Page 55 of Taking Sides

“I need redemption,” I say out of absolutely nowhere.

Whitney’s confused expression quickly shifts to understanding. “So we’re on a redo date?”

“Something like that.”

She grins and picks up her menu. We’re quiet while we both look over the food options. I’ve been here so many times, I have it memorized. I wait until she sets hers down first. Then do the same. Only as I’m about to ask her what she picked, I spot D-Low and Travis.

D-Low waves and smiles as he talks to the hostess, then he and Trav head our way.

“Oh no.”

“What?” Whitney asks, clearly picking up on my distress because she glances around to see what has me panicked.

“I’m so sorry.”

She looks even more confused until D-Low comes to a stop next to our table.

“No way. I didn’t know you were coming here.” D-Low’s grin inches higher.

He did know. He knew exactly where I was going and what time.

When I don’t say anything, D-Low turns his attention to Whitney. He nods his head to her in greeting. “Hey. I’m Danny.”

“Travis,” my other traitor friend says from beside him.

“Whitney.” She looks far more gracious than I feel.

I stand and move in front of D-Low. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Yeah, of course,” he says, like I’m not glaring at him.

“At the bar.”

“Oh yeah, you owe me a drink anyway.” He peers around me. “Nice to meet you, Whitney.”

“You too.” She smiles politely.

Travis lifts a hand in a wave and the three of us head across the restaurant to the bar side.

“What the hell?” I ask once we get there.

“She’s even cuter than I remembered,” D-Low says.

“Really cute.” Travis nods. “I was picturing Victor with long hair.” He visibly shudders.

“Why are you two here?” I glance back to the table. Whitney is staring down at the menu again.

“Dinner and drinks. Same as you.” D-Low flags the bartender and orders a beer.

“Uh-huh.” I’m not buying it for a second.

“We thought we could help,” Travis says.

D-Low elbows him.

“What? He knows anyway.” Trav looks at me. “We wanted to make sure it went well. You like this girl and the last time you went on a date . . .”

I blew it.