Beautiful Mistake(28)

“How are Umberto and Lydia?” he asked.

It was just like him to remember their names because they were important to me. He was always very thoughtful and attentive.

“They’re doing really well. Still the happy threesome.”

“And your thesis?”

“Good. Caine seemed happy with my progress. Although who knows.” I finished off my glass of wine. “He could hate it tomorrow.”

“Caine?”

“My new thesis advisor.”

Davis nodded.

“He’s kind of a giant ass,” I added. Not that he’d asked.

“When are you finished?”

“Another few months and I’ll be done with my thesis and graduating.”

“Then what?”

“I’m not sure yet. My minor was elementary education, so I was thinking of applying to some local school districts that have musical therapy programs for autistic children.”

Davis smiled. “That suits you. I could definitely see you doing that.”

I sipped my wine. I was now on glass two and already feeling a buzz. “What about you? Are you happy here in New York? Do you think you’ll stay forever?”

“Maybe.”

I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it, but I could have sworn his eyes had dropped to my lips.

“What about you? Are you happy? Seeing anyone?”

My good mood took a nose dive. I wasn’t seeing anyone, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it. I’d managed to forget about Caine for the sum total of an hour tonight.

I sighed. “No. I’m single. You?”

Davis must’ve taken my downturn of spirit as a general statement about my single status.

“Not seeing anyone. But I’d like to be.”

Yeah. Me, too.

I sipped more wine. “Oh yeah? Tell me about the lucky girl.”

Davis grinned. “She’s short, kind of quirky, beautiful, smart.”

I rested my head on my hands. “Sounds perfect. Does she have a brother for me?”

Instead of answering, Davis reached over the table and took my hand in his. “I’ve really missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

“Have dinner with me this weekend? Just me and you.”

Huh?

Seeing the confusion on my face, Davis continued. “I wasn’t ready to date last year. I didn’t want to jump into something with you when my head wasn’t screwed on straight. I’m in a better place now.”

The wine must’ve totally gotten to me. I seriously hadn’t realized he was talking about asking me out. I’d waited for this for almost a year, yet now I felt unsure. Luckily, Ava came to my rescue. She scooted into the booth next to me, playfully bumping my hip with hers, and took over the conversation. I was grateful for the reprieve.

After another hour of sitting around and talking, we decided to move to the pub tables in the bar area since the dining room was empty.

Davis looked at his watch. “I have to be at the airport at five a.m. for work, so I’m going to take off.”

The three of us made plans for next month’s dinner, and he gave Ava a hug goodbye before turning to me. Only he didn’t let go after my hug. Instead, he took both of my hands in his.

“Think about it. Okay?”

I had no idea what to say, so I simply nodded and smiled. Then he was gone.

The minute he was out the door, Ava turned to me. “What the hell was that all about?”

“He wants to take me out on a date.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“I have no idea. I’m so confused right now.”

“You know what will make things clearer?” She smiled.

“What?”

“Let’s get stinking drunk.”





Rachel



“He has the most amazing ass.”

Well, that’s what I intended to say, but what actually came out of my mouth was, “He has lemony lass.”

Luckily, Ava had joined me in my binge, so my slur sounded perfectly fine to her.

“Who are we talking about? Davis or the professor.”

I sighed. “The professor. Davis’s is nice, but I never had the urge to bite it.”

Ava quirked a brow. “You want to bite the pompous professor’s ass?”

“I do. Is that strange?”

She smirked and lifted her drink to her lips. “Not at all. Well, the biting part isn’t strange. I like a little biting during sex myself, but biting his ass when you’re not sleeping with him might be a little strange. Especially if you do it during a class while he’s lecturing.”

“He’s just so frustrating. So infuriating.”

“So maybe you should give Davis another chance?”

I sucked back the remaining contents of my third drink and held the empty glass up, dangling it between my thumb and pointer. “Time for a refill, waitress.”

Ava laughed. “I was done an hour ago…but I’ll get your refill because I’m not sure you could make it the ten feet to the bar.” She stood and took the glass from my hand. “You’re cut off after this one, though.”

While Ava was behind the bar, I dug my phone out of my purse. I had no idea why, but I wanted to scroll through Davis’s Facebook account. I remembered he’d posted a few pictures with the same woman a few months back, and I wondered if he’d dated her since things ended with us.