“Well, if she’s hot, I’d shun you, too. Grace Cooper?”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“Cass and I went by the diner for a late lunch. Darcy mentioned that we’d just missed you and your lovely girlfriend by a few minutes.”
“She’s not... That is, I don’t mean to say... Damn it.”
Eric laughed. “Don’t worry. I totally get it. What are you guys doing for dinner tonight?”
“It’s not like that, man.” Justin pulled at his collar. Why couldn’t he breathe?
“Come out with us. We’re going to this dive bar Cass loves. They make mean nachos.”
“You had me at nachos, but it’ll probably just be...” His plan to make her see the potential between them by taking her to the diner hadn’t exactly panned out. Maybe asking her out, introducing her to his friends, showing her he wasn’t the ass she believed him to be, was a good idea. “I’m in recovery mode at the moment.”
“With her?”
Thank God Eric understood. “Yeah.”
“Stick your size twelve and a half in your mouth?”
“To the knee, my friend.”
“Ouch. Been there, done that. Don’t worry, I’ll warn Cass and we’ll be on our best behavior. You, though? You’re on your own. I can only do so much to make you look good.”
Justin laughed. “Understood. I’ll see you there. Wait. Where? I have no idea where we’re going.”
“For such a bright guy, you’re a bit of a dumbass at times.”
“Address, please, before I release my minion on you. She’s smart. So smart, in fact, I would imagine she could have you locked up tight in a padded cell before you figured out the straight jacket wasn’t Cass’s new kink.”
Eric snickered. “Funny guy. We’ll be down at Pandora’s on Post Avenue.”
“Deal. I’ll look the address up online and be there...when?”
“We’re going for dinner, so about sevenish. I would imagine we’ll be there three or four hours.”
“Cool. See you then.”
“Bring her, Justin.”
“Do my best.”
“Later.”
He hung up the phone, his hand lingering on the receiver.
Grace swiveled toward him. “Unless you’ve got a secret stash, I assume I’m the referenced minion?”
“My one and only.”
The words hung in the air until she cleared her throat and twisted back to her computer screen. “I assume everything’s okay?”
“Fine.” His absent tone registered even with him and he forced a small smile. “Just have to figure out how to accomplish a particular goal.”