The Resistance(63)
“Nice,” he says, nodding. “Is it a dirty romance?”
“Yeah.”
“Very nice.” He leans his elbows on the ledge in front of him, and asks, “So why are you sitting home on a Saturday night reading dirty romances?”
“No better offer, I guess.”
“I’m offering.” He nods toward the street. “Let’s go get a drink. We can walk down to the Mexican restaurant up the block.”
“I didn’t take you for a margarita man.”
He laughs, and once again, I see why the ladies are so attracted to him. He’s very handsome, unshaven tonight, and his hair is a little unruly, but in a way that some might call sexy. Okay, I’d call it sexy, too. He says, “I’ll have beer and leave the margaritas to you. C’mon, let’s go.”
“I’m not dressed to go out.”
“You’re dressed enough to hang out at a local restaurant with a neighbor.”
Looking down at my jeans and T-shirt, I figure he’s right. “Good point. I’ll meet you out front in five.” I go inside and brush my hair and my teeth, don’t bother with any makeup and then put on my shoes.
Danny is outside waiting when I come out. After locking the door, I shove my key, my phone, and my credit card into my pockets and we walk up the street.
The neighborhood is quiet and I like that normally, but it seems to be adding an awkward tension now. “I did have an offer earlier, but I turned it down.”
He smiles. “I was surprised when you said you hadn’t. I don’t see you sitting at home much. You’re too pretty for that.”
I put on a big goofy smile. “Eh, not just a pretty face here.”
Laughing, he replies, “Yeah.” Turning back, he looks ahead as we walk, the restaurant coming into view. “I left out funny and smart too, but those traits shouldn’t be discounted.”
“Awwww,” I say, bumping him with my arm. “Thanks. Just for that, first round is on me.”
“Awesome. I should pay you compliments more often.”
We’re seated in a booth by the front window. I like this spot because I can people watch. Queso comes when our drinks arrive and we dig in while picking up where we left off in the earlier conversation. He asks, “Why’d you turn down your other offer?”
“I didn’t want to attend a wedding.”
“I thought girls loved weddings.”
I sip my drink before responding, “I do, I confess, but this one… I didn’t have any interest in. I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Okay, I’ll change the topic. How’s business?”
When I burst out laughing, I have to put my hand over my mouth to keep from spewing my drink everywhere. When I finally swallow it down, I say, “Wow, we went from personal to business just like that.”
He shrugs. “That’s what you wanted and I’m happy to see the smile again.”
“Thanks. Hey, and I’m sorry I’m being so vague.”
“It’s no big deal. You seem to like your privacy. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just find it odd that you’re either completely gone from your place or sitting alone on a Saturday night. I’m not judging. I’m also alone on a Saturday night and glad we could get together. You actually saved me from some bad reality show marathons I’ve been lost in for two days. It’s good to be around people again.” I watch as he takes a drink, then he asks, “So since I’m a nosy bastard, tell me, what’s your story, Holli? You said you’re dating someone, but here you are with me.”
“I can have friends, you know. Anyway, he’s the one who went to the wedding. It’s his ex-girlfriend’s and it’s complicated. I just didn’t want to put myself in an awkward situation.”
“So let me get this straight. Your boyfriend went to his ex’s wedding tonight instead of spending time with his girlfriend?”
“Well when you put it like that it doesn’t sound very good.”
He leans back, his fingers on the cold beer in front of him. “Is there a good angle I’m missing?”
“I can’t seem to find one.” I take another drink, then reach for a chip and dip it. When I’m bringing it to my mouth the queso drips, and lands on my left breast. “Damn it!”
I hear Danny chuckle. “Need help with that?”
My eyes flash up to his, and I smile as I wipe the spot on my T-shirt. “I think I can handle it. Thanks though,” I reply sarcastically.
“Anytime.”
“So why don’t you have a girlfriend, Danny? A single, good-looking, and successful man in L.A. isn’t usually lacking for opportunity.”