Chapter 24
For the first time in a long time, I was bored out of my damn mind on a Friday night. I stopped by Agora after work but wasn’t feeling it, so I left after one drink.
As I walked to my car, I pulled up Instagram on my phone and typed Morgan’s username into the search bar. We didn’t follow one another, but she didn’t have her account set to private either.
I had a feeling I knew what she was up to that night.
One thing you could always count on Morgan to do was post every aspect of her damn social life on the interwebs. Whenever our group of friends were together, Morgan was the one constantly taking and posting photos. They were anything from selfies and group pics—except for me—to her food and drinks.
When Morgan’s account popped up, I clicked on it and then went to the most recent photo.
Sure enough, her newest post made thirty minutes earlier was of a drink.
The caption: Tide I was approaching her from behind so she couldn’t see me coming.
When I neared the table, the man across from her looked up at me just before I slipped into the booth beside Morgan, forcing her to scoot over as I slung an arm over her shoulder. “Hey, babe,” I said a little too enthusiastically.
Morgan’s eyes widened as she snapped her gaze over to me. “What the hell are you doing here?” she whispered harshly.
I’d never actually approached her on a date before, always sabotaging from the background somewhere, so this was new. The look on her face made it so fucking worth it.
I smiled, turning my head to smother a kiss and a laugh against her cheek. “I’ve missed you, too, pookie.”
Morgan shoved me back, but I kept my arm around her. “Um…who are you?” the man across from us asked.
I looked at him; he had a defined jawline, blonde hair, and grey-blue eyes that popped against his tan complexion.
Of course, she’d go for someone like him.
“Wes. Morgan’s boyfriend,” I answered with a smirk as I extended my hand across the table, ignoring her too-stunned-to-speak expression at my lie. “And you are?”
He dismissed my hand, snapping his shocked gaze to Morgan. “Boyfriend?”
“No!” she said a little too loudly before dropping her voice back to an indoor level. I couldn’t help but chuckle when she let out a nervous breath. “That is–it’s not—”
“I’d love to know what the hell is going on! You never mentioned having a boyfriend!”
“That’s because he’s not—”
“I’m sorry. I still didn’t catch your name,” I casually interrupted as I looked at the man.
“Ambrose,” he grumbled.
Oh, Jesus fucking Christ. “Nice to meet you.” I grinned, then looked at his half-eaten plate. “Oh! Did you have the lobster dolma? It’s excellent here, isn’t it? That’s one of my girl’s favorites.” I smirked. “She loves a good dolma.”
“Shouldn’t you be in Columbia?” she ground out through gritted teeth.
I chuckled, realizing why she felt so comfortable posting that photo on Instagram—she’d mixed up the dates of when she thought I wouldn’t be here to fuck with her.
“That conference is next weekend, my silly little goose.” I wrapped my arm back around her shoulders and nuzzled my face into her hair, inhaling her rose scent.
She elbowed me in the gut, causing me to grunt through a laugh before pulling her closer and tighter to my side.
“She really loves to play rough.” I winked at Ambrose before looking back at her.
“Baby, listen,” I crooned, twirling a strand of her long brown hair around my finger; I fought back a laugh when she swatted my hand away.
“Today was hellish, and all I want right now is to get you home and strip you down and lick—”
“Yeah, I’m gonna go.” Ambrose slipped out of the booth.
“Wait!” Morgan pleaded as she pushed me off of her before scooting around to the other side of the booth where he’d just been seated. “Please. I promise this is not what it looks like.”
Ambrose shook his head, clearly agitated. “Lose my number,” he huffed before stomping away.
She watched him walk off before her narrowed gaze turned to me. I chuckled, stretching my arms out along the back of the booth. “Well, that was way easier than I anticipated.”
“I hate you so much!” She slipped out of the booth, heading for the exit.
I pulled out my wallet, throwing down more than enough cash to cover a meal I didn’t even eat before hurrying after her. I followed her outside, falling into step beside her on the sidewalk. “Aw, come on. You’re not the least bit happy to see me?”
“I was happy when I thought you wouldn't be here this weekend,” she spat.
“Ouch. You wound me, babe.” I snorted when she let out an exasperated groan.
“Listen, let’s not act like I didn’t just do you a favor.
Ambrose? Really? He sounds like a walking red flag.
And look how fast he caved under just a bit of pressure.
He folded faster than a wet paper bag. You don’t want someone like that. ”
“Do not presume to tell me what I want,” Morgan chastised. “I didn’t ask for your damn opinion.”
“Well, lucky for you, it’s on the house,” I quipped. “And you’re welcome.”
“God, you’re so fucking annoying.” She crossed the street. “Since we’re right here by Oasis, you’re taking me inside and covering my tab for the rest of the night.”
“Dinner and drinks?” I chuckled, earning a questioning look from her. “I covered yours and little Ambrosia’s bill since you both skipped out like delinquents. Again, you’re welcome. Now, back to this whole dinner and drinks thing…so, what I’m hearing is, we’re now on a date.”
“The hell we are!” she spat.
I shrugged with a smirk. “Sounds like one to me.”