“No, you’re not. You’re just trying to get a rise out of me.” She opened her purse and pulled out a phone, glaring at me as if I were her worst nightmare, and I probably was.
She dialed a number, her eyes narrowing at me. “Charlotte”— there was extra sweetness in her tone—“you’ll never believe who’s sitting across from me right now. He says he’s my date, but I know that can’t be the case because you would never do that to me.”
Charlotte’s voice rose on the other line, and I knew she was trying to explain herself. The blood rushed from Maya’s face, and she swallowed hard, looking at me with trepidation. Her brows knit together, and she glanced away, dismayed. “How could you? I trusted you.”
Charlotte continued talking, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. Maya blew out a breath, apprehension sweeping over her features. “I have to go, but we’ll talk about this later.” She set her phone on the table, her jaw tightening with resolve. “It’s true, and frankly, I’m stunned she thought it was a good plan.”
I shrugged. “This wasn’t my idea, but since we’re both here, we might as well enjoy a meal together. It’s on me, of course, so order whatever you like.”
She opened her mouth as if to say something and then promptly shut it. “You…want to stay? Why? You hate me.” Her brown eyes filled with emotion, and I felt myself drawing closer, wanting to set the record straight. Truth was, I didn’t hate her, but I’d never attempted to correct her wrong impression.
“Hate isn’t the word I would use.” I glanced to the side, a little unnerved by her reaction. “To be honest, I don’t think about you at all, Maya.” That wasn’t entirely true, but she didn’t need to know that her face crossed my mind at the most inopportune times.
Her eyes darted around the room as if looking for an escape. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is a disaster. I mean…you and me…” She shook her head as if trying hard to stomach something distasteful. “The very notion that…you know.”
“No, I don’t know.” I did, but I wanted her to say it.
“The notion of us together is laughable.”
Laughable. That was how she viewed me. I chuckled bitterly and shrugged. “Do what you want. If you prefer to leave, I won’t hold you back.” A deep sense of disappointment washed over me, strange as it was, and it was like all the worries of the past year weighed down on my chest. What was wrong with me? Why was I having this reaction to her?
Her forefinger tapped restlessly on the table as she considered what to do. “What do you want? Would you feel more comfortable ending the date?”
Great. She was putting it back on me. I was in no shape to make a decision here, but I had to admit that sitting across from her made me think of another time when I’d cared too much.
Much more than was good for me.
That was long ago.
She’d wanted nothing to do with me back then, and I didn’t blame her. I silently hoped she’d get up and leave and I could return to my life. I wasn’t cut out for relationships and being put in this situation was making me irritable.
If I was honest with myself, I’d admit that the idea of a do-over wasn’t so bad. The thought lingered for a solitary moment, and I shook my head to clear it. “I don’t care either way.” She grimaced and was just about to rise from her seat when I added, “But we might as well stay and eat.”
Her eyebrows flew up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I hesitated. “For Charlotte’s sake, of course. I hate disappointing her.”
“Right. For Charlotte’s sake.”
“It’s settled then.” I picked up the cloth napkin in front of me and opened it on my lap. “Tell me, Maya, what have you been up to the last few years?”
Chapter 4
Maya
How did this happen? How did I get stuck on a blind date with Easton Radcliffe, the man who recently took over his father’s billionaire empire not even a year ago? Yes, his sister had been my best friend for as long as I could remember, but Easton and I had always kept our distance from one other.
After all these years, I was still angry that he’d sabotaged my opportunity to go to the prom with Liam, and maybe it was juvenile to care so much about something like that, but I couldn’t help it. Some things impacted a person long after they happened, and that particular incident had left inner scars.
Sure, I’d been a sophomore at the time and made it to my senior prom two years later, but that wasn’t the point. The real issue was that he had no right to get involved. It was cruel and unfeeling, and I’d never gotten closure as to why he’d even done it.
All that to say, it was unthinkable to have to sit across from him at this fancy restaurant and pretend we were on a date. I still couldn’t get over how strange it was.
Easton leaned forward on his elbows, watching me intently, and I realized I hadn’t answered his question yet.
“I asked what you’ve been up to, Maya. Just making conversation. No need to look at me like I have two heads growing out of my body.”
“Sorry.” I sucked in a breath and let it out. “I’m trying to get used to the idea of the two of us here. Together.”
Charlotte would get an earful when I walked out of here. If this was her idea of a joke, it wasn’t funny.
The corner of his mouth tipped up in a lopsided grin. “Most women don’t find me so abhorrent.”
“Most women don’t have to go out with the bully who threatened their prom date.”
He lifted one eyebrow and started to reply, but the waiter walked up at that moment, carrying several dishes of what appeared to be flavorful foods. He spread them across the table and gave us both smaller plates.
“Here are some of the appetizers. I’ll bring out the rest in a couple of minutes.”
The dishes included salmon, mini shrimp tartlets, steak and prosciutto skewers with a creamy sauce on the side, and tomato bruschetta with slices of avocado and crumbled bacon.
I tried the bruschetta, and my eyes widened as I chewed. “This is wonderful.”
“Wait until he brings out the stuffed mushrooms. I love those.”
“I’m not a fan of mushrooms.”
“Oh…” My admission appeared to take him by surprise. “You might prefer the beef and spinach turnovers. They’re tasty as well.”
“Hmm…spinach isn’t my favorite.” It wasn’t all that bad, and, normally, I wouldn’t be that contrary on a date, but it was Easton, and he didn’t deserve my goodwill.
“I’m sure you’ll find something you like.”
The waiter appeared a minute later with more dishes, and there was so much food, I wasn’t sure we could finish it all. There was a chicken dish in a red sauce that looked particularly delicious, and I wondered if it was spicy.
“This looks amazing,” I said.
“Would you like to order a main dish?” the waiter asked.
“No, thank you.”
Easton held up a finger. “Actually, bring us both the cranberry duck.”