I have to remind myself why I’m dating in the first place—to move on. I’m tempted to call Lennon, but she’s so focused on the baby coming that I don’t want to bother her with my lame drama. Instead, I turn on the radio and blast the music until I’m at the restaurant.
Glancing down at the clock, I realize I’m nearly twenty minutes early. I take the extra time to try to get ahold of my nerves. I wait ten minutes and see a message from Weston. If he’s not a creep, I plan to exchange numbers with him so we don’t have to go back and forth on the app. I’ve learned to never give my number until after we meet. At this point, I should give up violin and write a book on how not to online date. The Unsuccessful Adventures of Online Dating by #1 Single Girl Forever, undoubtedly bound to be a bestseller.
Cracking up at my own pathetic joke, I get out of my car and walk toward the front of the restaurant when I see him heading toward me. Tall with dark hair…damn, his picture online doesn’t do him any justice. Instantly, he smiles when his eyes meet mine, and I feel heat hit my cheeks. Weston is as sexy as sin in a dark blue polo shirt and jeans, and I start feeling self-conscious that I didn’t dress nice enough.
“Hi,” he says with in a raspy tone with a cheeky grin.
“Hi,” I reply shyly.
He opens the door for me and gestures for me to walk through ahead of him. A gentleman from the start. I already like where this is going, considering the last guy I agreed to meet up with barely peeled his eyes off my chest long enough to hold a conversation.
“You look great, Sophie.” He shoots me a wink, which causes me to blush.
“Thanks, you too.” And I mean it, allowing my eyes to linger over his large biceps.
Weston places his hand on the small of my back as the waitress leads us to a table. Before we sit, Weston pulls out my chair for me. I’ve never had a man be so effortlessly polite, and I’m honestly impressed. She hands us some menus, and we look over them while she grabs our coffee. I can’t help but glance at Weston and notice his strong jawline and plump, kissable lips. Once our mugs are delivered, the waitress takes our order.
“I’d like the blueberry pancakes with sausage,” I tell her.
She looks at Weston.
“I’ll have the same thing.” He shoots me a wink, and I grin.
As I add cream and sugar to my coffee, Weston takes a sip of his completely black.
“So where do you see yourself in five years?” he asks, watching me intently.
“Hmm.” I tap my finger across my lips. “I hope to be married and starting a family, but at the very least, living in my own place.”
Weston’s kind eyes meet mine. “So you have a roommate?”
“Yeah, my friend Maria, well, and her boyfriend too. He’s somewhat of a new addition, though.” I try not to seem annoyed by him, but I think Weston notices. Anytime I think about Carter, curse words ensue soon after, but I’m trying to be on my best behavior. First impressions and all.
“Uh-oh.” He chuckles, noticing the change in my demeanor.
A smirk plays on my lips. “I know. I’m just particular and not one who really cares for change, and he’s really shaken things up around the apartment, considering he’s a slob.”
I realize I’m rambling and try to wrap up this topic. “But I’m easy to get along with, and it’s not like I’m OCD or anything. Just small things, like mustard being smeared on the counter or just a sip of milk being left in the carton. Stuff like that irks me.”
Weston chuckles at that last bit. “Yeah, that’d irk me too for sure. Probably one of the main reasons I live alone. I’m saving my space for the woman I’m gonna spend the rest of my life with. Just waiting to find her. Maybe I have.”
The butterflies in my tummy begin to swarm again. He seems to know exactly what to say. I’m all smiles as our food arrives. We eat and chat about everything, and the conversation doesn’t seem to drop once. Being with him already feels so natural. It’s as if I’ve known him a lifetime.
“Do you like playing professionally? Or is it one of those things that turned your passion into a chore? I hear that happens sometimes with creative professions.”
I appreciate that he’s more interested in asking me questions than talking only about himself, which is different than the other guys I’ve met from the app. Weston listens as I chat about violin and how it essentially changed my life. “It’s my escape,” I admit. “Music is deeply ingrained inside me, and it just does something to my soul. Nothing in my life has ever affected me the same way violin has.”