Chapter 7 #2
He gives me a look of concern, but he doesn’t question my ability to drive as I get acquainted with this beast. With any vintage car, you have to learn it. They all have a sweet spot in gears.
“We’re going to a bar called The Garage. It’s not that far from here,” he says, glancing out the window.
“I know where that is,” I tell him. “They have a Chevelle hanging from the ceiling. I’ve been there a few times. Doesn’t seem like your type of place.”
“There’s a lot about me that would surprise you.”
I glance away from him.
“I take it you know a lot about vintage cars,” he says. “Most people wouldn’t give two fucks what kind of car is hanging in that restaurant.”
I coast in neutral to the stop sign as the engine purrs. I want to take her up on the highway and drive ninety with the windows down.
Before pulling away, I turn to him. “Kinda. My dad was into restoration. He had a 1927 Model T. We rebuilt it together when I was a teenager and drove it to vintage car shows. I’ve been around muscle cars all my life.”
“That’s impressive.” His eyes scan the street as I turn right.
We’re about twelve blocks away.
The sun sets over the distant buildings, and the sky transforms from orange to purple and eventually nightfall.
“I’ve never met a woman who can drive a standard,” he admits.
“That doesn’t surprise me. But you know, I’ve never met a guy like you who has a driver’s license.”
“Ouch. You are feisty.” He shakes his head. “It makes perfect sense.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Nothing.” He laughs.
“ Now you’re quiet?” I’m confused.
He’s hot, then he’s cold. I don’t know how to read him.
“You’ll figure it out soon enough.”
The conversation comes to a lull, and my heart rate increases. It takes everything I have not to laugh because this is ridiculous. However, anytime I’ve been around this man, it’s been an unpredictable situation.
I place my left hand out the window, allowing the air to blow through my fingers.
“So, you’re from Texas?” he asks.
“Yeah, but how did you know that?” I glance over at him.
“I’ve made knowing everything about you my job,” he says. “You’ve become my new hobby.”
I shake my head. “For some reason, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Do you miss it?” His tone is sincere.
“Sometimes.” I think about the circumstances that made me leave. “Like right now, I miss being unable to hit an open road and drive this car as fast as possible. I love New York, but … there’s no place like home. Valentine is special.”
He nods and turns back to me. “I think you belong here.”
For a moment, it’s like a dream.
“You seem different today.”
“Do I? Much better than acting like a cold asshole, right?”
“It’s night and day,” I admit.
“Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment. Oh, there is one tiny thing. I need to apologize in advance, but so far, it’s been a delight.”
“Wh—”
He quickly interrupts me, “Take this parking spot. Can you parallel park?”
“You love offending me, don’t you?”
“I’m sure I say all the right things at the wrong time.”
He chuckles as I reach my arm across the back of the seat. I look into his eyes before glancing behind me as I inch the car into the tight place. After I engage the parking brake and turn the engine off. He holds out his palm, just like the first day we met, and I return his keys.
“Ready for the time of your life?” he asks.
“As ready as you are,” I tell him.
“A little secret: I was born ready,” he says, getting out of the car as I slide on my high heels.
He walks to the driver’s side and opens the door with his hand held out. I take it, and we walk toward the entrance. He’s close to me, and I wonder if photographers are snapping photos of this.
After we enter, I turn to him. “I need to quickly stop by the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll meet you at the bar?” He points over toward it.
“Five minutes,” I tell him, knowing he has a thing with time.
I smile and move toward the restroom as excitement and adrenaline rush through me. I go inside the stall, ignore all texts, and call Carlee. I explain everything as fast as I can because it’s quicker than texting.
“Holy shit,” she says, and I can tell she’s smiling. “You’re on a date with Easton Calloway.”
“It’s not a date,” I explain.
“Call it whatever you want. If a man picked me up in that car, wearing that suit and giving me flowers … well, let your imagination wander.”
“I’ll leave and meet up with you so we can go out,” I tell her because I feel guilty.
“Don’t you dare! If the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t.”
I laugh. “Okay. That’s true. I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” she says. “Go have fun!”
“Thanks. I’ll keep you updated,” I whisper.
“And don’t forget to say thank you to him.”
“I already did. Thank you for everything. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
I end the call and lean my back against the stall of the bathroom door. Once my heart rate has settled, I wash my hands and walk to the bar area. On the way there, I pass the same guy I saw in the park last weekend. This must be his bodyguard. I wonder where he’s been all night. Following us?
