6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Parker
Thankfully, woman number four is a no-show for me—as is Weston’s. So, we sit together in a booth and order another round of drinks and nachos. Despite this event being horrible , the food here is bomb .
And what’s a second serving of nachos?
“So ... you got paired with Amy , huh?” Weston chows down on his tortilla chip covered in cheese and pulled pork. “I still don’t see what’s so bad about her.”
I eye the table she’s sitting at with her fourth date. “I don’t know,” I admit, not sure what makes her so insufferable to me. Right now, she’s got her elbows on the table, her chin resting on her hands—just like she was the other night.
It must be her go-to position.
The match she’s with—some tall, lanky but sophisticated guy—is chatting her up, and honestly, it appears like they’re hitting off...
Good for them.
Except something in the pit of my stomach doesn’t like it.
“Why’re you staring at her if you don’t like her?” Weston’s voice is full of amusement. “Dude, you’re literally gawking at her. You might as well just walk over and interrupt the date to get her number.”
“First off, I’m not gawking. Second, no ,” I argue, shaking my head. “It’s just ... like a car wreck. You know? You can’t look away.”
“Right.” Weston chuckles. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“I don’t need to tell myself anything,” I grumble under my breath. Weston has been dragging me around the dating scene too much. It’s time for me to get a break from it all. “But seriously, can you please quit signing me up for these things?”
“Okay,” Weston says, his voice full of defeat. “It’s just that, I thought maybe after a few events, I could change your mind about dating—or that you might connect with someone. But maybe that’s not gonna happen. I just want to see you happy, Parker. And once I find someone, I’m not going to be able to hang out with you all the time.”
“Dude, you’re making it out like I’m dependent on you or something.” I laugh, finding amusement in the concern written all over his face. “Lighten up—don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. And I really hope you do find someone and that they make you happy. This stuff just isn’t for me.” I give him a genuine smile because I mean it. I am okay. I don’t need a romantic partner to be happy. In fact, they’d probably do the opposite for me. Relationships are nothing but heartache.
“Okay.” Weston lets out a sigh. “Well, that’s good because I got all three women’s numbers, and I intend to ask all of them out.”
I cringe. “That’s a sure way to end up with none of them. Can’t you just pick the one that you connected with the most and go with her?”
“I could ,” he reasons, giving me a thoughtful look. “But then that might ruin my chances with someone else. I mean, what if I go out with the girl I think I liked the most, and then it turns out I don’t like her all that much? If I have all three numbers, I have back-ups.”
My brows raise. “I don’t know if that’s messed up or ingenious. But regardless, I think it might be morally gray.”
“Hey, isn’t that what all the ladies are into?” Weston jokes—well, I think he’s joking. He pulls out his phone and starts typing away.
“What’re you doing?”
“Texting each of them, letting them know how great of a time I had tonight.”
“Maybe you should wait until after the event is over.” I shake my head. “Otherwise, all their phones will go off at the same time. And for all we know, they might find out.”
“Ah, good point.” Weston looks up at me. “You know, you’re pretty good with relationship advice, considering you’ve never really been in one.”
“I’ve been in one ,” I admit, frowning .
“Oh yeah, that’s right. The girl from college. She left you for a football player.”
“It was a soccer player, but yeah, same difference.”
“Basically.” Weston’s eyes drift back to his phone.
I take the chance to peer over at Amy, who’s still googly-eyed and focused on the guy across from her. His eyes are focused on her, too, but it’s not the same starry-eyed look. He looks ... thoughtful, and I wonder if he likes the way she crinkles her nose when she laughs—or if her overzealous positivity is grating on his nerves.
But then he laughs.
It’s a hideous laugh, but it’s still a laugh. Amy’s face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. She starts giggling, and I take a deep breath.
Why is this bothering me so much?
It’s just because she’s so annoying ... right?
But as I sit here, watching her try so desperately to find a connection, I notice the guy across from her pulling out his phone.
I freeze as he slides it across to her.
Amy types something onto the screen and slides it back.
Her date laughs again and motions for Amy’s phone—and then I assume he types his number into hers.
My stomach knots up.
Guess she found her connection.
I rip my eyes away from them. It doesn’t matter what she does. I’m not bitter about it ... Right?
