief second. “Yes. There can be food. All good dates involve food.”
“I completely agree. Can I wear yoga pants?”
“Why don’t you just come to my house and I’ll order pizza if that’s the way this is going?”
“Your house seems a little personal.”
“More personal than walking on me half-naked in front of my fridge?”
He had me there.
“Your house can be the second date.” I nodded, reaffirming to myself that was the best idea. “Yes. If there is one.”
“Nice save,” he muttered, lips twitching to one side. “So I need to find a date that’s outside, where there’s food, and where you can wear yoga pants.”
I tapped the side of my nose. “Good luck.”
“Hurricane Mallory strikes again,” he said under his breath, pushing off from the counter. “Blowing right through my plans.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at him. And I would never, ever admit that his stupid little nickname was growing on me.
Or maybe it’s just because he was.