“I can be tough. I can be tender. I can be just about anything. I’m up for whatever it is you want.”
“Great! Are you free all day?”
He gave me a skeptical look. “You are making me nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous,” I assured him. “You will be in good hands. I will make sure you have lots of fun.”
“How can you know if I will have fun?”
“Because I think I know you, not well, but I know you can smile and laugh.”
“I’m not a zombie. Of course, I can smile and laugh.”
“Good, because I want to see it.”
He was quiet for a bit while he finished his ice cream. “What is your grand plan?”
“For tomorrow?”
“Yes. Should I wear a suit?”
“No. Definitely no suits.”
“So, you have a plan in mind?” he questioned.
I turned my body toward him, bending my leg and pulling up my skirt a little. “I always have a plan.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see. You just have to trust me.”
“I think I do trust you,” he said in a low voice.
I wasn’t sure if he meant to speak the words aloud or if they were just private thoughts. “You can trust me,” I said and grabbed his hand.
He looked at me with those eyes that were so good at hiding what he was thinking. “I hope so.”
I gave his hand a good squeeze. I didn’t have to say anything. We sat in silence, staring out at the water and the couples taking advantage of the nice night by walking along the beach. Young love, old love, and budding romances all played out in front of us. I wondered what we were and then quickly reminded myself we weren’t anything. We were just a couple of people hanging out.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he said after a while.
I smiled and looked down at where my hand was still resting on his arm. “They aren’t worth a penny. It was just random thoughts.”
“You look beat,” he said.
I smiled. “Thanks. That’s exactly what every girl wants to hear.”
“You are still beautiful, but you need some sleep.”
He was right. “I am exhausted,” I admitted.
“Let me take you home,” he offered.
I was so glad I decided to Uber to the party. I could admit part of me was hoping to go home with him or take him home with me. It was a small part. I was glad the larger part of my brain knew better. It was too risky to go home with him or vice versa. The boat was one thing. If he was in my space, it would be much harder to forget about him.
I needed to keep him at arm’s length. At least for now. I wanted to know him better. Then I would know how to move forward, with or without him in my life.
Chapter 17
Xander
I parked my car in the lot of the IHOP where Evie wanted to meet. It was packed, as expected on a Sunday morning. The hostess knew exactly who I was asking about when I described Evie and led me directly to her table. Every time I saw the woman, I was taken aback by her beauty. Her hair was piled on top of her head with little black curly strands hanging loose. She had on another one of those blouses with shoulder cutouts and looked absolutely beautiful.
“Good morning,” she greeted with a bright smile.
“Good morning,” I said and took my seat at the table. “Coffee, please,” I said to the hostess who was waiting to hear my drink order.
“I wasn’t sure you would make it,” she said, taking a sip of her own coffee.
“I got hung up on a phone call. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was early. I’m always early.”
“And I am almost always late,” I replied.
“I’m glad you showed up,” she commented. “Otherwise, I would be eating a lot. I took the liberty of ordering you breakfast. I hope you don’t mind?”
I raised my eyebrows. “You ordered my breakfast?”
“I ordered big, just in case. Are you much of a breakfast eater?”
“I can be,” I answered. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her ordering for me. I wasn’t used to being controlled. I supposed it wasn’t really control, but I got the idea she was used to things being done her way. That could be an issue.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.
“For?”
“I shouldn’t have ordered for you. I order for my dad all the time and Nelle. I get this idea in my head that I can read people better than they