Page 14 of My Killer Blind Date

There’s a brief silence. I guess the date is winding down. I should check the time. I reach into my purse for my phone. ‘Should we, uh, get the check?’

‘Sure,’ says Liam, flagging our server. ‘But I’m not ready to call it a night. If that’s OK with you. There’s a bar near by – want to get drinks? No pressure.’

I glance at my double Margarita Kong, which is somehow also gone, the merest puddle of pale pink liquid pooling in the crux of the glass. My head feels woozy, but in a nice way.

‘Let’s do it.’

He pays, – God that’s nice, isn’t it? – and we head out, his hand a whisper at the small of my back, guiding me out of the restaurant. When I stumble on the sidewalk, he puts an arm around me. I lean into him just a little. George is right. I’ve been missing out. This is exactly what I needed. I’m totally ready to rejoin the dating world! Already, I can imagine Liam as my date to George’s wedding.

The bar Liam has in mind is just a block down. He pushes the door open and immediately, music thumps in the air. The place is crowded and warm, the lights low, the atmosphere sizzling with energy. We head to the bar.

‘Tequila shots?’ he asks, and I nod as he calls for the bartender. I slip off my denim shirt and tie it around my waist while the bartender pours our shots. We toss back the tequila, and then he’s leading me to the dance floor full of people. It’s hot, smells like sweat, beer, humanity – and I’m kind of loving it. I haven’t danced in ages, but my body finds the rhythm no problem. My head is in a delightfully mushy space. Liam is cool on the dance floor, his moves minimal and coordinated, his eyes on me, always on me. It’s intoxicating.

‘Sometimes I compare people to fish!’ I find myself saying.

‘Sorry – what?’

‘Fish!’ I shout over the music. ‘I match people with their fish selves! I think you might be a guppy!’

‘Is that a good thing?’

I laugh. ‘Yes! They’re very peaceful! They get along with other fish!’

‘I’m … honored?’ He looks confused, but in a cute, amused way.

‘My point is, I like you!’

‘You’re pretty neat yourself!’ he shouts back with a teasing grin.

‘Hey, do you collect ceramic squirrels? By chance?’

He laughs, throwing his head back. ‘No! But I do collect coasters! I have about a hundred, from all different cities—’

I laugh too. ‘That’s so awesome! I really love that you do that!’

‘I think it’s actually kind of weird!’

‘I love weird!’

Oh God, I’m actually pretty freaking drunk.

We’re swaying together, his hands now on my shoulders, my hips doing things my hips don’t normally do and suddenly I’m pressed up against him. I’ve never in my life had sex in a public place, but in this moment, all I can think of is dragging him to the back of the bar, finding a restroom and bending over the sink. My naughty, naughty mind removes Liam’s pants – then removes his shirt for good measure even though he’d likely leave it on in this scenario – oooh I bet his biceps are just as nice as his forearms—

‘Do you have any tattoos?’ I shout, because why not make the picture in my head as accurate as possible.

‘Just one.’

‘What is it, and where is it?’

He says something I can’t understand at all.

‘Huh?’

He leans down, his face close to mine, his breath warm on the side of my neck. ‘Nil Sine Numine.’

‘That sounds like Latin!’

‘It is. “Nothing without Providence.”’ He pulls back a little, and his eyes lock with mine. His mouth curves a little. His expression is warm. Inviting. ‘It’s on my hip.’