Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“No, I—”
“No, we are just really good friends,” Javier said, glancing at Terry. Then he focused on me again. “Leesa wanted to come over and say hello. How is your night going so far?”
I dropped my gaze to Aleesa, who slipped her hand out of her father’s so she could hug me. I hugged her back, of course, but it wasn’t my strongest. I was so confused.
“Javier, what are you doing?” I asked through a forced smile.
“Just checking in. That is all,” he answered.
“Wait, Javier Valdez?” Terry was no longer confused and annoyed but starstruck now. “Oh shit, man. I knew you looked familiar! Look, I didn’t know anything about . . . whatever might be happening between y’all, man. She said she was single.”
“I am single!” I countered.
Javier held up a patient hand. “There is no need to apologize. We are not dating. I just wanted to check in and see if she was okay.”
“Hmm. That sounds real intimate for a couple of friends,” Terry said with a frown.
“Trust me, it’s not what you’re thinking,” I assured him.
But Terry wasn’t having it. He gave me a look, as if he didn’t believe a single word coming out of my mouth. He then shook his head, guzzled down the rest of his scotch, and peeled out of his chair.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between y’all, but I don’t have time for complicated-relationship shit.”
Um . . . that was hypocritical of him to say, considering the three women and children he was neglecting right now.
Terry started to walk off but caught himself and snatched his phone out of his pocket. “Actually, before I go, can I get a pic with you?” he asked Javier.
“Sure.” Javier crouched just a bit so Terry could snap a selfie.
Meanwhile, I was still in total disbelief. Was this really happening? No, it couldn’t be happening. There was no way Javier just barged in like that to interrupt my date. Why didn’t he just leave the restaurant? Why did he bother coming over to speak? Any other time in public he would have flat-out ignored me and acted like he never saw me.
If I told Davina or Deke this, they’d never believe me. Because it was totally unlike him.
“Bye,” Aleesa sang, watching Terry go.
Terry left in a flash. It was now I realized he hadn’t paid. Great.
“Would you like a ride home with us?” Javier asked, as if everything was perfectly normal.
“What?” I hissed. “No! Why would I want to go anywhere with you? You just ruined my date!”
“You did not want to spend another minute with that man, Octavia. I saw it all over your face.”
Okay . . . that was partially true. Terry wasn’t the man I expected, but Javier still had no right to interrupt us. Did he not realize how it looked having a sexy-as-hell professional basketball player approach our table just to see if I was okay? Terry probably felt intimidated. Had it been a woman coming up to Terry during the middle of our date, I would’ve assumed they had a thing going on too.
That was not the case between me and Javier, though, and never would be.
“You don’t know what I like, Javier,” I finally said after several seconds of stewing.
“Please, just come home with us,” he insisted, reaching for my hand. “I know you do not have a ride back.”
“Javier, I’m not going anywhere with you,” I snapped in a whisper. “I’ll catch an Uber.”
“Octavia, I insist. Please.”
I blinked up at him as he kept his hand stuck out. Damn him and those sad eyes. Damn him for ruining my one shot at getting laid. He had no idea how much time I’d spent chatting with Terry, getting to know a few important facts about him so that our first hookup wouldn’t be completely awkward. I mean, yes, Terry would’ve been a one-night stand situation, but I could’ve used him to satisfy myself for the night and then never bothered with him again.
Drawing in a breath, I pushed Javier’s hand out of the way and stood up on my own.
“I’m only going because I don’t want to wait for a ride,” I grumbled. “Now excuse me. I have to pay the bill.” I tried making my way around him, but he caught my arm with a delicate hand.
“I will take care of it,” he said. “Will you go with Aleesa to the car?” He handed me the car key to his Mercedes. “I parked in the back.”
I had the urge to tell him that it was my day off—that I didn’t have to be a nanny at this particular time, per the contract. But one thing I didn’t want was a bunch of media screaming about a certain basketball player’s nanny causing a scene. And the last thing I wanted was to be fired over a shitty date.