Chapter 13
Alara
W hy am I so nervous? It's not like I've never been on a date before. My dating life has been fairly active, even though none of the men usually make it past date three. That's usually just because they don't feel like someone I would want to open up to. Maybe Nix will be different.
This guy is sort of an anomaly. There's a comfort level with him that I’ve never experienced with anyone else. Even without knowing me, he’s able to see parts of me that others would run from. He feels safe enough to have deeper conversations with, despite just meeting.
I glance at my reflection in the mirror, wondering if this is acceptable for a lunch date. A lunch date with a famous drummer. As soon as the thought hits me, I shake my head. No, he's not a famous drummer, not to me. He's just Nix. Still, the nerves bubble just beneath the surface.
My eyes roam over the form-fitting dark blue jeans that hug my hips perfectly.
I opted to pair a black crop top with cap sleeves with them.
Underneath the shirt, I slipped on a mesh undershirt with butterfly sleeves that’s also cropped.
It puts my midriff on full display in the best possible way.
My shoes are simple black lace platforms that my jeans tuck perfectly into.
After slipping them on, I turn in the mirror and smile. Hell, yes. I look hot as fuck.
I snap a picture in the mirror and send it to Rayne before the alarm on my phone goes off.
The nerves begin to catch up with me again as I grab my keys and head to the car.
The drive to the address Nix sent is fairly quick, only about ten minutes from my house, which was surprising.
I wasn’t expecting him to choose something on this side of town.
I really thought I’d have to head to the city.
Either way, I’m pleasantly surprised when I pull up to the quaint building.
I have to do a double-take to make sure this is the correct place.
It’s not like I was expecting somewhere with a Michelin Star for lunch, but I was worried he might try to do something over the top.
This building looks similar to a house with a small sign out front displaying the business name, Rachel’s.
There are bright blue shutters and a low-hanging roof, giving the place an even more home-like appeal.
After parking, I pull out my phone, unsure of whether or not I should go inside or wait. I’m a few minutes early, so I don’t really know what to expect. It’s just enough time to make myself anxious. Breathe, Alara. It’s just a date. It’s not like you’re getting married.
A knock on my car window makes me jump, and when I look over, the man himself is standing outside it, grinning from ear to ear.
I quickly compose myself and step out while taking in how delicious he looks.
Black jeans, a dark blue fitted t-shirt, and tan Vans complement my outfit perfectly.
If you were a stranger laying eyes on us for the first time, you’d think we coordinated this.
"You look amazing." He pulls me in without hesitation, his arm wrapping around my waist.
"I'm flattered." I blush. How can one simple touch from him make my heart flutter in such a short amount of time?
He leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek. "Let's head inside, shall we?"
A pang of disappointment hits me when he kisses my cheek rather than my lips.
"Wait," I suggest, making him stop.
I reach up to grab the back of his neck and pull him down just far enough to press my lips to his.
They're soft and inviting, making my body melt.
It's exactly like I remember. His fingers brush a stray chunk of hair behind my ear as he leans further into me, the warmth from his embrace only strengthening my hunger for more.
His tongue glides across mine, sending tingles directly to my core, and my thighs rub together in an attempt to alleviate this building desire. I shouldn't want more from him this soon, yet I do. Finally, he pulls back, pressing one last kiss against the tip of my nose.
"We should go eat before I find another way to satiate my appetite," he whispers.
I nod, happy he reacted so well to me being forward and going for the kiss.
Reaching out a hand, he tangles his fingers in mine, and he leads me through the entrance.
What I see when we walk inside is the complete opposite of its appearance from the outside.
Am I even dressed nice enough for this place?
It’s absolutely stunning. The main entrance is small but offers a clear view of the rest of the building, where a bronze ceiling with a curtain-like effect extends overhead.
There’s soft lighting and square wooden tables of various sizes that line each of the mirrored walls.
One long bar runs through the center, dividing one side from the other, and the floor is this really cool shade of black mixed with glitter.
"I know it's not a typical first date, but it looked fun." He shrugs.
"Good thing this isn't our first date." I nudge his shoulder as the hostess makes their way to us.
"Welcome to Bin and Shimmer. Will it just be the two of you today?"
"Yes," Nix tells her. "I called ahead, hoping for a more secluded table."
"Ah, yes." She nods, eyes going wide for just a moment before she composes herself. "We have the back corner reserved for you. The surrounding tables will be kept vacant for privacy."
I think she knows how famous he is, which annoys me. The moment he said that he called in, she started acting differently. She's standing straighter, hasn't bothered to look in my direction, and has been twirling a strand of her hair while giving him oogly eyes.
Fuck that .
I lean in, wrapping my arm tightly around one of his and say, "Thank you for being so helpful. We really appreciate your efforts to keep our date out of prying eyes."
The fakest smile I’ve ever sported spreads across my face as her eyes finally flick over to me and then briefly back to Nix. He laughs under his breath, no doubt picking up on the fact that I'm more jealous over a stranger than I need to be.
"Let me show you to your table." The hostess nods in my direction after clearing her throat.
Good. At least she picked up on my not-so-subtle push to keep her damn kitty in her pants.
The three of us walk down the long building.
We pass several tables filled with laughing patrons, all seemingly too preoccupied to notice us walking past. It makes me hopeful that nobody will recognize Nix and interrupt our date.
