The Ex Files (Ocean View #1)(44)

“You need to try,” Quinn says.

“Got that. What else.”

“You need to make her feel safe and wanted.” That’s Tara.

“And like you’ll fight for her. Let her know, but don’t push it until you have to.”

“Anything too much is going to scare her off for sure.”

“Honestly, Luke—just be you. Be you and she’ll fall for you. You’re sweet, kind. You make everyone happy. And if the look in your eyes tells me anything, it says you’ve already shown her that. You just need to wait until that guard drops and catch her when it does.” I stare at them, strangely relieved they’ve confirmed my fears, until Quinn speaks again.

“And Luke, when it goes bad, when you inevitably fumble it—because you’re a man and that’s bound to happen…” I roll my eyes, but she keeps on. “Come to us. We’ll help. We’ll help you win her.” Staring at them, I nod, thankful more today than ever to have two older sisters who want to see me happy.

As we trudge up the basement stairs, I can’t help but wonder what will happen when she realizes I never intended to let her go.





Twenty





-Cassie-





“Good morning, Gabi,” I say as I walk in with two drinks, placing one on her desk as I walk to my own as if I have no idea why she’s staring me down.

“Don’t you ‘good morning Gabi me, miss.’”

“That’s what I say every morning.”

“No, you usually say, ‘Good morning, Gabrielle,’ but now you’ve decided to be a friend instead of a robot, so we’ve dropped the formalities. But because of that, I now get to question you endlessly.” I’m kind of regretting that move, thinking about it now, knowing I’ll have to dish all the dirt from my weekend, the weekend I still haven’t even gone over in my own mind.

I’m not reading too hard into why I’m not going over every facet of my second date with Luke in my mind. Usually every single moment would be dissected, slowly gone through with a fine-tooth comb until I’ve decided who he’d work with, his hopes and dreams and motivation so I could match him. But this time… I want nothing less than to start matching him.

I guess it’s a good thing I have two more weeks.

Right?

“Question me about what?”

“I swear I’m going to lose my mind if you don’t spill right now. What happened on that date!? What happened at your apartment? Was he creepy?”

“No, he wasn’t creepy.” Those words come out quickly, a defense of him. That doesn’t get past Gabi.

“So what happened, Cassie?”

“I thought we were doing this after work? Over drinks?”

“Oh, we are. Absolutely. But I cannot sit on this info any longer. I didn’t even call you yesterday when I was dying to. I deserve at least this much.” I sigh. Looking at her, I see the same level of aggressiveness she makes when arguing the internet bill. The woman can’t handle a client complaining, but when she wants something, she’s a dog with a bone and won’t relent until I give her something.

“Fine. I’ll give you one thing, but that’s it until tonight. I have work to do. You have work to do.” Eyeing her, I glare until she nods. “He stayed the night. It was very nice.” With that, she shrieks so loud a few minutes later, a neighboring office calls to check in on us.

But still, though my cheeks burn with embarrassment, I find myself smiling throughout my morning.





At noon, my phone rings as I’m putting the finishing touches on an email to a client asking when she can expect her first match.

Luke calling

My face breaks out into a smile, and the butterflies in my belly wreak havoc as I pick up the phone and tap the answer. Who am I, this girl excited to talk to a man on the phone?

“Hello?”

“Hey, gorgeous.”

“On your lunch?” I may have teased him about it, but I love these break-time calls. It’s a tiny blip of sunshine in my once monotonous days.

“Yeah, figured I’d call you, see how your day is going.”

“So far, so good. How was Sunday dinner?”

“You remember?”

“It’s my job to.”

“I guess.” Something is in his tone, a small smile, a hidden meaning. “Dinner was good. My sisters are very intrigued by the matchmaker I can’t stop talking about.” My stomach drops, and my face burns.

“You, uh… you talked about me? To your sisters?

“They’re the ones who signed me up, remember?” Of course. “There really wasn’t any way for me to avoid the conversation.” His laugh tells me he finds my anxiousness cute.

“So, uh… what did you say?”

“That I met you, and you’re beautiful. We’re dating for as long as you’ll have me, and I’m taking you to your dad’s wedding.” I smile despite the fact I should really argue and tell him otherwise. “So what about tonight? Can you meet up?”

“That’s against the rules.”

“What rule is that?”

“You can’t date more than once in three days.” I feel Gabi’s eyes flick to me at the mention of my rules.