I looked down at the paint on the back of my hand. And I panickedand said the first thing that popped into my head. “It’s not.”
She laughed. “Um…yes it is. It’s bright blue. Like you dippedit into a bucket of paint or something.”
I shoved a ravioli in my mouth to stall and tried not tochoke on it. I took a huge gulp of water. “I don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”
She nodded knowingly. “Oh. I get it. Is it like…some kind ofkinky sex thing?”
“What? No.” I looked at my hand. She wasn’t accusing me of beinga freak and painting my dead fiancée. And she didn’t know any of my friends. Thiswould in no way result in me being locked up in a loony bin. I wasn’t sure whymy first instinct was to lie. But I didn’t need to lie to this girl. “I waspainting earlier. I paint portraits.”
“You’re an artist? Wow. That’s so incredible. It’s so hard tomake it in the arts these days.”
I laughed. “No. I’m not an artist. I’m the CEO of the city’slargest financial firm. Painting is a hobby.”
Her fork clattered against her plate. “Oh my God. You’re…you’re…”
I could see the moment of recognition before she even said myname. And it felt like the end of the night had come. One of the only reasonsI’d put up with this crazy night was because she didn’t know who I was.
“You’re Matthew Caldwell? The CEO of MAC International?”
“Yup.” I tried to finish up my raviolis. As much as I wanted toget the hell out of this restaurant, I was still hungry.
“So you’re friends with James Hunter?” She gasped. “And PennyHunter? I seriously idolize her. I want to be her when I grow up. I mean, she’sonly a few years older than me. But she’s a redhead from Delaware. I’m so muchlike her and yet she married James Hunter and I married Joe Dickson. Such adifferent terrible life choice.”
I smiled. “So you read tabloids?”
“No. I mean, yes. I thought you looked familiar.” She threwher hand over her mouth. “Wait, your friend that set up the dating profile foryou? That was Penny? Penny Penny?”
“Yup.”
“Oh my God, I casually flirted with her because I thought itwas you. Chastity is never going to believe this.”
I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. No, she didn’t know myfriends. But she knew of them. What if the painting thing somehow gotback to them? They’d have a million questions. They’d want to see theportraits. They’d think I was crazy.
“Do you think you could introduce me to them?” she asked.
Shit. “No.” It came out way faster and harsher than Imeant for it to.
She bit her lower lip and looked down at the smorgasbord offood on the table. “Right. Sorry. Date from hell and all that?”
“That’s not it.” But honestly, it kind of was.
“Was it because of the bathroom incident? Because I reallydidn’t mean for you to see me with my shirt off until at least the third date. That’slike some kind of rule, right? I’ve heard that somewhere. Honestly I’m a littleshaky on dating rules these days. When is nudity allowed?”
“Um…”
“And we started over. I don’t even think I’ve done anythingthat weird since coming back out here. Except for the whole admitting that I’mobsessed with your friends thing. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like you too. ButI read all about that huge scandal with James and Penny a few years ago. It wasall over the news. And then their wedding night? Oh my freaking God! I couldn’tstop watching the news…”
“Yeah, I get it,” I said. “They’re famous.”
She was silent for a moment. “Are you jealous of them orsomething?”
I laughed. “No.”
“It kinda seems like you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.” Again, my words came out icier than Imeant for them to.
“You’re famous too,” she said. “Matthew Caldwell.” She smiledto herself. “I can’t believe I went on a blind date with you. Such a crazyworld. And there’s no need to be jealous of your friends. You’re great too.”
I’m not jealous. Fine, I kind of was. But not of them.Of what they have.
We ate in silence as Ash slowly chewed another chickenfinger. Until she started squirming and looked like she couldn’t stand itanymore. “So what do you do at MAC International?” She shook her head. “Sorry,you already said. You’re the CEO. I’m sorry about earlier, but please stop withthe silent treatment. It’s driving me crazy.”
I laughed because it had literally been quiet for fiveseconds tops before she started talking again. “I’m not mad at you. And you’reright. I am a little jealous of them. Of what they have, you know?” This girl wasa stranger to me. And I found myself wanting to get all this shit off my chest.I didn’t care if she judged me. I’d probably never see her again. And she’dcertainly never meet any of my friends in person.
“Yeah, I get that. Their lives seem so perfect. True love andall that.”
She sounded like Tanner.
“I hope that one day I can experience that.” She sighed anddropped her chin in her hand. “Don’t you?”
“I have.” I wasn’t sure why I said it. I hadn’t gone on ablind date to talk about Brooklyn. Honestly, I don’t know why the hell I was ona blind date.
“You have? What happened?”
I took a deep breath. What was the worst that could happen ifI told her? I might feel better. Maybe worse. Maybe this was just what Ineeded. A stranger to talk about Brooklyn with. “She passed away.”
“Oh my God, Matt.” She reached across the table to grab myhand. But before she reached me, she knocked over the candle in the center ofthe table with her elbow. It fell into the olive oil and the whole plate burstinto flames. Ash screamed at the top of her lungs. Before I could throw wateron the fire, she grabbed the side of the tablecloth, I think to smother thefire. But she pulled too aggressively and flung the fiery oil directly onto my dick.
I don’t know if it was her screaming again or a
