Page 27 of Unravel Me

Audrey glances up at me. “Once, a while ago. How about you?”

I look both ways, nearly holding her back until it’s safe to cross. I can’t help my overprotective nature.

“Me? Oh no, I don’t eat down here often.”

Or ever.

“More of a cook at home type guy?” she asks, and I nod.

“Something like that.”

Homebody would be more accurate.

I hold the door open to the restaurant and as soon as we walk inside, I feel wildly out of place. I notice eyes glancing our way. Probably just because Audrey is stunning and who wouldn’t look her way. But my nerves say they are also probably wondering what a guy like me was doing with a woman like her. I was wondering the same thing. But I let on to none of that, as we’re led to our table. Audrey sits down when I pull out her chair, keeping her eyes down.

I sit down, too, but feel fidgety as hell. This place is quiet and dim, and I feel like everyone is talking in whispers, and I don’t know what half the menu is. I should’ve thought this through better.

Audrey picks up the menu, her eyes gliding down it like this was an everyday thing.

Good, at least she’ll be comfortable.

I settle on the first thing I spot on the menu, knowing it doesn’t really matter; I’ll eat just about anything. When Audrey sets her menu down, her attention shifts back to me.

“You know what you’re getting?” she asks, and I nod.

“Yeah, I think so.”

She smiles politely and I lean my elbows on the table, closer to her. I know that’s probably not proper etiquette but as she sits stiffly in her chair, I'm desperate to make her relax.

“Alright, so besides being a great line dancer, tell me something about yourself.”

Her head rolls slightly with her eyes but she cracks a tiny smile.

“You making fun of me?”

I laugh, throwing my hands up. “Hell no, never. You really weren’t bad.”

“Well, thanks. And I hate this question, my brain goes completely blank whenever I have to talk about myself.” She stirs the straw in her water.

“Fair enough.” I drag my palm down my jaw. “Alright, tell me your favorite movie. Or favorite flower. Something ridiculously stupid.”

Her shoulders relax a tiny bit, and the air feels less heavy as she chews her lip in a way that makes me wild.

“Blue hydrangeas.”

I tilt my head, not sure I heard her right.

“I know it’s not really a flower, but hydrangeas are my favorite. The blue ones specifically.” Her lips pull up in a grin and I nod, happy with the answer. Another tidbit about Audrey Elson.

“Any reason why?” I ask, seeing how much she’ll let on, how many things I can learn about her.

“I grew up in New England and in the summer when the hydrangeas in everyone’s yard were in full bloom, it was really pretty. They always made me happy.”

“I’m guessing you miss it then?”

A fleeting shadow crosses her face, and she tilts her head ever so slightly.

“No, I don’t actually.”