Page 26 of Reckless Kisses
“The date was that bad, huh?”Was I a jackass for feeling happy about this?Wait, not just happy—I was damn ecstatic.
“Yeah, it was just...Never mind.Let’s get off the phone so I can order the Uber.I hope they have kick-ass margaritas there.”
“I bet they do.”
I arrived before Amy, since I was much closer, but it took me a few solid minutes to find a parking spot.I was going to leave my car here and Uber home as well because I wanted to have a drink, too, since I was finally off the pain meds.I’d just Uber to the office tomorrow morning as well and pick up the Ranger Rover later in the day.
The bar was on the ground floor of a hotel, with an outdoor stand where you could order.After buying drinks, I found a table and decided to wait for Amy there so we weren’t standing around awkwardly with our drinks.
Knox: I’m already inside.You’ll see me when you come.It’s crowded, but I was lucky and got us a table.
She replied right away.
Amy: According to Uber, I’ll be there in a minute, and...you’re always lucky.
That much was true.Even as a kid, I’d always felt lucky—even through all my parents’ ordeals.I never felt like fate dealt us a bad hand or anything.Frankly, I hadn’t even realized something went awry in our family life until someone pointed it out.I brought friends home from school, and they were shocked that I bunked with two brothers.
“Like, you don’t have your own room?That’s sad.I have my own playroom too.”
“I like sharing with my brothers,” I pointed out, truly not understanding what the issue was.Then again, we hadn’t had our own rooms even when my parents were together.But the place Mom got after the divorce was even smaller.
The bigger shock came when one of them said, “Wait, your dad doesn’t live with you?Oh, that sucks.”
“I see my dad every weekend,” I countered, “and we play soccer.”
“Sure, but he doesn’t live with you.”
I shrugged.It was only years later that I realized how bizarre I must have seemed to them.But I’d mostly seen the bright side of the situation.I got to sleep in the same room, not just with Finn, but with Wyatt too.Which was cool because he was older.I got two sets of birthday and Christmas presents.Best of all, my parents weren’t fighting anymore, though I hadn’t realized why until much later on: From the moment they separated, they rarely saw each other, except for the few minutes when my dad picked us up and dropped us off.They managed to be civil for that, at least.
Which was why, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand how they were back together now.How did they overcome all those difficult years?Maybe one day I would get it, but clearly not today.
While I was reminiscing, Amy stepped inside and looked around.She was incredibly sexy tonight, wearing a very short dress that was tight around her body.There was no cleavage showing because the upper part went up to her neck.Her hair was once again styled with curls.Big hoops glittered at her ears.She looked hot.
Amy smiled when she saw me, and her body language changed slightly, in a good way.Her back had been ramrod straight, but now her shoulders dropped a little, almost as if her body was finally relaxing.I watched her closely as she walked toward me.She was wearing high heels too—silver to match her earrings.
“Amy, you look stunning.Took me right back to college.”Back to when I realized I couldn’t date my gorgeous friend.
“Thanks!”
“Margarita is already waiting for you.”I handed her the glass, and she immediately slurped it down.
“No clinking?”I teased.
“Oops.I just...I’m a hot mess.”She didn’t offer any more explanations as she continued to slurp.
“Amy, slow down.Have you had anything to eat?”
She nodded.“Yep, I did.I had a huge hot dog before I ordered the Uber.Come to think of it, I should have eaten something before my date.Then maybe I would have had more patience with that idiot.”She pretended to think on it, then said, “Nah, I wouldn’t.”
“Want to tell me what happened?Did he hurt you in any way?”
“No.Unless you count his insults.”
I saw red.“What?”
“Yeah.Two minutes into our date, he was hinting that we should leave the restaurant and go to his place.”
She looked at me briefly before taking another sip.“By the way, thank you so much for this.”Amy pointed at the glass and then enjoyed another swallow before adding, “I started with my whole spiel, you know, about wanting a relationship and whatnot.”
