Chapter 7
7
W hy am I nervous to walk into High Five? I come in here after work most days for a drink. Buttons . This is so stupid; I can’t believe the Easter Bunny is going to buy me a drink. Or that I’m actually excited about it.
Inside the bar, the first person I spot is Aaron Olson. Of course, he’s working today. I flash him a friendly smile before I spot the back of the bunny mask on a guy in a t-shirt and jeans. He changed. So, the tall guy under the costume is in good shape. Plot twist. I laugh to myself, relieved it’s not some old man. No tattoos. If only he had arm tattoos, that would be a dead giveaway. But still ... who is this?
“Hi,” I say, feeling a little unnerved talking to a guy in a bunny mask.
“I’m surprised you came.”
“Me too.”
“What can I get you to drink, Anna?” Aaron asks.
I glance at the cocktail the bunny is drinking. “Whatever that is.”
Why does Aaron have to have a front-row seat to this? Me and the Easter Bunny. This is ridiculous, but what else can I do but lean into it?
“Ready for your busy day tomorrow?”
The deep, sexy, amused sound from behind the mask catches me off guard. I’ve heard that voice before.
“I’m not committing to the bit this much,” he says as Aaron slides my drink over.
“Cheers, little bunny,” he teases.
“Little bunny?”
He chuckles, and something about that laugh clicks in my mind. I’m pretty sure it’s Chad. I bite my lip, choosing not to guess aloud just yet. “Why are you calling me little bunny?”
The big, creepy eyes of the mask tilt slightly downward. Is he checking me out?
“You’re a little bunny compared to me.”
“I thought you weren’t committing to the bit?”
He laughs again. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Brunch at my sister’s with the whole family.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes! My family’s great, and we always have fun together.”
He props his chin on his hand, the bunny mask resting in it.
“What?” I ask, feeling a little self-conscious.
“You’re very cute.”
“You’re kinda creepy looking.”
“The mask is creepy. I know … but I like that you’re having fun with this.”
“You’re lucky I’m a curious person. So, give me a hint about who you are.”
“No.”
“No?” I repeat, realizing the tone is flirty. I’m flirting with a guy in a bunny mask. I shake my head, amused by this situation. “Come on, please.”
He wags the bunny head back and forth in an exaggerated manner. “I’m a foodie.”
I roll my eyes. “Aren’t we all? That’s barely a hint.”
“Why are you so curious about who I am?”
“I’m trying to rule out that you’re not a serial killer.”
He laughs heartily. Definitely Chad , I think. Chad Braun . I’m not mad about it. He’s fun. I love when he comes into the restaurant. Checking out his arms … I’m pretty confident it’s Chad.
“Do you have any other little bunnies?” I ask, wanting to solve this mystery.
The bunny mask tilts again. “Rabbits? No.”
Witty. I laugh way too much at him saying he doesn’t have kids and take a sip of my drink. “I mean ... are you single?”
“Too single.”
“Too single?” I repeat, raising an eyebrow.
“What about you?”
“Same. Too single. So, why are you in this mask?”
“I lost my fantasy league.”
“I think you're having too much fun with the punishment.”
“Maybe.”
It’s so weird not seeing his face, relying on tone alone to gauge his reactions.
“Aaron,” I call out. “Should I be scared of this guy?”
Aaron looks up from behind the bar. “No.”
Because this is all so ridiculous, I blurt out, “Should I go home with the bunny?”
There is a choking sound behind the bunny mask, and Aaron’s eyes dart between the bunny and me. “That’s really a personal decision.”
I groan. Aaron is way too much of a gentleman.
“Why are you trying to make me nervous?” the voice behind the mask asks.
“Nervous?”
“You’re thinking about taking me home.”
“No, I’m not!” I protest, though my face feels warm.
“Then why’d you ask?”
I shrug, taking another sip. What if this isn’t Chad?
“Is this bunny bothering you?” Nicholas’s voice interrupts, and I turn to see him smirking, standing with another guy in his mid- to late-thirties.
“No, he’s nice.”
Nicholas and the bunny fist bump. Then the other guy claps the bunny on the shoulder before they head to a high-top table. Another clue. The bunny is probably in his thirties. Chad is also in his thirties.
“Want to join your friends?” I ask.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You’re more interesting.”