"Thank you," I reply when she puts two menus on the table. I grab one while the server comes over.
"Hi, I'm Todd, and I'll be your server," the young man says, smiling at me. "Can I start you off with something to drink while you wait?"
"I'll have a glass of white wine, please." I smile at him, and he nods at me, turning and walking away. I grab my phone and text them, seeing as no one has gotten back to me.
Me: I'm sitting on the right side in the corner.
Me: I ordered white wine.
Me: Should I order appetizers to share?
Me: Where the fuck are you?
I put the phone down, looking up and seeing that people are starting to come in since it's quitting time. The tables around me quickly fill up as the sound of dishes clanking and chatter fills the room. "Here you go," Todd says, putting down my drink. "Still waiting on more people?"
"Yes," I confirm, and he nods, walking away from me. I take a sip of the white wine when I see a guy walking toward my table. His black hair is brushed to the side, and his brown eyes are fixated right on me. I avoid looking at him as I turn to take another sip of my wine.
"Shelby." I hear my name and turn back to see the guy stop by my table.
"Yes," I respond, thinking to myself if I've met him before.
"Sergio." He says his name as if I’m supposed to know who he is. He pulls out a chair and sits down.
"Um," I say, about to tell him that my sisters are joining me. "Sorry, that chair is taken."
"I know," he says, smiling at me, and I look around so confused. "Clarabella said to tell you just go with it." Everything inside me turns to ice, and the only thing that I can think of is I'm going to fucking kill my sisters, especially when he says the next words. "I'm your blind date."
Chapter 29
Ace
I slip the key into the door, pushing it open when it unlocks. The air around me is thick and stale from being closed for the past five days. I walk past the living room and up the stairs, dumping my bag on the bed. I shrug off my suit jacket and toss it on the made bed before kicking off my shoes and stepping into the shower.
My head is telling me to go and see Shelby. My heart aches to talk to her, yet my pride is fighting me all the way. Even when I put jeans on and a T-shirt, my hands itch to pick up my phone and call her. But instead of doing that, I open the fridge and see that it's empty. I grab my keys and head out to the pub to grab myself something to eat.
Parking the car, I get out and take the phone. Every single day it gets heavier and heavier with the need for me to just call her. I'm walking to the door, and my heart stops when I see her walking out just a couple of feet from me. She looks even more beautiful than she did the last time I saw her. She looks even more beautiful than in my dreams. She's fucking exquisite. I see her look behind her, and she smiles as she holds the door. My heart hammers in my chest, knowing she is so close to me. My hands get itchy to touch her, and my whole body feels like it can relax. She looks up and spots me. Her face goes a bit white, and her mouth opens, but my eyes go to the guy behind her smiling down at her. "Hi," I greet, not sure what to say or how to act.
"Ace," she says my name in a surprised tone.
"Hi," I say again like an idiot, and I look over at the guy who stands beside her with his hand on her lower back.
"This . . ." She starts to stutter. "This is Sergio." She turns to introduce him, and my hand grips the phone in my hand. My body that was so happy to see her has closed off. My heart that was beating hard in my chest has fallen to my stomach. "Sergio, this is my best friend, Ace."
He laughs from beside her. "Hopefully, next time we meet, she'll admit that she is on a date with me." The words stab me in the heart.
I look at him and then at her. "One can hope. If you excuse me, I have a call," I say, avoiding talking to her as I turn and walk away, not even giving her the time of day. I hear her calling my name, but I just walk to the car, my head going around and around. I don't even look back when I leave. My phone starts ringing, and I see on the screen that it's her. I press the decline button as I make it home.