His words trail off and I focus on one word.
“Kid?” I ask, an uncomfortable feeling filling my gut. “He said he was 25. He’s not… Oh god, he’s not underage is he?”
One of those thick brows raises, “25?” The way he lets out an exasperated sigh has me thinking this isn’t the first time he’s sighed over hiskid. “Brian’s not underage. But he’s not fucking 25 either.” His hands slide away from mine as he leans back in his seat. “He’s 20.”
“20?!” I squeak, glancing down at the drink in front of me.
“Afraid so.”
“That’s…” I lift my glass and take a healthy swallow, hardly tasting the alcohol. “That’s messed up.”
A sound that might qualify as a laugh drags out of his chest, “You can say that again.”
When I look back up at him, his head is tipped forward and he’s pinching the bridge of his nose.
I take another quick drink then set my glass back down.
I can’t believe Brian lied about his age. I also can’t believe that he’d want to date me, a woman so much older than himself.
I eye the silver stud in front of me and recognize the hypocrisy of my thoughts. Me dating a guy 11 years younger seems weird as hell, but me dating this guy… well, that seems hot as hell. And if I had to guess, I’d say Brian’s dad is more than 11 years my senior.
“So…” I start to bite my lip but stop when his head tips up, his eyes flashing to mine. “Your, um, son sent you here to cancel our date?” My face scrunches as I ask the question. It sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know why else he’d be here.
He slowly shakes his head, “He was pissed after I took his phone and car away from him so he took off to stay at one of his friends’ houses. And while I was trying to decide if I wanted to sell his phone or smash it, a reminder popped up on his screen about meeting you here tonight.” A muscle ticks in the side of his jaw. “That boy can’t remember shit on his own, so I figured he’d probably forget to show up.” He glances around, proving his point. “And it didn’t seem fair to leave a lady here, waiting alone, considering I was the one who took his phone away.”
Well, that was hardly the reason I was expecting. “What’d he do to make you mad?”
The big man sighs. “He was supposed to be taking this summer college course to make up for one he failed last semester but turns out he’s been fucking off all day instead. Wasting his time and my money and pissing me the fuck off.”
I press my lips together to keep from grinning. This guy has gone into full Daddy Bear mode and it’s amazing. If we weren’t in public, and magic was real, I’d morph my clothes into a schoolgirl outfit and climb into his lap.I’ve been skipping classes, too.
A small peep of laughter breaks free at that mental image and I slap a hand over my mouth.
His eyes narrow, “You think that’s funny.”
I almost reply withNo, Sirbut thankfully my hand is still over my mouth so I just shake my head.
The edge of his mouth pulls up. “Brian didn’t think it was funny either. Especially when I handed him an old flip phone. I wanted him punished, not totally stranded.”
This time I don’t hold back the laugh, “How did you find one that still works?”
He lifts one giant shoulder, “Had to bribe the guy to activate it, but it was worth it.”
His dry tone makes the whole story that much more ridiculous, and I shake my head.
“Does a 20-year-old even know how to use a flip phone?”
“He’s smart, when he’s not acting like a dumbass, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
I hum my acceptance, and we watch each other for a moment.
I tried to keep my expectations low before coming here. Tonight was really meant for me to rip off the dating Band-Aid and try putting myself out there for the first time in forever.
I figured it’d be okay- maybe fun, maybe dull- but I did not figure that my date would bail and that his dad would show up in his absence. And I certainly didn’t count on the dad being so goddamn attractive. But I guess that’s the perk of being in your 30’s. I can play cougar and date some guy in his 20’s, or I can level up to the next generation.
Which reminds me…
“I have two questions.” I hold up a pair of fingers.