Sex Says(20)

Was he psychoanalyzing me now?

This guy.

No, seriously…who the fuck was this guy?

I smacked my hands against the table in frustration, and our water glasses shook. “Because you put me on blast and did your damnedest to ruin the reputation I have built of giving solid dating and relationship advice.”

“Do you think you give solid dating and relationship advice?”

“I wouldn’t write a column if I thought I gave horrible advice!”

“Are you sure about that?” he continued, his insanely calm, laid-back voice only amplifying my irritation.

“What?”

“Don’t you think, if you were one hundred percent certain that your advice was the best dating and relationship advice out there, you wouldn’t care about what some guy said on a YouTube video?”

“Wow,” I muttered, and my gaze moved away from the maddening man across from me and out toward the window. “I honestly don’t even know how to respond to you right now.”

“Look, Lola. I’m not trying to be a dick,” he said, and I really wanted to call bullshit on that. “I think you’re an intelligent woman. My intentions aren’t malicious. The video. My questions. None of it stems from a mean place. I’m just not that kind of guy.”

My gaze met his again, and I wondered if actual smoke was steaming out of my retinas. “Are you sure about that?”

“I’m one hundred percent sure about that.”

“Then, what in the hell are you trying to do here?” I asked in exasperation.

“Make you think. Give you a different perspective.”

“Listen, buddy—” I pointed a finger in his direction “—I’m not in the market for a life coach. I just want you to stop making YouTube videos where you read me the riot act on my column. If your intentions aren’t malicious, is it so freaking hard for you to at least give me that?”

He smiled. “You’re asking me to never make another YouTube video about your column.”

“Duh.”

“What if I have nice things to say?”

“No videos.” I shook my head. “Just…no more videos.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “No more YouTube videos.”

“Thank you,” I responded, and it was an actual, genuine thank you. Which made zero sense. I shouldn’t be thanking him for any-fucking-thing.

Our eyes met and he grinned, and I immediately felt at ease.

God, I hated that.

Why, oh, why, would fate make this guy the recipe for my ultimate comfort food?

I gave fate the finger while he sat back, his good mood never fading.

I also hated how much I liked that grin. My pockets were bottomless pits of hate around this guy.

“Your meals should be ready in about five minutes,” the waitress updated as she set the mac n’ cheese and fried pickles on the table. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked, and I knew I had to move this along. I’d eat the apps, but no way in hell was I sitting through an entire dinner with Reed.

“Actually,” I blurted out. “Do you mind putting my meals in a to-go box? I have somewhere I have to be and won’t have time to eat.”

Obviously, I wasn’t going to waste all of the delicious Southern cuisine. I might’ve had the sudden, irrational urge to sprint away from the table, but I wasn’t a crazy person.

“Sure thing. I’ll box it up and have it ready for you at the bar.” She nodded and left the table.

Reed’s eyes met mine, and I refused to give him an opportunity to talk me in circles again. I mean, I had already thanked him. What would happen if I sat through dinner? Would I end up paying the bill and offering him a ride home on my bike, too?

My wallet and Daisy couldn’t handle that kind of strain.

Yeah, fuck the apps. I’ll binge on the to-go boxes when I get home.

“Okay…well…” I scooted my seat back and stood up. “I’m going to head out.”

Reed stood and picked my bike helmet up off the floor. His tall frame dwarfed mine as he placed the helmet gently on my head, his long fingers whispering across my chin as he locked the strap in place.

And I didn’t just feel his touch. I felt his touch—static, that rare crackling in the air that happens between two people who are drawn to one another. I was an annoyed and pissed-off woman, and he was the world’s most irritating human being—there should have been nothing.

But there was something.

I felt it, I saw it, I fucking tasted it. It was enough to make the baby hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I’d always known to look out for the devil in angel’s clothing, but I had never expected him to be so damn appealing in his own. This guy was himself, evil and intrigue and undisputable confidence in one condensed package.