The Introvert's Guide to Online Dating (The Introvert's Guide 1)

“When you’re done here,” Colton clarified, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t mind waiting.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I shuffled to the side. “I just—”

“Please, Tori. I want us to talk.”

Slowly, I wrapped my arms around my waist. Despite the sticky warmth of the foyer, I was cold, and there were goosebumps making their way up and down my arms.

“I don’t know if I have anything to say.”

“Well, I do,” he said firmly. “So either I can say it right here, right now, where everyone can hear, or I’ll wait for you in the parking lot and we can talk in private.”

I looked around, doing everything I could not to look at him. “Fine. But at least go home and get changed so you don’t look like you’ve been dragged through a bush.”

“I was dragged through a bush. Fell into one, to be precise, but still.”

It was only now I noticed the bandage on his wrist. “Are you okay?”

“Light sprain,” he replied. “The ladder slipped, thankfully the bush broke my fall.”

“Can you drive okay?”

“I didn’t fly here, did I?”

My nostrils flared. “I won’t be long. Just let me drop in and visit with her quickly and I’ll be out.”

“Don’t rush. I can wait.” He backed up and turned right before the door, then disappeared through it, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the foyer like an idiot.

“Tori? You all right?” Oscar dipped his head out of the office.

“Yeah. I’m gonna go say hi to Grandma. I won’t stay long. Just a few minutes.”

“It looks like they’re done, so go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

***

I closed the door to the senior home behind me and scanned the parking lot for Colton’s truck. It was on the other side, so I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other and get the hell over there.

I managed it.

Just.

“What do you want?” I asked through the open passenger side window.

“Get in the truck.”

“I will not.”

“Get in the truck, Victoria.”

“I will not!” I smacked my hand against the door. “You can’t just start demanding things of me. What do you want?”

He turned his head and caught my gaze with his. “I want to talk to you. I’m not sure this parking lot is the place and I don’t see your car, so get in the truck and we’ll get to where we need to be a whole lot faster.”

“Where are we going?”

“To your place to get your car then to wherever.”

“Why get my car? That doesn’t make any sense if we’re in the same truck right now.”

“Because given our past history, you’re going to get pissed off and want to leave. That’s easier if you have your car.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just come to my place. I’ll set Genevieve on you if you piss me off.”

“We both know that cat is all hiss and no claws.”

Sadly, that was true.

Ragdoll cats weren’t exactly known for having a violent disposition. Or any kind of disposition that didn’t involve flopping around and sleeping while loudly purring, actually.

I yanked the door open and climbed into the truck. “Fine. But I’m not happy about this.”

“I figured by the raging expression on your face.” He looked behind the seats and reversed out of the parking space. “But whether you like it or not, all our friends know what’s been going on, so we need to talk this out.”

“I’m not a fan of that.”

“Neither am I, but if Kinsley sends me one more message asking if I’ve spoken to you yet, I’m going to throw her off a mountain.”

Amen to that.

I’d had a few of those messages myself.

Not that I was going to tell him that, of course.

“Just go to your place.” I looked out of the window. “At least then if I need to storm out, I can create a spectacle.”

“You hate creating a scene.”

“True, but Kinsley will be at Josh’s, and I can make her take me home.”

“All right, fine.” Colt turned toward his house instead of my apartment, and I kept my gaze steadfast.

I wasn’t going to look at him. I was going to continue to stare out of this window like my life depended on it.

My walk had all been for nothing.

Whatever clear head I’d gained by walking to the senior home was now completely muddled and clouded by Colton’s appearance and desire to talk.

I’d been sure he’d never want to talk to me again.

Yet here we were.

The rest of the drive passed silently until Colton pulled onto his street. Sure as hell, Kinsley’s car was on Josh’s driveway, and the curtains of his living room twitched as we drove past.

“Called it,” I muttered.

Colt muffled a laugh as he drove to his house and pulled into the driveway. “When you walk off in righteous indignation, I’m going to follow you, just to watch you stalk down that sidewalk and demand she take you home.”