4. Austin
CHAPTER 4
Austin
“ D id you always want to be a lawyer?”
“No.” Mia, my date, smiles, the edges of her blue eyes crinkling. “I actually wanted to be a welder.”
“Seriously?” She laughs, nodding her head as she covers her mouth politely after taking a bite of her salmon. “Well, now I have to hear the story.”
“My dad is one, has been my entire life. He loves his job and both of my brothers followed in his footsteps. Since I was the youngest and always on my brothers’ heels, I just thought oh, this is what I’ll grow up to do too.” She laughs, shaking her head.
“Now that’s something I’d like to see.” I smile back. “You in one of those big face shields, sparks flying all around you. I bet you’d intimidate the shit out of the men near you.”
“Doubtful.” She rolls her eyes. “Even in the courtroom when I kick their asses, they can’t admit defeat.” If Taylor were here, I can imagine her and Mia launching into an entire conversation right now about life as a woman in the legal world. “Anyway, my dad and brothers both talked me out of being a welder. Not because they didn’t think I could do it, but because they didn’t want me subjected to that world.”
She pushes her long blond hair away from her shoulder. It’s almost the same exact color as Taylor’s, so golden and shiny against her pale skin, it makes her icy-blue eyes stand out. It was the first thing I noticed about her, the first thing I noticed about Taylor as well.
“I have no doubt that if you did go into that field, you would have kicked ass in it as well.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence and while I was a very unhappy little girl at the time my dad told me that, I’m glad I ended up going into law. I can honestly say my career makes me happy.”
“So besides practicing law and running, Mia…” I take a sip of my wine and lean back a little in my chair. “What else makes you happy?”
She tilts her head as if she’s thinking through the question and I take the time to try and push away the niggling feeling that’s begun to gnaw at my gut. The feeling I don’t want to face… especially not right now.
“Spending time with friends and family. I love a good night out and, of course, traveling.” Her eyes light up as she tells me about some of her favorite places she traveled. “Oh, and this adorable place I stayed at in Milos once was just amazing. We had our own private beach and the host’s cats would come sit me every morning. It was magical.”
“Sounds like it.” I smile to myself at her affinity for cats, something else she and Taylor would have in common.
“So, enough about me. What made you ask me out?”
“I mean, look at you, why wouldn’t I?” I try not to sound too much like an asshole but her looks certainly had something to do with it… actually, they had everything to do with it. Not just because she’s knock you on your ass beautiful or because every head turned in this restaurant when the host walked us to our seats. But because she looks like Taylor. As much as I want to pretend that isn’t what caught my eye or what’s caught my eye about the last five women I’ve taken out, that’s the truth no matter which way I try and spin it.
“Okay, so looks first, I can respect that. It’s the first thing I noticed about you.” She smiles coyly. “Well, I noticed all of this”—she points toward my body—“since you were shirtless, but then I saw your face and that was the cherry on top.”
“Glad we can both appreciate one another. That being said, I’m not trying to sell you short; you’re obviously an extremely smart and successful woman as well. I’m attracted to that. I like a take charge kind of woman.” I wink. “Preferably with a smart mouth.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.” She laughs again. “My ex wasn’t a fan of me being a lawyer or having opinions.”
“No?” I take a sip of my wine. “Sounds like he’s an ex for a reason.”
She shrugs, her eyes drifting down to where she’s started to fiddle with her napkin. “Yeah, I mean, he isn’t a bad guy; he just has a few things he needs to work on.” I can feel the excitement about this date start to leave my body the more she starts to defend him. “And it’s not that he didn’t necessarily mind that I was a lawyer. It was more the hours and lifestyle of it.”
I nod, pretending to be engaged in the conversation that has suddenly taken a sharp turn. Gone is that smiling woman from a moment ago. Now she sounds sad and desperate to get her ex back.
“How long ago did things end?”
“Two weeks ago,” she says, confirming my suspicions that she’s most likely not over this guy.
I glance at both of our glasses that are now empty, the waiter nowhere in sight, most likely busy with another table. Getting a sense of where this date is about to go, I do the least shitty thing I can think of besides leaving… getting drunk.
“Hey, why don’t I go up to the bar and grab us another drink?”
“Okay.” She nods as she reaches for her purse. “I need to go to the ladies’ room so I’ll meet you back here in a few moments.”
I stand and pull out her chair, making my way toward the bar once she excuses herself. I motion toward the bartender, ordering two more glasses of wine. My eyes drift, along with my thoughts. It’s clear there’s an attraction between Mia and me, and if I had to guess, I wouldn’t even have to try to take her home tonight. I’ve been on enough rebound dates with women to know that an anger fuck with a stranger is probably exactly what she’s looking for, but it’s not what I want.
