Page 50 of The Obvious Check
He nods. “No problem. Can I have your phone number?”
“My phone number?”
“Yeah, so I can text you.” He speaks slowly as though he’s speaking to someone who’s never had a conversation before.
“Sorry. That makes complete sense.” I tell him my number, and he puts it in his phone.
“Perfect. I’ll see you then. As much as I’d like to sit here and talk about everything you’ve been up to, I’ve gotta haul my ass to the gym before one of my idiot teammates rats me out to coach for being late.” He turns on his heel, but stops himself and looks back at me. “I’m looking forward to tonight, Savannah. It’s been way too fucking long.”
“Same.” It’s been two days, but it feels like longer.
Cade throws one final nod before disappearing into the sea of students pushing their way out of the hall. All the while, I sit there like an idiot, staring.
Dinner with Cade Bright.
I keep trying to convince myself that it’s no big deal. It’s just two people grabbing some food. Nothing more, nothing less, but my heart’s doing this stupid thumping against my ribs like it’s trying to break free, and I hate that I can’t control it.
I grab my bag and weave through the crowd, already pulling out my phone to text Chloe. Hopefully, she can set me straight and tell me I’m being ridiculous for getting worked up over what’s obviously just a friendly dinner between two people.
Just friends. That’s all this is…
Right?
Chapter 13
Savannah sits across from me, her eyes darting everywhere but in my direction. When she’s done taking in her surroundings, she stares down at the menu with her fingers gripping the edges and her brows drawn tight.
Damn, I picked this place in hopes she’d feel at ease, but even here she looks like she’s ready to bolt at any second.
“Hey,” I say softly, leaning forward. I so badly want to take her hand, but I hold back. “Don’t worry about anything. It’s all on me tonight.”
Her head snaps up, her expression caught somewhere between gratitude and embarrassment as she shakes her head. “Oh no. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask.” I smirk, closing my own menu. “Pick whatever you want.”
Reluctantly, she nods before going back to her menu, and after a few moments, she sets it down, looking around the place nervously. It ticks me the hell off that she’s so uncomfortable right now. I thought we’d gotten over this.
“You look beautiful tonight, Savannah.” And she really did. Save for that rhinestone one-piece she wore on stage; I haven’tseen her in anything other than leggings and a sweatshirt. Today she’s wearing jeans and a black off-the-shoulder sweater that cinches in at her waist.
“Thanks,” she says, still not looking at me. Why the hell is she still so nervous?
“Hi, guys!” The waitress comes over with a pad in her hand and a wide smile. She looks between the two of us, her pen tapping against the notepad. “My name is Chloe, and I’m so happy you both decided to come here for dinner tonight.”
It’s hard not to notice Savannah wince as she shrinks into the booth and covers her face with the menu.
“Hi, Chloe, it’s nice to meet you.” I give her a smile, but she’s not focused on me. She can’t stop looking at Savannah.
“Oh, it’s great to meet you too…” she drawls out the ending, looking at me expectantly as she pushes up onto her toes.
“Cade,” I say with raised brows.
She drops down, and I almost want to say she has a smug smile on her face. “Cade.” Her voice is calm. “You’re a hockey player, right?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
Savannah coughs and gives Chloe a look.
Chloe squeaks a little before coughing herself. “Yeah, uh, well, you look like it. What with all those muscly biceps of yours.” She lightly whacks my arm with her pad, resting her hand on her hip. “You picked a good one for your date,” she says to Savannah, who grumbles under her breath.
