Page 81 of Just for the Plot
I swallow some more smoothie and say, “Putting together my apartment.”
“Did you just move?”
“I did. From up north, actually. I’ve been here for over two weeks now and I haven’t really set up my apartment. My boss keeps me really busy, and by the time I get home, I just want to relax.”
He nods. “Understandable.”
“But my friend is visiting me and her brother, and well, I can’t have her coming to see me living in an apartment full of boxes. She’d be very disappointed.”
“Do you need help?” he asks, shocking the hell out of me, because last time I was out with Cougar, I’d have bet my entire paycheck that Cougar is not a guy who lends a hand. Which in the grand scheme of things, with that knowledge, why would I go out with him again? The answer is…no idea.
But he’s already surprised me. Maybe he really needed to be pulled from the bar atmosphere. Perhaps, he’s more human in the morning and not so…playboy-ish.
“I’m good. Bennett’s going to help me tonight with some things.”
“Who’s Bennett?” he asks.
“From the Bombers. You know, the guy who gave me your number.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles and sips his smoothie. “It’s early, brain isn’t fully working. That’s cool that he can help.”
“Yeah, he lives on the floor below me, so it’s easy for him.”
“Nice.” He glances in the other direction. “How close are you guys?”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “Just seeing what kind of competition I’m up against.”
“Oh.” I laugh. “He’s just a friend. Also, shouldn’t I be the one asking you about competition?”
He twirls his smoothie cup on the table. “Yeah, let’s not go there.”
“That’s what I thought.”
He smirks at me. “But to be honest, I haven’t been out with anyone since our date.”
I press my hand to my chest. “Consider me flattered, but feel free to explore. I don’t want to tie you down.”
“You don’t?” He raises a brow.
“I’m still getting to know you.” I smile. “I need to see if you’re worth tying down.”
“Oh yeah?” That seems to bring a joyful challenge to his eyes. “Tell me, how can I prove that I’m worth it?”
“Not agreeing to a five thirty in the morning date is the first thing you can do.”
“Hey, this was your idea. I told you it would be early.”
“I didn’t think this early.” I lean forward on the table and whisper, “I almost fell asleep in the Uber on the way over here.”
He chuckles. “What time do you usually wake up?”
“Not this early. I have to be at my boss’s house around eight, which means I’m usually up by seven.”
“Not bad.”
“Yeah, so four forty-five is criminal.”
