Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Ray
“You’re taking her on an actual date? Good for you. I knew this fake dating thing was all for show.”
Being on the phone, my brother doesn’t see my eyes roll.
“This is only happening because you helped Grandma buy a gift card for us. Don’t pretend you’re not trying to play matchmaker.”
“So what if I am? It was clear from the first look at her you found her attractive. And there’s no way she doesn’t feel the same if she’s agreed to all of this nonsense.”
“She is doing it for Gran.”
“I don’t think that’s the only reason and, oh, Dom is stealing my phone.”
I hear a rustling on the other end, then Dominic’s deep voice.
“Ray? Do you have something nice to wear for the date?”
“It’s not a date. And, yeah, of course.”
He makes a disbelieving noise on the other end.
“I’m bringing some choices to the final tux fitting on Saturday.”
“Dom, you don’t have to do that,” I say, irritably.
“It’s me again. He didn’t hear that. And,” I hear Trev’s fiance shout something in the background, “he says he doesn’t care.”
After I hang up, I can’t help but laugh. Who am I to say no to help? Heck, if it’s true that I caught Artio’s eye that first day, then I was wearing the outfit Cooper and Ryan dressed me up in.
I check myself over before heading out the door to pick up Artio. Dominic made me try on a few options at the seamstress’s, who humored him and enjoyed sharing her opinions about the various getups as well. He and Trevor settled on a turtleneck sweater and dark jeans combo.
And, looking at my reflection, I can see it works for me. The dark green makes my green-eyes pop. Which, per past girlfriends, is apparently my best feature.
I pick Artio up on the way to Corvid Valley Steakhouse.They seat us with a nice lake view, but I’m more interested in stealing glimpses of my fake date.
She is wearing a curve-hugging red dress, with a slit up the side showing off her gleaming brown legs, and what Enid would refer to as Fuck-Me shoes.
I could stare at her all night, but I tell myself that would come off as creepy.
Wistfully looking out at the lake, with the sun setting behind Ravenhart Mountain, Artio says, “It really was nice of your grandmother to do this for us.”
“I hope you didn’t feel pressured to do this,” I say, my self-doubt winning over. “It wasn’t what we had agreed upon.”
My fake date turns to me, a small smile on her face. She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand, making me grateful that the table hides my arousal caused by her touch.
“I enjoy spending time with you, Ray. Tonight will be fun.”
And she’s right. Dinner is fun. We have reached a level of comfort where we can talk easily with each other. When the server returns to the table to see if we want dessert, Artio points to her phone on the table.
“Actually, before you picked me up, I saw that a pop-up speakeasy is happening around the corner tonight. Are you interested in checking it out?”
The speakeasy is in the back of an art supplies store.
The clientele is what you would expect, although there is a loud group of drunk hipsters in the corner who make sure everyone is aware of their presence.
We choose the far table on the left to avoid them, although it’s right next to the bathroom, so not exactly a quiet spot.
After our first drink, Artio suggests leaving because it’s difficult to hold a conversation with the rowdy drunks becoming louder every five minutes. I close out my tab at the bar and let her know I am using the restroom quickly before we go.
The bathroom muffles the speakeasy's din, but as I dry my hands, I hear an angry woman’s voice and a man’s obnoxious laugh. I open the door to see one of the drunk hipsters leaning over Artio, saying something smarmy while she is gritting her teeth and making a fist on the table.
“I said no!” she says forcefully, as the man reaches toward her face.
Stepping forward to kick the shit out of this guy when what I witness stops me in my tracks.
Artio, now standing, shifts into a huge, black bear and roars directly into the hipster’s face.
He is so startled that he falls backwards onto the floor.
Artio then stands on her hind legs and roars over him, making him scramble away on the ground.
Falling to her four paws, she looks over at me and shifts back into her human form. I realize my jaw has fallen open and shut it as she gives me a small smile.
“I realize I didn’t tell you this nugget of information about me,” she says, with combined notes of apology and defiance in her voice.
I shake my head, speechless, and she gestures for us to leave.
We walk outside, the stinging cold February night air greeting us. Turning to her, I see a vulnerability in Artio’s eyes that is new to me. I realize I have yet to say anything, so I reach out to touch her arm.
“That was one of the most badass things I have ever witnessed in my entire life.” I blurt out.
Next thing I know, Artio presses her wine-flavored lips against mine, her hands in my hair and I explore her delicious curves.