I suppose, at some point, I’ll have to get used to that.
We can’t have date nights at my house. It would prevent prying eyes, but if he is someone I'm going to continue spending time with, I'll have to get used to not having him fully to myself.
"Here you are." The hostess extends her hand toward our table. "Your server will be with you shortly."
"Thank you so much." I basically shoo her away as the two of us slide into our seats.
When I get settled, my eyes meet his, only to see him trying his hardest to hold back a laugh.
"What?" I shake my head.
"Jealousy is cute on you. "
"I am not jealous," I lie.
"Keep telling yourself that. You're not fooling anyone." He reaches for the menu, handing one to me and not giving me a chance to respond.
The menu is simple, offering a variety of brunch options. I scan it quickly, before deciding on a veggie omelet. It’s the perfect way to get protein without overeating and feeling sluggish.
"Don't forget to look at the drinks. That's what they're most known for. I think you're going to love it."
My eyes roam the back of the menu as I try to reconcile what I'm reading. "They have glitter in them?" I question, brows furrowed.
"They do."
"Isn't that... um... not good for you?" I try to keep my face in check, but I probably look absolutely disgusted.
"It's edible." He grins, clearly excited.
Okay, this is cute. I'm not sure why he saw me and immediately thought about glitter. Most of my wardrobe is black, as is my hair, aside from the purple streaks. I still appreciate his effort. He took the time to find a place that he thought would be unique for us, and that’s incredibly attractive.
"This is pretty amazing." I finally offer the praise he’s after.
"Really?"
"I won’t lie. The idea kind of scares me, but I love that you put so much effort into planning a place like this." I reach a hand across the table, prompting him to place his in it. "Thank you. "
"What are you going to get?" He sets his menu down. "I'm going with a Shimosa."
A shimmery mimosa. I read the menu description, trying my best to keep my composure.
"Ummm. I think I might try the Bloody Sparkly Mary."
"Oh." He raises a brow. "I might have you all wrong. I could have sworn you would pick the Sangria Shiner."
"I do love wine, just not for brunch." I wink. As ridiculous as this place seems, it’s a lot of fun.
"If you say so."
Now that we’re in daylight and I can finally get a good look at him, I notice something about his arms. They’re covered in various tattoos, but mixed in are raised scars that seem to extend along every visible part of his skin. There are long lines in various directions.
"What happened?" I nudge my head in the direction of his arms, and he tenses.
"That's a heavy topic. Is it okay if we skip that conversation, for now? I don’t want to dampen the date.”
I study his pained expression when he glances down at one arm. Did someone hurt him? Clearly, it’s a sensitive subject.
"Another time, then." I smile, respecting his boundaries.
The server interrupts moments later, and the two of us place our orders.
We enjoy conversation while waiting for the food, talking briefly about how each of our paths led us to Los Angeles.
I leave out my medical issues, deciding to focus on wanting a fresh start instead.
He’s easy to talk to, and our conversations seem to endlessly flow.
There’s something about him that makes me want to open up more than usual.
When our drinks are delivered, I’m amazed by how sparkly they actually are.
The red glitter catches the light in a way that gives it a similar appearance to fire.
It’s hypnotizing and completely unexpected.
I wasn’t thinking the whole drink would be this glittery.
I thought it would just be some flecks on top.
Nix's is equally as satisfying to look at. It’s orange or yellow.
I can’t quite tell, but it reminds me of a sunrise over the ocean. The colors just sparkle and shine.
"This is so cool." I lift my glass, moving it in the light to get the best look at the dimension of the glitter.
"I thought you might like it." He takes a sip, leaving sparkles along the top of his lip. I think about reaching out to wipe it away, but decide against it.
The food comes not long after our drinks, and the two of us laugh through the whole little date. Time seems to fly by, and I contemplate ordering a second drink just so we can stay longer, but with having to work tonight, it's not the best idea.
"Are you ready to go?" Nix asks as sadness sets in over the idea of leaving him.
“Don’t we need to wait for the bill?” I glance around, trying to find someone to flag over.
“I took care of everything when I set up the reservation.”
"Thank you. You didn't have to do that." I stand, just as he offers a hand to me .
For the second time, our fingers intertwine as we walk to my car. When we reach it, he brings his free hand up to my cheek before backing me up against the cool metal of my vehicle.
My heart flutters, heat rushing to my core when his hips square against mine, and he leans down to whisper in my ear. "I don't want to leave you yet."
The featherlight touch of his lips brushes against my neck, sending chills through my whole body.
"You do things to me," he admits, placing a kiss directly below my ear.
Part of me is tempted to invite him over so we can spend more time together, but I know that's not smart.
It would undoubtedly lead to my body under his, and I've already gotten too involved.
Who knows if he will want anything to do with me when he finds out I'm damaged goods.
I need to figure out how to talk to him about all of that before we take that next step.
"I should go." I reluctantly pull away. "I have to get home so I can get ready for work."
He sighs, finally placing some space between us, and I immediately regret my decision.
"Tell me we will see each other again soon," he pleads.
"Text me." I smile. "I definitely want to see you again.”
He leans in and kisses me one last time before saying goodbye and making his way across the street. I pull open my door to sit and watch him with the biggest puppy dog eyes a girl can have before he ultimately disappears into the back seat of a car that drives off .
This man is trouble in all the best ways. I'll never look at glitter the same way again.