“Let’s get out of here. I’ll even buy dinner.”
“Great! Nick’s with the crew for MDN tonight.”
“MDN?”
“It’s short for monthly dinner night. Bizzy started it a few years ago. It’s once a month the four of them get together for dinner alone. Mathis, Shaw, Nick, and Bizzy.”
“I’m surprised you’re not there.”
“It’s pretty sacred. But Nick did mention me coming next time. We’ll see what happens. It doesn’t bother me. I think their traditions are important.”
“Let me load the car, and you think about where you want to eat.” He gathers the bag of tools while I take a cloth and polish each frame once more.
Mrs. Shields comes in and completes her inspection with approval before we leave.
Once in the car, Logan voluntarily starts telling me about his and Melanie’s weekend. The art show was a great idea; she loved it. But more so, I think Logan enjoyed sharing this part of his life with her. From the sound of it, all is forgiven, and she spent the weekend at his place.
I choose a restaurant we both enjoy, and the hostess seats us with her eyes glued to Logan the whole walk to the table. She’s glaringly obvious, and I want to burst her bubble that he’s taken. The girl can’t be older than eighteen.
Let her dream.
She seats us and sighs when he gives her an appreciative, “Thanks.”
“We as women really are shameless creatures,” I assess, watching her stroll away.
“How so?”
“I don’t remember ever outwardly giving a man bedroom eyes. It’s like so many women have a honing beacon that sprouts up, and they zone in on men with this look. Do they think that look is going to make a man fall head over heels and they’ll live happily ever after?”
“Someone’s feeling snarky tonight.”
“Come on, didn’t you notice that hostess sizing you up?”
“Grace, she’s still a girl. Did you actually think she had bedroom eyes?”
“Yes!”
He narrows his eyes and slides his menu toward the middle of the table. “Did that girl looking at me truly bother you?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I mean, it shouldn’t, but these last few months
with Nick have me seeing the desperate side of women I never witnessed before.”
“He’s a celebrity, Grace. His face is plastered on billboards, bus stops, and buildings all over the city. He visits with children on the cancer ward. Not to mention, he’s got commercials on television for everything from pain medicine to razor blades. He’s going to get attention, from men and women.”
“Not helping, Logan.”
He reaches over and covers my hand with his own. “What’s going on in your head?”
“I think I’m feeling insecure. Women are relentless and assertive in their pursuits.”
“Have you told Nick this? From where I sit, you have nothing to worry about. He’s crazy about you.”
“He asked me to move in,” I blurt out and brace for him to blow up. Instead, he waves down our waitress and orders for both of us. When she leaves, he focuses back on me.
“What’d you say?”
“I haven’t answered him. He gave me three weeks, which is up soon.”