“That’s the thing man, if it was some random girl. Big deal. See ya later. But she’s special, you’ll see when you get to meet her. She’s so smart and inquisitive. She’s the first to engage with me in class. She takes her studies seriously.”
“She’s fucking hot,” he cut in.
Laughing, I nodded. “Yeah, and sexy as hell, but that’s not why I’m hooked on her. We’re so compatible in every way. She’s amazing, she really is, I’ve never met anyone like her and if I give her up then I don’t think I ever will again.”
“Then you’ve gotta consider if getting caught is worth the risk. It seems to me that you already have that figured out, you’re just wanting my approval. You don’t need my approval man, if you want to be with her then go for it. As long as you’re willing to risk the consequences if this turns bad.”
Sitting back in the chair, I didn’t really have to think about it. He was right, I did already have my mind set up. I needed her in my life and next weekend I’d tell her exactly how I felt.
Sophia
This whole date situation was making me feel extremely uncomfortable. It’s not like I was sneaking around, I’d been honest with Zack and he understood why I had to go tonight, but it still didn’t sit well with me.
“I can’t believe you’re wearing that to a date?” Tabitha gave me a disapproving look as her eyes scanned the outfit I had on.
Looking down at my jeans, runners and campus sweatshirt I had to admit I really hadn’t put any effort into my look. I spent more time each morning before class getting ready. But that was because I wanted to look nice for Zack. In an instance like this, the less attractive I looked to whoever they had set me up with the happier I’d be.
I planned on faking an illness after supper and getting the fuck out of there. Zack was out with a friend of his tonight, which meant I had no one to run off to, but that was okay. I’d be more than happy to go home and study. Sadly, my relationship with Zack, while great for the sociology course since I could pick his brain and ask his questions after class time, it wasn’t so great for the other classes and I was starting to see my grades slipping, not by an extreme amount, but enough that I wasn’t happy with it.
My gaze shifted back to Tabitha’s. She was a knockout with her make-up expertly applied, but I’d argue that even in a burlap sack she’d be a knockout.
Maybe I could have put in a little effort, but then a little effort might give whoever it was they had planned for me an impression that I was interested. I couldn’t let that happen.
“We’re here ladies,” the Uber came to a stop outside of the restaurant. The place looked nice. It was a BBQ restaurant. I’d never been to a BBQ place before so there was a shimmer of excitement within me when we entered through the front and reached the hostess stand. The waitresses were dressed like sexy cowgirls with daisy duke style shorts and their plaid, long-sleeved shirts tired up in the front, the look completed with cowboy boots.
“This place is kind of cool,” I said my eyes drinking in everything about the décor as we walked through the restaurant to the table the men were already seated at.
“You don’t have places like this in Sicily?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nah, this isn’t really the style of people back home. I think this is an American thing. I’d almost forgotten we were here for a date and not a girl’s night, but the two guys were already seated and waiting.
“Hi ladies,” the first one, a blonde surfer-looking guy said as we approached. Tabitha immediately took the vacant seat next to surfer guy, leaving me with the lean, dark-haired one. Not that it mattered she could have them both for all I cared.
I took a seat next to the second one who extended his hand to me as I sat. “I’m Ryan.”
Accepting his hand, which had a cool, clammy feel to it, I gave it a shake and quickly snatched it back. “Sophia.”
“Looks like you’re my date for the night.” Maybe he would have been cute if I’d just arrived here and pre-Zack, but as it was just sitting shoulder to shoulder with him made me uncomfortable. He was dressed nicely with a button-down dress shirt and dark blue jeans that fit him perfectly. His attention to how he looked made me feel like even more of an asshole for not giving a shit.
But this wasn’t my fault, I reminded myself. I didn’t want to do this, they made me. If anyone was to be at fault it was the sorority girls who set this up.
We ordered and while the chatter between the three at my table was lively, Tabitha dominating most of it, my head just wasn’t into it. We were just ordering dessert and I was preparing myself to come up with an excuse like a fake case of explosive diarrhea or something, anything to get me out of there when a couple of men walked through the front door.
But not just any men.
I recognized them both immediately, knowing one very intimately in fact.
Zack!
He had told me they were going to the brewery, he hadn’t said anything about them going out to eat afterward and as luck would have it the hostess led them down our row and straight past our table.
His eyes locked onto mine as he approached, shifting just long enough to give my ‘date’ a thorough look.
Please go by and don’t say anything. Please…
I sank down into the bench, wishing the floor would eat me whole. But it didn’t and he didn’t.
“Miss Marinotti, what a surprise.” He grinned down at me.