7. Meghan #2
Unfortunately, Zach interrupts our drama. “Ash, the fuck you doing, man?”
We all look over to see Zach, Izzy, and Zander mirroring our uncomfortable threesome. Zach gives a head nod towards Zander, clearly indicating that he wants him gone.
I feel ya Zach. I wish a head nod was all it took to get rid of unwanted men, too.
Sebastian takes the hint and motions Zander to come over. Zander seems too starstruck to care about the fact that these Sleet guys just took over our little double date. Zach’s a new rising star on the Sleet, but Ash has been a fan favorite for years.
I shouldn’t be ticked off right now; I arranged this whole ambush, but I am. I am, because I didn’t arrange for Sebastian LeBlanc to show up and charm the pants off everyone in a five mile radius.
After a few uncomfortable minutes, Benny asks if he and Zander could take a photo with the players. Which yours truly has the pleasure of taking. I think about cropping Sebastian out of the picture, but I don't want to disappoint Benny .
Then the law of unintended consequences decides to take over. Apparently, half the people here tonight are hockey fans, and seeing the first group photo unlocks the floodgates. It’s a non-stop flow of group photos and signed napkins, and our bowling time is officially over.
Benny and Zander are enjoying the nearness to fame, so here we all sit, ten feet away from the ever-growing fan club. Shoot me now.
“Thanks for planning this date. Sorry it got sabotaged,” Izzy whispers into my ear.
“I appreciate the effort, but I’m going to take Zander aside and tell him that it won’t work.
I don’t want to lead him on, and I don’t want him to ask for my number in front of you guys and have to turn him down. That’d be embarrassing for everyone.”
“I gotcha. It was a blind date, so no hard feelings. I’m pretty sure the excitement of seeing real live Sleet players will help to dull his heartache,” I tell her.
“True. Okay, I’ll be right back.”
I watch as Izzy walks off with Zander. I should feel bad about using him and Benny in my plan. But I was probably correct in assuming that meeting Zach and Sebastian would make their week.
Ugh, Sebastian. I want to look away. I don’t want to watch him smile at that pretty blonde. But for the life of me, I can’t stop staring.
It’s like he put on a whole different personality between now and when he first stepped into our evening.
He was all scowls and brooding darkness before, but now he’s all grins and laughs and leaning in close for selfies with a pair of co-eds.
What a poser. And a jerk. And I can’t believe he called me Banshee tonight.
The nerve on this guy. He gives me that nickname.
Then he ignores me. Then he uses it again while acting all Alpha.
I was afraid his next move was going to be whipping out his dick to pee on me in a show of claiming.
Then, ten minutes later, he’s back to pretending I don’t exist. What an obnoxious twat.
The blonde scampers off, with a lingering look over her shoulder. Sometimes I hate being body- and sex- positive. Because I’d love nothing more than to loathe her for her beauty and call her a whore. But I won’t.
When Sebastian starts walking in my direction, I realize he’s caught me watching him.
And there’s no point in pretending otherwise.
Benny’s sitting next to me, at the table we claimed after closing down our lane, but he’s on his phone texting his dad about meeting hockey players.
So yeah, I’m just sitting here, silently staring.
Sebastian smirks. Damnit .
He turns his attention to my table mate. “Benny, come here for a minute.”
I thought Benny was too distracted to hear the world around him, but he pops out of his seat in a flash.
“Yeah, sure!” He sounds like the eager puppy that he is.
Sebastian puts his arm around Benny’s shoulders and steers him towards the bar, away from me.
I watch, dumbfounded. The motherfucker just stole my date. Still sitting.
Mouth agape, I wonder what the hell is happening to my life. Right as they reach the pair of open stools at the bar, Sebastian looks back at me, and winks.
Why, that little, giant, sexy, dick of a man.
“Where’s Izz?” Zach’s voice cuts off my inner tirade.
I turn to face him. “You mean Sugar?”
“Cute. Where is she?”
“Why did you bring Ash with you tonight?” I say Ash with maybe too much venom. I don’t know what he told Zach about the haunted corn maze, but I feel like calling him Sebastian will sound too familiar.
My question seems to catch him off guard. “Because Ash is my friend. I couldn’t very well show up at a bowling alley by myself. Looking like a complete loser isn’t the goal.”
“Hmmm.” I guess that makes sense. But shit, why Sebastian?
“Meg, where’s Izzy?” Zach looks around. “And where’s Zander?”
“They’re not here.”
That gets his attention. “What do you mean they’re not here?”
“Cool your man-pecs” I sigh. “Izzy asked Zander to walk her to the restrooms.”
“Why the fuck would she do that? Isn’t it usually you girls that always go to the bathroom in packs? ”
“Nice generalization.” I roll my eyes. “If I had to guess, I’d say she wanted a moment to talk to him alone.”
“Why?”
“Oh my God! Men are such thick-headed morons sometimes!” I’ve had enough of these idiots for one night. I get up and walk away, looking for a place to sit that’s hidden in a corner where no one will bug me. As soon as Izzy’s ready, we’re getting the fuck outta here.