Page 33 of Use Me

“Okay, don’t forget to watch my newscast. Ratings and shit.”

Rhys laughed again into my ear. “I’m already on that channel.”

We hung up, and I grabbed the light brown carrier and turned around, right into a hard body. The hot coffee fell backward and down the front of my grey, wool coat.

“I’m so sorry,” I muttered, looking down to see the beige liquid pooling on the floor.

“I should be the one to say sorry,” the guy stated. “I didn’t get any on me.”

I looked up and into his brown eyes. “Yeah, but I think I ran into you. I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be. Let me buy you two more.”

I smiled and looked down at the mess. “That’s okay. Really. It was my fault.”

“Well, at least let me get your coat dry cleaned for you.”

A Starbucks employee with a mop came up to the spill. “We’re already making you two more.” The man and I stepped away so she could clean it up.

“See. No harm.” I took a napkin the guy was handing me. “Thank you.”

“You’re Ashtyn Valor, right?”

I smiled slightly and nodded as I tried to soak up the coffee from my coat. “I am.”

“You’re even more beautiful in person.”

My entire body flamed with embarrassment. Compliments just had that effect on me. “Thank you.”

“Seriously, let me get your coat cleaned for you.”

“It’s really not a problem.”

“Then let me at least buy you dinner.”

I glanced up and really looked at this guy. He wasn’t bad looking at all. He had short, light-brown hair and a nice smile. That was all I could see without making him take off his coat.

“Unless you have a boyfriend.”

I hesitated a moment. Corey and I had broken up, and Rhys and I were just … screwing. “I don’t.”

“Then let me take you to dinner.” I opened my mouth again to protest that spilled coffee didn’t equal dinner. Instead, he continued, “This is how it works, right?”

“What’s that?”

“In those romance movies. The guy and the girl have a chance encounter, and it leads to them falling in love.”

My eyes widened in surprise at his romance movie reference. Men usually didn’t watch love stories unless they were forced by women in their lives, and then they usually liked them, but more than likely they’d never admit it. Was this guy saying he liked romance movies? I did, especially when my favorite romance novel was turned into a movie.

“I’m kidding. But seriously, I would like to take you to dinner.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Philip.”

I took his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

The barista called my name again, and after I grabbed the carrier, I slowly turned around. I was about to tell him no thank you, but he said, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

I paused another moment and thought about what was actually happening. He was right, and maybe those people who made up hopeless romantic stories really did know what they were talking about. Maybe this was how I was to meet the next person I was supposed to date. And by Philip’s knowledge, fall in love.

“Sure. Let me give you my number. I really need to head back to the studio.”