I scan the row of patrons on the other side of the bar, my eyes drifting listlessly down the row when they land on Taylor. I squint, leaning forward as if I’m not actually sure I’m seeing her sitting across from me, her head down, focused on her phone while she has her hand shielding her face.
“What the fuck?” I laugh, walking around the bar toward her. “Are you seriously trying to hide from me right now?” She lifts her head, her eyes growing wide when they meet mine.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Her brow is furrowed in confusion.
“Probably the same thing as you. Eating.” I laugh again. “I told you I have a first date tonight.”
“I mean, why here? This is your third date restaurant.” She lowers her voice as if my date might hear her and glances over my shoulder. “Also, why are you talking to me when you’re on a date?”
“It is?” I cock my head. “I guess I didn’t realize that.” I flash her a grin, one I know will send her eyes rolling to the back of her head. I know damn well what my date routine is; I just think it’s cute she does too.
“Yes, you did. First dates with you are always sushi, second is Italian, and this is third.”
“Hmm, guess you’re right.” I turn and lean back against the bar, taking a second to glance around. “Are you here alone?”
“Order for Taylor?” the bartender says, handing a bag to her over the bar. “Grabbing your wine right now, sir.” He nods toward me, then turns away.
“I was just grabbing something to go so go enjoy your date and stop talking to me. It’s weird to be talking to another woman when you’re on a date with someone else.” She attempts to shoo me away, but I stay put.
“Relax.” I roll my eyes. “She had to run to the restroom and I’m waiting on our drinks.”
I glance down at her phone that is still playing a video from the social media app she was scrolling. It’s a man in a suit mouthing something, then a second later it turns red and he’s shirtless, the camera zooming in on his mouth as he says something else.
“What’s this?” I laugh, picking up her phone just as she tries to grab it from me.
“It’s nothing, I don’t know. It was just a video that was playing.” Her cheeks turn pink as she lunges toward me.
“Oh yeah? I’m pretty sure I tried that same line with my dad when he caught me watching porn at fifteen.” I hold the phone far enough away from her that she can’t reach it.
“It’s not—porn,” she half whispers.
“How many times did you watch it?” I crook my eyebrow at her, the little heart on the screen red. “Oh, and look at that, you even liked it? Is that what that little red heart means right here?”
“Give it back,” she grits the words out.
“What does Noah think about your internet boyfriends? Jealous?” I don’t know why I bring that asshole up, maybe to get her to admit for once that she doesn’t care what he thinks, but it’s useless.
“Stop being immature and go back to your date because I’m pretty sure she just sat down.”
When I turn to look back at my table, she snatches the phone from my hand. Mia takes a seat back at our table just as the bartender places the glasses down in front of me. I turn back to Taylor, her eyes taking in Mia. For a brief second, I’m confident she sees it. Her eyes flick back to mine, then back to Mia, and I’m sure she’s going to say something about the resemblance to her but she doesn’t.
“Good night, Austin,” she says, grabbing her bag of food and sliding off the barstool. “Go be a gentleman and don’t screw it up.” She points her finger at me with a little grin peeking through her serious expression. Our eyes stay locked for a few seconds longer than normal and just when I think there’s something more behind her gaze, something only meant for me, she turns on her heel and walks away.
I let my eyes follow her out of the restaurant, the urge to chase after her and show her exactly just how much of a gentleman I can be. Maybe it would wake her up and make her see the kind of man she actually deserves to be with.
Not a fucking dickbag asshole like Noah.
I pick up the glasses of wine and make my way back over to our table. But before I can even place them, Mia looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes, clear evidence that she’s been crying.
“I don’t think I’m over my ex. I’m so sorry.” She reaches for her napkin and dabs at the corner of each eye. “I shouldn’t have brought him up. I shouldn’t have agreed to this date. I shouldn’t be wasting your time.”
I reach for my glass, taking several long sips until the entire thing is drained, wishing it was something harder.
“No need to apologize,” I say, placing the glass back on the table and making eye contact with the waiter to let him know we’re ready for the check. “I’m pretty confident I shouldn’t have asked you out either.”
“Oh?” Her brows shoot upward. “Still hung up on an ex too?” she says sympathetically.
“Nah.” I shake my head, the wine making my brain feel like it’s swimming almost instantly. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with my business partner.”
For the first time in five years, I’ve said the words out loud that I’ve known since the second I met her.
“What’s stopping you from telling her?”
My finger taps rhythmically against the top of the table, matching the thud of my heart against my ribs when I think about the answer. My stomach churns, picturing her in his arms tonight. Finally, I look up at Mia.
“She’s in love with someone else.”