We clamber out of the car, all a little stiff from the drive.
As we approach the entrance to my current home, Sophie asks, “So, do you have a date for tonight?”
“Ha! Nope,” I reply, my voice more bitter than I’d have liked.
“Because you don’t want one or can’t find one?” she teases.
“I could get a date with any random guy on this street. In a minute, tops,” I reply with my arms crossed.
Keanu and Max stand behind me, and I hear Keanu chuckle.
Sophie straightens up, challenging me. “So, do it. Get a date right now, on this street.”
“You’re serious?” My eyebrows rise.
She leans back on her heels. “Yes, get a date right now. How about him?” She points to some dude in a sweatsuit, getting out of a taxi.
“Definitely not. Next,” I say, essentially accepting her challenge.
“Fine, you pick. But once you approach, you have one minute,” she states, listing her rule.
“And if I win?” I look around, scanning my options. My eyes fall on a stunning guy in a suit with a perfect smile, who is talking on his phone, walking out of Chambers.
“If you win, I will bring you coffee and breakfast for a week straight. On me,” she bargains.
I don’t eat breakfast, and I get free coffee here every day. “If I win, I have the pride of knowing I’m better than you, and you have to say that. If I lose, you can drive my Lambo for a week.”
Her jaw drops.
“But don’t worry; I won’t lose.”
I leave her with her jaw open as I approach the smoking hot guy on his phone.
Closing my eyes for a brief second, I welcome this game, relishing in the feeling of the adrenaline coursing through me. When I open them, the game begins, and my eyes lock on to my prey.
I’m about five feet away from him when he sees me. I wink at him, and he immediately says something into his phone and hangs up.
That flawless smile of his flashes as I close the distance between us, and I settle into the mindset, my same mindset that tormented Stella all those times during senior year.
“Hi. I’m Becca.”
I offer my hand to him, which he takes and replies, “Hello. I’m Austin.”
He smirks, and I throw my hook out. “So, Austin, I have a proposition for you.”
He bites his lip, and I wait for his eyes to check me out or at least dip down to my boobs. But they don’t.
With playfulness dancing in his eyes, he asks, “What might that be?” He takes the bait.
“I have to go to this stupid gala tonight, and I need a date. I saw you and thought you might be the kind of guy looking to have a little fun tonight. Black tie.” I lean closer to him, which only lights his eyes up more.
Oh yeah, I got this in the bag.
He hesitates, thinking it over for a minute. I’m starting to get a little nervous, but then he says, “Give me the time and place, and I’m all yours.”
I throw my arms around him, and his hands fall respectively to my waist, not too high or too low. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I pull back, putting a few feet between us. “The gala is here. Meet me in the lobby at seven. I’ll be the one in a floor-length black gown with a slit up this leg.” I run my fingers up my thigh and watch his eyes follow the path. And I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t having fun, tormenting this guy.
His phone goes off, and he quickly checks it. “Seven it is. I’ll be the one looking for you.” He laughs and then walks off, but not before looking over his shoulder. “See you then, Becca.”
