Page 55 of Right Where I Want You

I needed to take my own advice and ignore him—after all, he was probably interrupting us on purpose to annoy me. Except that I was more relieved for the save than anything. Frank paused as if he was also deciding whether or not to acknowledgeSebastian.

I looked back. “What?” Iasked.

Sebastian pushed his sleeves from his forearms to his elbows as he glanced between the two of us. “Come up here asec.”

I had a decision to make. I’d told Sebastian once I wouldn’t come when he called—but it was either that, or stay and getkissed.

13

Sebastian

If François had feltconfident enough to go in for a kiss before the fifth inning, I could only assume Georgina’s date was going well—and thanks to my big mouth, I was about to findout.

Georgina followed me up the stairs toward concessions. Behind me, she said something, but the chatter between innings drowned her out. I angled sideways, putting a hand on her upper back to urge her in front of me. “What’d yousay?”

“I asked where we’regoing.”

I leaned down to her ear as we reached the concourse. “Beer.”

“I must look pretty thirsty,” shesaid.

I caught her drift. I’d picked a fine moment to interrupt the date. I’d tried to convince myself witnessing the kiss wouldn’t bother me, but I couldn’t tell if Georgina had invited it or had been trying to pull away. When François had reached a grubby hand for the hat I’d put on Georgina’s head—myhat—I’d reacted without thinking and blurted out hername.

In line at the concessions stand, I got out my wallet. “What’re youhaving?”

“I’m not sure I should drink anymore.”

“How many have youhad?”

“Only the one you brought me, but Frank seemed weird about the fact that I was day drinking. How would it look to get drunk on a firstdate?”

I refrained from telling her it was a bad sign if he was already making her feel guilty about something—only because I didn’t want her to think I was judging. “Who knows,” I said, “he might start to lookbetter.”

“Is that why Justin is drinking?” Georgina asked while wewaited.

Jokes about Justin and I dating were a dime a dozen, but ruffling Georgina’s feather was a rare opportunity I wasn’t about to pass up. The cashier called us forward. I ordered two beers, then leaned down to Georgina’s ear. “You have a point there. Justin and I haven’t even bumped hatsyet.”

She shifted feet. “That wasn’t what it lookedlike.”

“No? Itlookedlike he tried to kiss you. So why didn’the?”

She looked back at me, holding my gaze until the register’s cash drawer popped open with ading. She was saved by the bell—for now. I paid for our drinks, picked them up, and steered us to a two-top table when she tried to walk back toward the stands. “Want to sit?” Iasked.

She took her drink. “I’llstand.”

I took a tall stool to put us at eye level. “So, why didn’t you kiss him? Badbreath?”

She gasped into her hand. “My breath isfine.”

“I meant his. I’m sure yours is pure relish on ahotdog.”

She made a face. “Gross.”

“I happen to love relish,” I said. “But doesFrançois?”

Each time I saidFrançoiswith flourish, she flinched. I didn’t care. Something about him bugged me—I just couldn’t put my finger onit.

“We didn’t kiss because you interrupted us,” shesaid.