Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“I don’t mind at all.” I slide into the back seat, and he slides next to me. “Hi,” I say to the driver.
He nods to me.
“I’m not a big drinker,” Grayson says, “but to be honest, I don’t have any wheels at the moment.”
“Neither do I,” I say. Seems I have a lot more in common with Grayson than I do with Dave.
The thought makes me kind of sad.
“You like Italian?” Grayson asks.
“Love it.”
Although it makes me think of my last meal with Dave—takeout from Lorenzo’s.
Not to mention the amazing lovemaking we did after the meal. I subconsciously curl my fingers into a loose fist.
“I know an amazing place. It’s called Alfredo’s. And it’s not far.”
I smile and nod. “Oh yeah, I’ve been there many times.”
Many times with the awesome foursome and some of my other sorority sisters. Only if I can find a ride, of course. Angie, Sage, and Gina all have their own cars, but they still haven’t returned to campus. Not that I’d want them knowing I’m on a date with a non-Steel anyway. Dave wouldn’t be pleased if word about this outing got back to him.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrive and head inside. The place is kind of a dive, but the food is great. Red-checkered tablecloths and wine bottles in a basket with a taper candle adorn each table.
The hostess shows us to our table, and Grayson pulls out a chair for me.
A gentleman.
But Dave Simpson is also a gentleman. All the Steel men are.
“Can I bring you anything to drink?” our server asks.
I jerk my head upward. “Oh, hi Rosalie.”
She smiles. “Hey, Maddie. I didn’t even realize it was you. We’re so busy tonight.”
I gesture across the table. “Rosalie, this is Grayson George. Grayson, this is Rosalie Fortnight. She was a sorority sister of mine until she graduated last year.”
“Fortnight?” he asks. “As in the Fortnight?”
Rosalie laughs. “You think I’d be working here if that were the case?”
Grayson returns her laugh.
“I’m working here while I go to grad school,” Rosalie continues. “Sorry to be so abrupt before. What can I get you to drink?”
“I think I’ll start with some water,” I say.
“I’ll have a glass of the house Chianti,” Grayson says. Then he looks at me. “You think you’ll want one with dinner?”
“Yeah, that sounds good actually.”
“Bring a carafe then,” he says.
“Awesome.” Rosalie makes some notes on a device. “I’ll be by with a breadbasket and some olive oil and balsamic.”
Once Rosalie leaves, Grayson leans forward, eyeing me playfully. “So you’re a sorority girl.”
“I am. I was supposed to live in the house. I lived there last semester. But as you know, I got a late start to the semester.”
He nods. “Yeah, why is that anyway?”
I bite my lip. “It’s a long boring story.”
“Boring?” He looks me up and down, smiling shyly. “I can’t imagine anything about you is boring.”
“I was in the UK, and in Paris.”
His eyes widen. “That’s hardly a boring story.”
“I was with one of my sorority sisters. Brianna Steel. She graduated early.”
His eyebrows fly up. “Another one of the Steels?”
“Yeah. She’s engaged to my brother. He’s a… Gosh, it feels even weird to say this now. He’s kind of a rock star.”
“Now I know there’s a story there.”
“Yeah, my older brother and sister are singers, and they have this rock band called Dragonlock.”
He strokes his chin. “Oh my God, I’ve heard them. They’re great. They played a bar here earlier last year.”
“Oh yeah, they play at all the local bars.”
“I don’t remember there being a female singer.”
“My sister only joined the band recently. Anyway, they happened to be in this one bar in Utah, and you won’t even believe who was there.”
“Who?”
“Jett Draconis and Zane Michaels.”
He gasps. “Of Emerald Phoenix? No way.”
“Yeah, and they totally loved the band. Their opener for the European tour had dropped out, and they invited Dragonlock to go on tour with them.”
His jaw drops open. “You were following Emerald Phoenix on tour?”
“I was, until Brianna got called home for some family emergency.”
He cocks his head. “Oh my God, is everything okay?”
I’m not sure how much I’m at liberty to say, so, “I honestly don’t know that much about it myself. But Jesse and Rory were busy with the band, and I would’ve been all by myself.”
“Yeah, but you would have been in Europe.”
But I wouldn’t have been with Dave. Not that I can say this, so I simply shrug. “I can always go back. I figured I’d just as soon come home and finish my semester so I wouldn’t have to make it up later. This way I’ll get to walk at graduation.”
“I’d forgo walking at graduation for a trip to Europe anytime.”
“That’s what I had planned.” I sigh. “But you know, circumstances sometimes change.”
“I suppose they do.” His eyes light up. “Now you get to study biology with me.”