Blind Date(19)

"Isn't the view spectacular? I requested this table specifically because they said it has the best view." I don't let on that I'm screaming inside. This isn't his fault. He's gone to such an effort for me, I need to stop being such a baby and suck it up.

So I sit down, even though everything inside of me is twisting in pain.

"What can I get you both to drink?" the waitress asks.

"Just a Coke for me, please," I say to her, my voice a little shakier than I'd like.

"Me too," Jacob says.

When she's gone, he looks over to me. "Are you okay? You've gone a little pale."

"Yeah, of course," I force out. "It's just been a long time since I've been here."

"I'm sorry," he says, eyes holding mine, and I can see genuine concern there. "If I had known, I wouldn't have brought you here. I've just heard such good things about it, I wanted to do something nice for you."

Dammit.

I'm sure this is awkward for him. There is no need for my mood to make it worse. My memories with Raymond will always be fond, but it doesn't mean I can't make some new ones. Being weird with Jacob isn't going to help. He's done a nice thing, I need to get over it. "It was a wonderful idea, thank you."

He smiles. "I hope you like seafood. I ordered the three-course seafood lunch."

I nod, my chest easing just a little. "Yes, I love it. It's my favorite."

He beams, again. "I'm a fan myself."

We talk casually for the next two hours while they bring out the three-course lunch: lobster tails, prawns, seafood chowder, and fresh bread rolls. It's amazing, and tastes as incredible as it always did. I stay a little uptight the entire time, but do my best to make the conversation flow. He's gone to so much effort. I can't deny that I breathe a little easier when we step outside of the restaurant to leave.

"You're really not happy, are you?" he says to me on the car ride home.

I've just shifted in the seat, trying to ease my discomfort. I ate far too much. I'm not entirely sure if that was because I was hungry, or if I was trying to hide from the awkward tension between Jacob and me, because my mood wasn't quite right.

"I'm okay, honestly."

He gives me a sideways look. "You were slightly off during lunch."


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I swallow. "I did my best. I'm sorry if I upset you, I wasn't trying to."

"A little," he admits, shrugging. "I know it was your place with your husband, but I honestly didn't know that, and I went to a big effort to plan everything."

Great.

Now I look like an asshole, and worse, I feel like one too.

"Maybe you can come over for dinner tomorrow night," I suggest, hoping that'll make up for things. "I'll make you something. To make up for it?"

He looks to me, sighs, and then nods. "Okay."

Gosh. I hope I don't ruin this before it even has a chance to launch. I don't want it to go badly. I really like Jacob.

I exhale. I can do this.

I can.

* * *

Dammit.

I stare at the faucet in my bathroom that started as a slow leak and is now proceeding to get bigger and bigger by the second. I've tried stopping it, tried tightening the tap, but nothing is working. I've left four messages with the landlord, and three with Jacob, but it would seem nobody is available to help me. The water is already leaking over the sink, and I'm going to end up with a huge bill if it keeps up, not to mention the noise is driving me crazy.

I'll never be able to sleep with that sound trickling into my room.

With an exhale, my eyes flick to the left. There is another man on this floor who could help me, but the idea of going and asking him makes me cringe. Still, he's the only option right now, unless I call a plumber, but that's going to cost me, considering it's after hours. I have a big test tomorrow, and it's already well past ten. I need to make sure I get some sleep.

So, with pursed lips, I trudge out of my apartment and hesitantly move down the hall, praying he's not asleep, partially hoping he's not home, but mostly just wondering if he'll even help me out. We don't exactly like each other a great deal. I reach his door, hesitate, then knock. A few moments pass and nothing happens, so with a muttered curse, I knock harder.

Put some force into it, Hart.

I hear the click of the lock, and the door swings open. Ace is standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but a pair of long pajama bottoms that sit low on his hips, showing off that amazing body. And oh, what an incredible body it is. I mentally growl at myself to keep my eyes on his, when all I want to do is let them dip lower, to take a good look at those unbelievable biceps, those hard pecs, and those washboard abs.