Right .
“I think it’s time for me to get out of here,” I say, glancing down at my watch. “I have plans tomorrow.”
“Plans? With who?” Weston asks, setting his phone down on the table.
“Just that 5k.” I chuckle. “Running is never a good time when I’m out late the night before.”
Weston eyes me and then looks over at Amy. “You gonna talk to her before you go?”
My lip curls up. “What? Why would I do that?”
“Well, you keep watching her, and sure, maybe you’re not into her in a romantic way—but you could at least try to be friends with her. She’s new to the city. It’s helpful to make friends. Plus, you were raised here, so you could really show her around.”
I consider it as I slide out of my chair. “I don’t think we get along well enough to be friends.”
Weston shrugs. “Suit yourself. I’ll see ya around.”
I nod to him and then make my way toward the door just as the final buzzer rings through the restaurant. I sigh, stealing one last glance over at Amy. Her date gives her a side hug—which is awkward—and then wanders toward the restroom.
Yeah, that wasn’t a real connection.
However, before I can turn away, Amy meets my gaze...
And then comes bounding over .
Oh no...
No, no...
“Parker!” She waves her hand obnoxiously, her jacket draped over her arm. “I have something to tell you!”
“I was actually just leaving.”
“Perfect! Me, too.” She falls in step beside me as I try to make a beeline for the door. “I totally found a connection on my fourth date. Did you?”
“Yep.”
Her mouth drops open. “Really? See, I knew you’d find someone. You just have to trust the process.”
“She didn’t show up.”
“Oh.” Her mouth clamps shut. “Well, still, I think you should keep trying. I mean, I found someone. You might, too.”
I stop as we step out onto the crowded street, pulling Amy off to the side. “What makes you think you actually found someone tonight? Is it the fact you exchanged numbers?”
She narrows her eyes. “How did you even know that?”
I shrug. “You’re pretty loud about things.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, wow. That’s so embarrassing.”
“It wasn’t that loud,” I say quickly, feeling guilty for exaggerating. “I was only a table over, so I saw it. But...” I pause, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Getting someone’s number doesn’t automatically mean that they’re someone you’ll go out with.”
She huffs. “Well, he said we would.”
“A lot of guys say that. ”
“Okay, well, I don’t know, but you could stand to have a little faith in humanity for once.” Amy nudges me. “You need to cheer up, buttercup.”
I raise a brow at her. “I do have faith in humanity. I just don’t have faith in these kinds of events—or relationships in general. Especially these days. Everything is so shallow.”
She lets out a sharp exhale. “Well, I’ll prove you wrong. I’m going to find love, Parker. You’ll see.”
I laugh because her determination is over the top. “Whatever you say, Amy.”
“Where do you live?” she asks suddenly, glancing around us.
“I don’t typically give out my address to strangers.”
“Ha ha.” She rolls her eyes. “I was just going to suggest that if you live in the direction of Central Park, we could walk together. It’d be kind of nice not to have to walk alone at this time of night.”
“It’s only ten,” I reason, but then stop myself because she’s a single woman living alone in the city. I should probably make sure she gets home okay. “I’ll walk with you in that direction, though.”
“Really? Thank you.” She beams, pulling her gloves out of her coat pocket. “I don’t mind walking in the dark. I’m from Chicago. But I’m still getting used to the city streets and it can be a little intimidating at times.”
I nod, shifting uncomfortably as I catch sight of Weston stepping out. His eyes scan the street and then land on me ... and he smirks as he spots Amy beside me. I shoot back a warning glare and he holds up his hands before turning and heading the opposite way—the actual direction where I live.
“So, what’s your favorite thing to do in the city?” Amy asks, grabbing my attention.
“Um.” I fall in step beside her. “I don’t know, really. I mean, I used to like to go out a lot, but these days I prefer to just hang out at home. I run.”
“You run?”
“Yeah, you know, like marathons.”
Her eyes rake over me. “You don’t look like a runner.”
“Wow, okay, well I also lift weights...” I add, growing defensive.
She laughs. “Ah, that makes sense, then. It’s just that you aren’t, like, super lean . You have some muscle.” She reaches up and squeezes my bicep.
I laugh, unsure if I’m flattered or just purely amused. “Whatever you say.”