Chapter 13: Strings Attached

AVA

Tobias pulled up to a little restaurant beside the water. String lights lit up the outside seating, which was empty, as it was late December.

“This place is so cute!” I said as we walked up to the door.

Tobias entered first, and I couldn’t help but think of Mr. Brentstone holding every door for me yesterday. I shook off the thought. ~One day of chivalry and I’m ruined forever.~

We were greeted by a girl sporting bright pink French braids.

“Any tables for two left?” Tobias asked, snaking his arm around my waist.

“Unfortunately, not right now,” the hostess said. “But you can sit at the bar and wait for a table to clear, if you like.”

Tobias looked at me. “Is that okay with you?”

“Sure!” I mustered, managing a faint smile.

“Sorry, I guess I should have made a reservation.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it.”

There were large screens showing a hockey game every way I looked. Tobias’s eyes were already glued to one of the screens.

“Are you into hockey at all?” he said.

I shifted uncomfortably on the wobbly bar stool. “Nope,” I said, a bit more irritably than I meant to.

“That’s a shame.” He pointed to the screen. “There’s a pretty big game on tonight.”

I bit my lip, suddenly regretting coming out here at all. Tobias finally pulled himself away from the screen and turned my way.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t bring you here to watch the game.”

The bartender popped up behind the bar. “What can I get you guys?”

“I’ll just have whatever’s on tap,” Tobias said. “How about you? A cosmopolitan perhaps?”

I shook my head. “I don’t drink, actually.” I turned to the bartender. “I’ll have the blackberry lemonade, please.”

The bartender walked off to get us our drinks, and I caught myself thinking of Georgia’s blackberry peach pie.

“Any reason in particular for not drinking, or just personal preference?” Tobias asked.

“A little bit of both, I think. I’ve seen alcohol sit not so well with certain people. Plus, I like being fully in control of my actions.”

“Would you like me to switch to something nonalcoholic as well?”

I smiled. “No, that’s okay. As long as you don’t get drunk on me.”

Tobias flashed me a toothy grin. “Well, I can’t promise I won’t get drunk on ~you~.” That made me chuckle, and I felt a little lighter again.

“So, tell me about yourself,” he said. “What made you move here all the way from Seattle?”

“How did you know I’m from Seattle?”

“Word travels fast at Brentstone.” He winked.

I felt my heart flutter but was confused to find it had more to do with the word ~Brentstone~ than Tobias’s wink itself. I shook off the feeling and straightened my back.

“Well, in a nutshell, I left my job and pretty much my whole life behind to just…get a fresh start. I figured the farther away the better, so I could truly get a clean break and not get tempted to go back.”

I felt the heaviness of my words set in as soon as they left my mouth, so I decided to try and divert his attention.

“Anyway, no siblings, eighteen cousins, both parents are alive and well. I did some cheerleading in high school, play the piano mediocrely, and I like to cook, paint, and read in my free time.”

Tobias let out a hearty laugh. “There’s a lot to unpack there.”

I smiled at him. “How about you?”

He scratched his head. “Let’s see… Born and raised here. Two older sisters and two younger stepbrothers.

“Both parents alive and well, but I don’t talk to my dad much. They separated when I was twelve, and my dad just kind of did his thing without us.

“I have a cat named Sushi and a parrot named Gus. Played football in high school. No instruments. And I like to go to the gym in my free time.”

“Your cat’s name is Sushi?!” I gushed. “I love that!”

Tobias smiled warmly at me. “You’d love her.”

“I do have to admit, I’m not really a cat person. But with a name like that, I just might.”

The bartender set our drinks down in front of us as a waitress approached us from behind to tell us that a table had just opened up.

***

We sat down at the table, and the waitress handed us our menus. I opened mine, and my eyes immediately fell on the bold, straight font inside.

My mind wandered back to my meeting with Mr. Brentstone and the way he had made me feel. I was vaguely aware of Tobias speaking to me in the background.

“Anything look good to you?”

“Yeah,” I replied mindlessly, picturing Mr. Brentstone biting his thumb again.

