Page 22 of Play Room Actor

“I am too!” Jonah shouted, disappearing into the bistro as well.

I turned to look at Dominic and Alex, who had just caught up to us. Both of them had their phones out and were nodding.

What the fuck … Did they just exchange numbers?

“It’s really no problem,” Alex said, slipping his phone back into his jacket and stopping in front of the entrance. “Piadina? Delicious!”

Before Dominic could follow him inside, I grabbed him by the arm. He turned to me, widening his eyes in confusion.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Give me your number.”

“What?”

“You just exchanged numbers with him. If you’re giving them out that easily, you might as well give it to me too.”

Dominic made a face and muttered to himself. “Trust me, you’re reading this wrong. But if you really want my number …”

I was surprised that he turned the tables. I had expected him to refuse and make me beg.

Had he changed his strategy?

“This isn’t funny—acting so indifferent,” I said, not wanting to discuss the topic of getting his number any longer. I moved to the side and let him walk past me.

His laughter echoed as he entered the Piadina Bar.

The place wasn’t huge, but with so many people ordering from the outdoor takeout section in the alley, the tables in the back were often available. The guys had already pushed three marble tables together and settled in. Dominic took a seat on the wooden chair in the middle, across from Jonah, who was chatting with Alex, who sat to his right. I sat at the last seat next to Dominic, directly across from Lucien.

“Do you know what you want?” Noé asked Alex as he hung his leather jacket over the back of his chair.

“A beer,” Alex replied. “And number three. Thanks!”

Noé went up to the counter to place the order for him and Alex.

“I’ve never been here before,” Dominic said, glancing around. “But I like it.”

“Yeah, the lighting could use a little upgrade,” I said casually. “But it’s nice here. I especially like the patterned tile floor.”

Dominic parted his lips in amusement. “The lighting?”

“Yeah! It’s the first thing I notice,” I remarked, shrugging. “What was the first thing you noticed?”

“Um …” The question threw him off, and he turned in his chair to see the entrance. “Maybe the bar. The dark wood. Or the old man over there by the entrance. He looks content.”

I tilted my head slightly to get a better view of the man. “I didn’t even notice him.”

“Really?”

“When we walked in, I was looking at you.”

Dominic rolled his eyes with a laugh and straightened his shoulders. “I thought you were analyzing the lighting design.”

“That’s automatic for me.”

It took a while before everyone was served. Dominic and I got our piadine last, and we were still eating when the others had already finished. I noticed Jonah and Alex were getting along pretty well, but Jonah and Noé barely exchanged a word.

“Did you guys know each other before?” I asked between bites.