Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Sebastian snatched up his phone and started dialing. “I’m going to need some backup.”
Within a couple of minutes, he’d conferenced in Pierce and Rome, placing them on speaker so we could both hear them.
“Please don’t tell me this call is to brag that you’re getting hot sex whenever you want,” Rome grumbled. There was a short ticking sound that shut off again. His turn signal. He was driving home.
I might have smirked.
Sebastian winked at me. “Actually, Dec has his first real date with Parker in about fifteen minutes, and he’s worried about talking to him.”
It was no mystery why Sebastian had called for help. The man had never had trouble talking to someone in his life. He couldn’t relate to my problem in the least. On the other hand, Pierce was reserved, and even Rome had his quiet moments.
“So, you’re getting serious about the single dad?” Pierce inquired.
“Yes.”
“Nice,” Rome murmured. “He’s funny. You’ve got this.”
“The important thing is to learn more about each other. The easiest place to begin is his family,” Pierce stated.
Rome snorted. “Easiest and most dangerous. How do you know he doesn’t have a shit relationship with his family?”
“He’s talked about them a little. I don’t think he does,” I offered.
“There. Ask about his family. Are they local? Is he from around here? Does he have siblings? What was his life like growing up? Hell, if he’s got a lot of family, that conversation right there could fill your entire night,” Sebastian offered.
“Besides, even if it’s not all good, you need to share the good and bad with him.” There was a tapping noise and Pierce’s voice sounded louder, as if he leaned close to his phone. I could easily imagine him still in his office, just like Sebastian. “If you’re officially dating this guy now after all this time, I imagine you’re trying to show you’re serious.”
“I am. I want more than…friends with benefits,” I admitted awkwardly.
“So yeah, I think you can ask about his family, but you need to answer his questions, too.”
“More than one-word answers,” Rome interjected.
I wanted to snap at him that I knew that, but he was right. Short, succinct answers were my bread and butter. There was no relying on nods and grunts if I wanted to keep the conversation from dying off.
“Besides the family thing, you can ask about his interests and what he’s passionate about. Byron mentioned that he’s an artist,” Pierce continued.
Rome let out a laugh. “You don’t get into art if you’re indifferent to it.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Sebastian agreed, wagging one finger at the phone. “Ask him about his art. How he got started? Why does he paint murals rather than other mediums like sculpting?”
I shoved out of the seat and leaned over Sebastian’s desk, snatching up one of his pens and a pad of sticky notes. Using the edge of his desk, I made notes of some ideas they’d come up with so far.
“What else?” I asked as I prepared for the next line on my list.
“I guess you could ask about school or other hobbies. Favorite movies,” Sebastian replied, though he didn’t sound as confident about those items.
“Man, you don’t need to stress. Parker is totally into you.”
“I know.”
“I’m serious!” A short blast from his car horn punctuated his words. “Shit! Didn’t mean to do that. But think about it. He looked like he was going to rip my head off for teasing you about smiling. He wouldn’t be that protective if he didn’t care.”
“You’ve got this,” Pierce chimed in.
“Thanks. This has helped.”
Sebastian ended the call a minute later and sat back in his chair with a knowing grin. “You’re worrying about nothing. This isn’t a first date with a stranger. It’s a first date with a guy you’ve known for months now. He is aware of exactly how talkative you are.”
“Yeah, but it’s not enough to get him to agree to a second date. I want to close the deal on this. I want him…to be mine.”
“You’ll get there.”
Notes were great when you could look at them without the other person noticing.
After we placed our orders and our drinks arrived, silence settled over our table. The panic I’d shoved aside returned with a vengeance, washing my mind blank of all the topics I’d discussed with Sebastian and the others. Of course, now I couldn’t figure out how to get the bright-yellow sticky note out of my pocket without him noticing.
“Declan.” A hint of amusement colored Parker’s voice and my head snapped up to find him grinning at me. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re nervous.”
“No,” I lied automatically.
“You’re stiff as a statue and barely breathing. You’ve also been staring at your water for the past minute like you’re waiting for it to tell you what to say.”
Well, that was painfully accurate.
Parker leaned forward and reached across the table, but his hand landed two inches from mine. Close and reassuring, but not touching. “You know me. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”