I couldn’t respond, because I was focused on Rider. He walked through the center of the restaurant with a confidence that oozed from him. An older woman sitting with her husband looked up as he passed her table. She smiled, her gaze following him.
And then he was at the table. I might’ve stopped breathing as he stepped around and pulled out the chair beside mine and sat. “Sorry,” he said, looking at me. “I’m a few minutes late.”
He was?
“Hector gave me a ride in,” he continued. “He’s around here somewhere. Didn’t want to crash our lunch, though.”
Had Rider invited him? If so, did that change the fact that Ainsley thought it was a practice date? Did those really exist? Did any of this matter?
Ainsley jerked forward, smiling at Rider. “I’m Ainsley. Hi.”
Rider cocked his head to the side, grinning at her. “I’m Rider.”
“I know,” she said. “You are definitely Rider.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She ignored me. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really?” He lifted his brows, glancing over at me. “What have you been telling her, Mouse?”
I opened my mouth, but there were no words. The right side of his lips kicked up. The dimple came out. Oh, Lord.
“Mallory has said you’re an amazing guy,” she said, and I wasn’t quite sure I’d ever said that in those words. “And you two grew up together. Best friends?”
“Yeah,” he murmured, still looking at me with that...that damn grin. “We were best friends.” Pausing, he finally looked over at Ainsley. “But I think I’ve been replaced.”
“You have,” she quipped. “It’s a good thing I like to share.”
He chuckled. “I guess so.”
My heart pounded fast and I knew I needed to say something. Anything. “Have...you eaten here before?”
That kind of sounded lame.
Rider shook his head, unfazed by my lameness. “No.” He glanced down at the menu. “But the burgers look good.”
Suddenly, I thought about the Firehouse. The small-time diner was more his style, laid back and well-worn. This place, with all the glass and shiny white tabletops... It was the kind of place Ainsley and I ate at all the time now, but I would’ve never set foot in before Carl and Rosa.
Did Rider feel out of place? Did he even care? Or was I just being stupid?
Probably stupid.
“Their hamburgers are awesome,” Ainsley advised. “So is their hummus.”
“Hummus?” Rider tipped his head back and laughed. “Not my style. Give me meat.”
“Have you tried hummus?” she asked. “On meat?”
My nose wrinkled.
“No.” He laughed again. “I’ve never tried that.”
“You should,” she replied.
“You shouldn’t,” I said.
When the waitress arrived, Rider ordered a hamburger without hummus. I got the same and added a Coke. Ainsley went for the hummus appetizer that she would consume all by herself.