“No, wait, sorry.” I snapped myself back to reality. “Anything you can recommend?” What was wrong with me? Why was I thinking about my boss when I was on a date with a great guy?!

“Hmm…” Tobias scratched his chin. “I guess the steak is pretty good?”

I couldn’t help but think about Mr. Brentstone ordering me his favorite meal in my absence. ~Stop that, Ava.~

“Steak sounds good!” I said, a little too high-pitched.

“Do you want me to get something else and share?” Tobias asked.

A million scenarios flashed through my head, each messier than the next. I was going to politely decline, but I could see how happy the idea made him, so I consented.

“That way we each get two dishes,” he clarified unnecessarily.

“Yep. Smart.” I uncomfortably pushed a loose wave of hair behind my ear.

Tobias was still scanning the menu. “Do you like pasta?”

“I do.”

“How about salmon?” He was clearly not listening to me.

“Sounds good too.”

“Ooh, maybe lasagna!”

I sighed and was quite literally saved by the bell as my phone started ringing in my purse. I took it out with every intent of declining the call, until I glanced at the caller ID. My brow furrowed.

“That’s strange,” I said. “It’s the office.”

Tobias leaned over to see for himself. “You should take it,” he said.

“Don’t be silly.” I wasn’t able to fully conceal the hesitation in my voice. “It’s after hours, and I’m on a date.”

Tobias shook his head. “Really, I don’t mind. It might be important.”

I was still unsure, but I accepted the call. The voice on the other end of the line shook me to my core.

“Say it’s Marcus,” I heard Mr. Brentstone’s low voice say through the speaker.

I felt my cheeks heat up, and my stomach did a flip. “Hi…~Marcus~… What’s up?” I said, my voice shaking.

“Good,” Mr. Brentstone hummed. “Now tell me you’re on a date.”

I found myself growing annoyed with him. “Can this wait? I ~am~, in fact, on a date.”

“With Mr. Wilson?”

My eyes flicked up at Tobias, who was half-listening, half-watching the hockey game, unaware of what was unfolding in front of him. “Yes.”

“Tell me you’ll come by to collect your keys.”

I hesitated for a moment. “Thank you so much, Marcus. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m ~so~ scatterbrained. I hadn’t even noticed I’d left them. I’ll come by after my date.

“My car is still in the garage anyway. Tobias drove me here.”

Tobias turned his attention to me upon hearing his name. “Are you okay?” he mouthed.

I just nodded.

“Tell him Marcus is about to close up, so you need to come by before you get locked out of your car ~and~ your house.” Mr. Brentstone was clearly enjoying himself.

I was starting to get really pissed off. “Wow, that’s so inconvenient. So sorry for the trouble, ~Marcus~. I might just have to ask my date if I can spend the night at his place tonight.”

Tobias perked up.

“Like hell you are, Ava. Get back here and ditch him downstairs. I’m not asking again.” Mr. Brentstone hung up on me. ~That stuck-up prick!~

I stared at my phone for a second.

“You forgot your keys?” Tobias was barely able to contain his excitement.

I sighed and put my face in my hands. “Yes, and I’m so sorry. I think I’m going to have to cut the date short.”

Tobias’s excitement deflated. “Really? You’re more than welcome to spend the night. I could sleep on the couch if you want.”

I sent him a soft smile. “You’re so sweet. I have to get home though. Feed the cat and all.”

Tobias’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I thought you said you weren’t a cat person.”

I froze. “I’m not!” I practically yelled. “It’s not my cat. I’m cat-sitting for my neighbor. He’s away for work.”

Tobias leaned back. “If you say so.” He sounded unconvinced.

“Can I get a rain check? Please let me make this up to you another time!” I felt so bad cutting our date short, even though I was ~slightly~ happy to get out of the meal-sharing situation.

Tobias straightened his back. “Absolutely! That is, if you want. Don’t feel bad if that was your getaway call though. I won’t take offense.”

I enclosed his hand in both of mine. “Tobe, please. I would love to do this again. I hate to be the one ending this date prematurely. Next date is on me.”

Tobias’s face beamed. “Sounds good to me. Now I get an extra date and a free meal too.” He winked at me.