Page 12 of Mr. Green
I glance over to Lana who is as red as a tomato and then continue. “She’s telling her boyfriend they can’t be together right after this. I’m a lucky guy.” I boop Lana on her nose. “Don’t worry baby girl, the moment he sees me, he’ll understand.” Her look could be throwing daggers at me. I would feel bad if this wasn’t so funny. I need some way to show her I’m no threat and what better way than to make some unexpected fun.
Lana looks to the waitress with pleading eyes. “If you put arsenic in his drink, no one will care. I’ll hide the body if you do me this solid.”
The waitress looks from person to person at the table, shifting from foot to foot. “I’ll get right on the ars—I mean drinks.” She practicallyruns away.
Lana slaps my chest. “What is wrong with you?” she yells. Then she looks around to see if anyone heard her shout.
I chuckle. “Lana, she’s never going to see you again. It doesn’t matter.”
“You don’t know that. It’s a small town. Besides, I could love it here and now you’ve made it so I can’t step in here ever again.”
“Really?” I deadpan. “You like tofu and veggies all the time. I thought you were a foodie?”
“How would you know I’m a foodie?” She drops her wall for a second, looking at me like I’m cotton candy.
Because I’ve been asking about you constantly and your friends told me.Instead of answering her, I shrug.
“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes and puts her wall back up. “You’re so weird,” she murmurs, looking down at the menu.
I keep my arm around her chair. I’m keeping my arm where it is; I don’t need her leaving.She’swhy I came in the first place to this lame restaurant. My arm around her chair gives me the security she’ll stay.
Matt is so pussy whipped, he thinks tofu is a food group now. Not that he eats the stuff, but he always has to make sure Scarlett will be able to eat anywhere we go. If I’m being honest, I’m fucking green with envy. I want someone I love so much, I’ll go out of my way for. I’ve been searching for the right person for what feels like forever.
I like being in a relationship. I like having someone I can count on and who will be there at the end of the day. I want someone to grow old with, but every girl seems to just like what I can give them. They like the houses, the cars, the dinners. I want someone who is in love with me for me. Lana fits the bill perfectly. She doesn’t know that, but it’s not stopping me from hanging out with her when I can so she’ll see I’m not such a bad guy.
Lana’s leg fidgets. We get a new waiter since the onewe started with “switched out of her shift.” Poor girl. I didn’t mean to traumatize her; I was just trying to lighten the mood.
Lana is still glancing at the menu and fidgeting her hands. I lean in and whisper, “I’ll get your meal. Get whatever you’d like to try.”
“You’re not getting me anything. I’m perfectly capable of getting my own meal.” She turns her nose up, avoiding my eyes.
“Why are you so nervous? If it has to do with money, you’re covered.”
“I’m good.”
“Is it because I’m so close to you?” I smirk and look over her body. It’s a fucking grand piece of work. Curvy for days with cute little freckles on her face. I always lose it when I see her dimple. It’s fucking kryptonite.
She turns her head like a race car zipped by. “Youaren’t making me nervous. You look like douchebag city rolled in from the seventies. Trust me, you’re the last thing I’m worried about.”
I act like I’m offended and put my hand over my heart. I make sure not to move the arm over her chair. That one is staying there the entire fucking night. “I’m going to grow on you one of these days. I’ll be the food group you can’t get enough of. I’ve seen you eat sausage before.” I wink.
“What are you talking about? I’m a vegetarian like Scarlett.” Her lips curl at the sides as she looks away from me.
“Bullshit.” I grin.
She chuckles but covers her mouth like she didn’t mean to let it slip. She’s so fucking cute. I love seeing her laugh.
The waiter comes to take our orders. I raise an eyebrow at Lana to see if she’s really going with something meatless, challenging her to do it. She avoids looking at me and gets grilled chicken with veggies. That’s not what I thought she’d pick, but she doesn’t getthe tofu. So, there’s a win I was right about.
Scarlett and Matt carry on the conversation. I pipe in every now and then. Lana just stays quiet and nods. When I try to get her involved in the conversation, she replies with one-word answers. She never did that at the dinner table when we were younger. She gave her opinion and made sure people heard her. She always had a glow to her, but she was way younger. I didn’t look at her like I do now. Now, it’s an unstoppable light sucking me in to her orbit.
Once it gets close to the end of dinner, I reluctantly remove my arm and depart to find the waiter. “Be right back.”
I’m taking care of the check tonight whether Lana likes it or not. I’m staying with Matt and Scarlett since I don’t have a place here. I’ve told Matt I could get a hotel, but he insists on me staying with them, the Southern gentleman that he is. My parents live here, but staying with them is a nightmare. I try to avoid interacting with them whenever possible. My mom isn’t so bad, but my dad is a giant dick. It’s not that he did anything to me physically, it’s more about high expectations he wants me to fill even if I don’t want to. My mom doesn’t push back against him. I’ve found the best way to deal with them is to not.
Besides, the least I could do for Matt and Scarlett is take care of their dinner. I want to get Lana’s to make it clear how I feel about her. This would’ve been better if it was a date with just her, but we’ll get there.
She just needs to warm up to me.