The Bet

17) Dinner Date

Miss Camila was back in the diner no more than twenty minutes later. She walked right up to me, mid drink order.

"Hello, again. Let me take you out to dinner."

I stared at her, wide eyed, needing a second to catch up to her forward request.

She took it as a sign to explain, which I suppose couldn't hurt.

"To make it up to you, for making your work day harder. Let me take you out," she reiterated.

I blinked at her, still not fully caught up.

She flashed me her stunning smile. "Please?"

"Yes."

"Perfect! I'll see you after your shift on Friday," then she was gone again.

I sighed, damn my simple mind. I didn't even know what I was agreeing to before I said it. She just batted her pretty eyes and flashed me that grin of hers and I was putty.

Typical.

After staring at the door she strutted out of for an unreasonable amount of time, I refocused my attention on the slightly stunned faces of the guests at my table.

"So. . . Two sweet teas and a Coke?"

~~~~~~~

I walked out after my shift on Friday.

"Hello, Beautiful. You still up for dinner tonight?" She pushed herself off of her blue jeep that she was leaning on coolly.

Dang. . . I was kind of hoping she forgot.

The amount of problematic attraction I have towards her kind of gives me an anxiety induced headache that I've been sporting all day.

. . . Luckily, I still set up for Mickey to have a sleepover at Carter's house tonight, just in case.

"I guess," I shrugged with a small smile.

  That seemed super cool and chill, right? Not too excited? I figure, since my plan to never see her again has already gone out the window, I might as well keep making a good impression on the sexy crime goddess.

  "Perfect! I'd like to drive you to the restaurant if you don't mind leaving your car here."

I looked over at my hunk of junk parked in one of the employee spots. It's unlikely anyone would break into it overnight — not that I'm planning on spending the night with her again! That would imply I want this to go somewhere further, and I definitely don't want that. . . Anyway, even if someone were to break in, they'd only find a bunch of recipes and straw rappers that Mikey refuses to throw away. With that knowledge combined with the opportunity to save gas, I couldn't find any reason to turn her down as she opened her passenger side door for me with that sparkle in her eyes.

  Once we made it to the restaurant, I let out a breath I'd been holding the whole car ride.

  The place isn't ridiculously fancy like I was afraid she'd like. It's quaint and calm and not a far cry from the diner I work at. The Italian theme is cute, and it smells delicious.

  Even better, I'm not under dressed. That was one of the things I was most horrified of coming on this date with this total fashionista. I thought about just risking being over dressed, but that somehow seemed more embarrassing, and now I'm grateful that I didn't go that route.

  Heat rushed to my cheeks once I realized Miss Camila had rounded the car to open my door for me. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Of course, Dear."