Page 54 of The Romance Line
Doesn’t take long—all of two seconds till she’s looking my way.
Like she wants to kick me in the balls. Her annoyance only stokes the flame inside me.
A hand curls around my forearm. “Max.” My sister’s tone is low and dripping with accusation. “She’s why you came here.”
I turn to her, grinning like a sly fox. “You think so?”
She shakes her head. “What are you doing?”
“Just saying hi,” I say, then I beeline for the table, flashing my best PR smile, my sister trailing behind me. Bonus? I can prove to Everly that I can be a nice guy for the press. I can put on an act. She’ll be pleased.
I channel Asher, or Miles, as I say, “Hey, Everly. How the heck are you?”
Her lips part, but she says nothing, just closes them into a tight, angry smile. But she’s also the queen of putting on a good face, since in seconds she slides on her happy mask. “Great. How are you, Max?”
“Fantastic,” I say, selling it to the jury. “What a surprise to see you here. My sister and I were just grabbing a drink.”
I can feel my sister roll her eyes rather than see it. I turn to my nemesis. “Max Lambert. With the Sea Dogs. Nice to meet you,” I say, then stick out a hand toward the guy with the woman who I think about far too much.
He stands and shakes. “Good to meet you, Max. Lucas Evans…with Golden Gate Health Center and Services.”
I flinch, but only for a second. The dude’s in health care. I didn’t see that coming. Also, he’s not easily intimidated. But that doesn’t mean she should date him. That doesn’t mean a thing. I shove those thoughts aside and check out the table. He’s got a beer, and she has…an Arnold Palmer?
“Your drink looks good. What have you got there, Ev?”
She squares her shoulders. “It’s called an iced tea. Ithas…tea and ice in it,” she deadpans, with faux pleasantry. She’s more pissed than I’d thought.
But I’m not easily deterred. “I’ll have to try one then,” I say, then glance around. “This is such a nice place. I’ve never been here before.”
“How did you hear about it then?” she asks, the clever genius trying to nail me.
I shrug, then scratch my beard. “Googled places nearby.”
“How convenient,” she says, sarcastic. Then she turns to my sister, her tone genuine as she says, “It’s good to see you, Sophie.”
“You too,” my sister says.
I turn to the golden guy who’s dating Everly. Maybe he’s a doctor. Instantly, I loathe him more. That means she likes brainy guys, rather than guys who work with their bodies. “So, you’re in health care?”
He furrows his brow, perhaps taken aback. Maybe it’s a pushy question, but whatever. The dude quickly shifts to a smile though, answering easily, “Yes, I’m a physical therapist and help patients recover from injury or surgery.”
Fuuuuck. Is he the guy who helped her with…her car accident? I bet he is. And it’s official. No need to ask Reddit.I am the asshole. I swallow, then hitch my thumb behind me. “I’ll let you?—”
“Did you want to join us?” Lucas asks, tilting his head. “Sounds like you two know each other well.”
Everly was right. Heisa nice guy. But the fact that he said that—want to join us—means he’s also not right for her. Whether I’m the asshole or not, I jump on the chance faster than I’d slap a puck away from the net. “Yes,” I say before Everly can say no.
We join Everly on her date. Date-crashing achieved.
Across the table, the blonde beauty with the big brown eyes stares at me like she wants to kill me. Well, she already hates me, so what else is new? But I know this—I did the right thing joining her.
“Why don’t I call the server over? So you two can order?” Lucas offers.
“Great idea,” I say.
Lucas flags the woman down, and I order a pale ale while Sophie opts for a soda. When the server leaves, Sophie smiles apologetically and says to the table, “I have to pick up my son in a little bit. He has a playdate.”
“How is Kade doing?” Everly asks, focusing all her energy on my sister.