I shake my head at him. “You’re good at hiding.”
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, but he doesn’t say anything. I move through the crowd and find Easton sitting at the bar with a drink.
I place my hand on his back as I climb onto the stool beside him. “Sorry. I’m back. Hopefully, I wasn’t a second over five minutes.”
He does a double take. The small notebook he was writing in is snapped shut, and he places a pen on top. His mouth opens and closes as he searches my face like I’m a ghost. “Alexis?”
“Remember when I mentioned you were being weird as fuck?” I don’t even address him using my full name.
He lifts a brow. “No, I don’t recall that one. Please, enlighten me.”
“Okay, well, you’re doing it again. And it’s giving me whiplash.”
“I’m not sure wha?—”
“Thanks for saving me a seat,” a deep, familiar voice says behind us.
My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as I see two Eastons standing in front of me, wearing the same exact thing.
“You’re so rich that you have a fucking clone ?” I gasp.
“Weston, you didn’t ,” the one sitting beside me says.
“ Weston ?” I turn and look up at him, grinning. “You’re twins ?”
Easton glances at me. “You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t care enough to learn every detail about you. I’m not obsessed,” I harshly whisper.
“Not yet,” he whispers, placing the glass to his lips.
I’ve tried to forget he exists since I crashed into him at the W. Somehow, here I am, with this man for a third time. And I was tricked into it.
Weston takes my hand, stealing my attention away as he places his lips on my knuckles. “Nice to meet you, Lexi. I told you I was sorry already, and I have had a pleasure hanging out with you. Now, you two have some chatting to do,” he says with a wink.
My mouth falls open as Weston turns and walks out of the building.
He waves at me as he makes his way in front of the windows until he’s out of sight.
Then, I awkwardly sit next to Easton, the man I thought I’d been with for the last thirty minutes.
The man I thought I’d somewhat warmed up to.
But no, we’re actually still at square one .
Moments later, Weston returns with the bouquet of yellow roses. “A pretty girl should always have flowers on a date.”
“Date?” I ask, confused.
“Perfection.” He laughs, squeezing Easton’s shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
The bartender comes over and takes my order—single malt whiskey.
I don’t say a word for a few minutes, and it grows awkward. The conversation in the Mustang makes more sense. When I’m handed my drink, I take a sip and glance at Easton. I think he’s as shocked as me.
“Anything else I should know?” I ask.
This man is a bag of surprises.
“Sorry, he’s very charming and flirty.”
“I’m confused how he knew anything about me.” I try to put the pieces together, but it doesn’t make sense.
“The photos in the park started this,” he says. “And now, my brother is trying very hard to play matchmaker—to his own demise.” He rolls the ice around in his glass. “I’m not sure what’s more unbelievable—him creating an elaborate scheme to take you out, or that you fell for it.”
He glances over at me, but I see the smile threatening to emerge.
I scoff. “Oh, I can’t believe I fell for it either. You, that charming?”
“Actually”—he tilts his drink toward me—“I’m charming when I want to be. I could easily be the man to sweep you off your feet and have you begging for more of me— if I wanted. Don’t get it twisted, darling.”
When he looks at me, it’s as if he peels off my mask and sees the raw me. “Well then, kinda glad you don’t want to.”
“Oh, I never said that.” He breaks eye contact. “I can tell you were blindsided, and I apologize for that. I’ll take care of him first thing on Monday morning. It will never happen again.”
I don’t know what wrath Easton will throw his way.
“It’s fine. He meant well, and he’s not hard to be around.”
“I know,” he says.
I realize how different they are. Easton is all business, the mastermind.
Calculative. Intelligent. Dangerous .
“I called you,” I say, not sure if he knew it was me or not. I never gave him my number.
“I don’t like to talk on the phone,” he mutters. “To anyone .”
I nod, making a mental note of that. “That’s too bad. I was reaching out to thank you and was extending an invite for you to hang out with me and my best friend tonight.”
“Really?”
“She kinda bet me I wouldn’t ask you. I explained you wouldn’t have joined us anyway.”
“You’d have lost,” he mumbles.
My heart rate upticks. “Oh?”
“You intrigue me, Alexis,” he admits.
“Like a toy?”
Easton shakes his head and gives me his undivided attention. “Like an inferno.”
His words catch me off guard, and I smile. “I love playing with fire.”
He narrows his eyes before licking his lips. “You are the fire.”