Ceaseless (Existence Trilogy #3)(14)

I shrugged, “I’m just on this date because Miranda begged me. You know I can’t tell her no. So, no worries. I’d say you could take the redhead instead of me but Miranda needs me tonight. So, you’re stuck with me.”

Jay’s eyes went wide, “Wait. No. I don’t want to be on a date with anyone else. I want to be with you. I’ve missed you. That back there was just me being a dick. I’m used to asking girls out whenever one seems entertaining. But it’s a habit. I would turn her and anyone else down if I had a chance at going out with you instead.”

Well, that was sweet but it was unfortunate. Because, habit or not, I wasn’t stupid enough to go there. “That habit of yours isn’t a healthy one and it’s mean. Go finish what you started. I’ll wait with Miranda and Nathan.” I replied and walked toward the door where Miranda and Nathan had gone to give us some privacy. Not that we needed it.

“Sorry for the hold up. Once he is finished finalizing his date for tomorrow night, we’ll go.”

Nathan closed his eyes and shook his head. “Stupid,” he mumbled. When he opened them back up he looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry about that. He’s a major flirt. But I guess you know that.”

Actually I didn’t. Back in high school he hadn’t flirted with anyone but me.

“The Jay I know would never have done that. It pisses me off. I wish you’d flip him off and go back upstairs. Maybe call up Dank Walker since he’s hot after your bod and wow him with your sexy ass.” Miranda was mad. Jay was in for it.

“You know Dank Walker?” Nathan asked. “As in Cold Soul’s lead singer?” I could hear the disbelief in his voice.

“Yep she knows him. I saw him carrying her books to class today.” Miranda replied smugly. I hadn’t realized she’d seen that.

“Okay, I’m ready. Again I’m sorry about that.” Jay said as he came up beside us.

“You’re a dick,” Nathan replied. “A stupid dick.”

Jay let out a frustrated sigh, “Yeah, I know.”

Chapter Seven

Pagan

If Jay apologized one more time I was going to cram a breadstick down his throat. At least then he would shut up. I’d tried to change the subject several times and when that didn’t’ work I’d started joining in on Miranda and Nathan’s conversation. Which worked out well for a while but now they were huddled together whispering on their side of the large booth and we were on our side with my purse between us as a barrier.

“Are you going to forgive me?” Jay asked.

“I am not mad, Jay. There is nothing to forgive. I’m on this date for Miranda. I never agreed to it because I wanted to spend time with you. So, please, let’s talk about something else.” I was a broken record.

“So this disinterest I’m getting from you is not because I was a jackass but because you really didn’t care about seeing me to begin with?” he asked with a small amount of surprise in his tone.

“Exactly. You’re an old friend. It was nice to see you the other night but that is about it. I’m here for Miranda.”

Jay leaned back in his seat and fiddled with the napkin on his plate. “I had one shot to change your mind and I screwed that up.” He was pouting. Fantastic.

“We had our thing. It is a really good memory but now we’re older. Things change.”

“Your taking my breath away when you walk into a room hasn’t changed,” he replied when he lifted his eyes to look back at me.

That might just be sweet enough to get him out of trouble if I was interested. He was just a good friend. I reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you. That was nice to hear. But can we just agree to be friends. That way when your habit of asking attractive girls out gets in the way we can laugh about it,” I teased.

Jay gave me a crooked grin. “God, I’ve missed you.”

“Well I haven’t really missed you all that much,” I replied then burst into laughter at the hurt look on his face. “I’m joking. I missed you too.” Maybe. When I thought about him. Which hadn’t been much over the past year.

“Have you two made up over there? Because if I hear Jay apologize one more time I may shove him into oncoming traffic,” Nathan said from across the table.

“Yes, all is well. We are going to be friends and Jay can ask out anyone he wants to, whenever he wants to.” I replied. Nathan studied Jay for a moment with a concerned look on his face, and then forced a smile.

“If y’all are okay with that set up, then we are too.”

Miranda nodded,” Yep. Sounds like a good plan. Besides, Pagan has a date with Dank Walker Friday night. He gave her backstage passes to his concert. And he’s letting me in too.”

“How did you know about that?” I hadn’t said anything to her about it yet.

She shrugged, “Gee told me.”

Figures. Gee was making sure I came. She’d already figured out Miranda got me to do things I didn’t want to. After, tonight though, I really did want to go. Dank Walker didn’t seem like such a bad decision after being out with a “normal, nice” guy. At least when I was with Dank he acted like I was the only person around.

“Did you just meet him last night at the club?” Jay asked with a scowl on his face.