Chapter 14
TYRELL
Instant regret.
The second I pulled away from Dani’s apartment, I was swamped with it.
Why the hell did I agree to her finding me some girl?
Probably because she seemed relieved by the idea of doing this together, of not being the sole focus around this whole dating thing.
Okay, so the idea of a double date is kind of fun. It definitely makes things less intense.
Which is why I chose Lincoln to come with me.
Yes, Carson had a little hissy fit, but he doesn’t have to hang out with the guy, and Carson needs to get over his hate for Fleischer… and all people associated with him. Lincoln is one of those guys who is friends with everyone.
I think Dani’s gonna like him.
I checked, and he plays piano (sort of—his mom made him learn as a kid), but his taste in music is good. I queried him on that too, and he reminded me that we’ve roomed together before, and we’re both eclectic in our taste.
He comes from a good family—three younger sisters, who all adore him, which proves he knows how to treat girls right.
He says he can cook, although I haven’t tasted the evidence, so who knows.
He’s a junior, so a little younger than Dani, but it means he’ll be kicking around Nolan for another year at least. If there’s a spark, they’ll have plenty of time to do something about it.
I haven’t had a chance to ask him about travel yet, because my interrogation got interrupted by Coach. Right now, we’re driving to the restaurant, and I don’t have time to quiz him on all the places he wants to travel to.
Not when I’m busy grilling him on treating Dani right.
“Seriously, man?” He gives me a skeptical frown, and I point my finger at him.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“I’m not sitting here while you lecture me on how to treat a first date…
or any woman. I know girls, man. I’ve grown up surrounded by them, and my mama didn’t let me get away with anything.
She slapped me up the side of the head if I put a toe out of line, so you better believe me when I tell you, I know how to be a gentleman. I didn’t have a choice.”
I throw him a side-eye. “But you wanna treat girls right, though. Right?”
“Of course I do. I’m not an asshole.” He flicks my arm with the back of his hand. “Boy, why’d you even ask me to do this if you’re doubting me?”
“I just…” I huff out a breath and have to apologize. “I’m sorry. I just want to make sure she has a good night. Dani’s lost big, you know? She’s trying to put herself back out there, and she’s vulnerable right now, so you need to play this right. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I will, brother. Trust me. And I know you’ll kick my ass if I don’t.” He bulges his dark brown eyes at me, and I can’t help a soft snort.
“I will, but I’m not gonna have to. Sorry, brah. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“Because she’s setting you up with some chick you’ve never met before?” He laughs at me. “Maybe that’s it.”
“Yeah,” I have to admit. I’ve been on plenty of dates at Nolan U. Why should this one be so much more nerve-racking?
“Do you even know her name?”
“Chastity. I think.”
“And how does Dani know her?”
“She lives on the second floor of Dani’s building. They go walking together sometimes.”
“Is she a student?”
“Yeah. She’s a senior. Dani said she’s studying engineering. Thought it might be a good fit, you know? We’ll have something in common. Something to talk about.”
“Okay.” Lincoln nods. “And if not? If things don’t go as smoothly as you hope, do you want like a safe word or something?”
“A safe word?” I whip my head to look at him just before pulling into the small parking lot behind the restaurant.
“Yeah, you know, just some phrase we can say to each other if we want to bail early.”
Why would he want to bail early on Dani?
I nearly tell him he’s crazy, but he keeps talking before I get the chance.
“How about I start talking about finals week and how it’s only one month away.” He grins. “And then you’ll be like, ‘Damn, man. I’m behind on my studying.’”
I give him a skeptical frown.
“And then I’ll start going on about busy schedules, and you’ll regretfully say that as much fun as we’re having, we really need to get our asses home and hit the books.”
“That sounds completely lame,” I murmur.
“Yeah, I know.” He laughs. “But what else have you got?”
I think for a moment and come up with nothing. Checking my watch, I see we’ve only got a minute before we’re due in there, so I just have to flick my hands up and admit, “I don’t have anything better.”
“Okay.” Lincoln claps his hands together. “So, we probably won’t have to use it, but if we do, we pull out the study excuse, and even if you’re having the best time, you have to bail. And I’ll do the same for you.”
I reluctantly agree, although the chances of him needing to bail are slim to none. It’s Dani. He’s not gonna want to leave her for studying.
Me, on the other hand… who knows?
“You sure you’re okay bailing early if you have to?” I double-check with him.
“Yeah, man. I’ve got your back. And you’ve got mine.” He winks. “It’s only fair.”
With an agreed nod, we open our doors and walk around the building to the front entrance of the restaurant.
I spot Dani first. She’s decked out in a pair of black pants that hug her legs and butt.
Damn, she’s got nice curves. Always has.
Her denim jacket hides the top half of her body, but I know.
Atlas couldn’t get enough of her shape, and I’d hear all about it.
It was impossible not to look, especially over those summer months when she’d run around in cutoff denim shorts and that orange bikini top she loved.
She hasn’t changed all that much.
“Is that her?” Lincoln nudges me, looking through the window. “The denim jacket and hoop earrings?”
“Yeah, man.”
“Damn, boy. Thank you.”
“Hey.” I grab his arm before he can walk inside. “Treat her—”
“Good. I know, I know.” Lincoln rolls his eyes, shaking me off and striding into the restaurant.
I shuffle up behind him, nerves racing through me like wildfire as I pause behind him and check out Chastity.
She’s taller than Dani. Long and lean with bronze skin and almond-shaped eyes. Her smile is sweet, kind of shy, and I try to settle her obvious nerves with a smile of my own.
I’m just starting to worry that this is the worst idea in the history of man when Dani spins around, spots us walking toward them, and beams me a brilliant grin that settles my insides.
She’s gonna be here, I remind myself.
And that one thought calms those nerves and turns my smile genuine as I walk toward her and make the introductions.