Chapter 11
Mira
WITH THE BLIND DATE out of the way, I felt better setting up the next date.
Was I still attracted to Troy? Yes. Was our kiss mind-blowing? Also, yes. But did I know what he wanted? Not so much. Besides, I wasn’t in town for very long. If things didn’t work out with Troy, I at least wanted a memory of one wild night to take with me on the road.
So, there I was, coming face to face with my werewolf date instead of getting cuddly with a hunky merman. We met outside a charming Italian restaurant that looked homey and had the kinds of star ratings I would’ve expected from something very upscale.
“I’m Olaf. No, not like the snowman.” He rolled his eyes at that.
Well, that was a good start. What could possibly go wrong.
“I’m Mimmy. Yes, like a kitten.”
He looked at me like I had grown a second head right before his eyes. So, maybe he wasn't a fan of cartoons. Clearly, he didn’t like having a cartoon character by the same name. That was just one tiny little difference between us. I could live with that. It’s not like I was going to marry him or anything.
He nodded at the door and even opened it for me. Something must’ve gotten lost in the matrix, though, because he just stood there in front of the door, blocking it and waiting for me to enter.
“You go ahead. I’m right behind you,” I said, not wanting to point out that he was in my way. What was the polite way to say ‘move your ass’?
He huffed. “Figured you’re a feminist.”
Okay then. That was different. At least he entered the restaurant, clearing my way in the process. Not that I went after him right away.
A harpy was just coming out of the restaurant with a stroller in front of her. I politely held the door open for her and stepped to the side, like a normal person. Only after that did I go in.
Olaf was already chatting with the hostess, and I wasn’t going to get weird about it. It’s not like he was hard core flirting with her. He did, however, look down her shirt when the hostess bent slightly to get our menus.
This date just started, and I already missed Troy. Was it too early to bail on this date? I was hungry, so it’s not like I couldn’t use a meal, and it’s not like I wasn’t used to company with questionable manners.
We got the table in the middle of the restaurant because that’s what Olaf preferred. I had a strong preference for not getting bumped into while I ate, but no one was asking me what I wanted.
It was going to be fine. I wasn’t marrying the guy. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I’d sleep with him. It was just one date.
The moment I started reading the menu, this date started looking better. Salmon carpaccio sounded like a great way to start the meal. Linguine alle Vongole looked just as good.
The moment our server approached the table, Olaf placed the order. “We’ll both take Antipasto Platter.”
“No, we won’t,” I said, feeling more and more done with this date. “I’ll take Salmon carpaccio for my appetizer, and Linguine alle Vongole after that.”
Better order the main course now than wait for Olaf to do it while I was in the ladies’ room or something. The prick just might.
He shot me a dirty look, like I was the one in the wrong. The moment the server was out of earshot, he said, “I’m an alpha. It’s my job to know what you need.”
“Well, I’m a mermaid, so I need seafood. You wanted to give me what you need, not what I need. I guess it means you’re a shitty alpha.”
He turned bright red and stood up so abruptly he rattled the table and rattled a few people around us, it seemed, because they were staring at us with worried expressions.
“I’m done with this date. First, you show up looking like that.” He waved at my clothes, which was a perfectly normal casual chic look. “Then you tell me, a werewolf, that you’re a kitten, and now you question me as an alpha?”
He stormed out. Someone who was less of an alpha and more of an asshole storming out? Shocker. Really, didn’t see that coming at all.
People were still staring. I shot them a bright smile, like this was all peachy, and said, “I’m just here for the food.”
The server, blessed be the waters she swims in, only brought the food I ordered and didn’t stick me with paying for Olaf’s appetizer. My order, though, was so good I considered settling down in Whynot just so I could eat it every day.
Could I actually call this date a disaster if it ended with a belly full of seafood? No. Absolutely not. This date was a raging success.
My phone pinged with a message from Myrtle.
Myrtle: How is your date going? I know you don’t have a team of girlfriends to help, so if you need a family emergency, just let me know.
Wow. Myrtle could be really sweet when she wasn’t kidnapping me.
Me: The date is going great, actually. He stormed off and left me to eat in peace. 10/10 would recommend.
Just as I hit sent, my appetite soured. Troy walked in with a gorgeous leggy brunette on his arm. She had this beautiful flirty dress on that I hadn’t been able to wear in years. Flirty dresses were the old me, and I wasn’t allowed to be that person.
I also couldn’t expect Troy not to go out with other women. We were both using a dating agency, after all. Of course, they’d set him up on a date with someone. Someone who wasn’t me. Just like they set me up with someone who wasn’t him.