“That’s better,” he said. “Start with a genuine ego boost. What else you got?”
She laughed again, the buzzing and pounding in her head receding. “I can’t. Seriously. You look good. Fiona’s in there like it’s a day at the spa. You guys do this. I’ll wait. We’ll eat after.”
“I think you need this more than either of us.”
“Ouch.”
He shook his head, took a step closer so the tips of their shoes were touching. People walked past them, going into the restaurant. “People don’t think California is ever dark. They’re so used to the sun, it’s all they expect. All they see.”
Her brows pushed together. It was sunny here most of the time. Wes’s hand reached out, rested gently on her shoulder, and a different sort of buzz hummed along Hailey’s skin. All the way down to her fingertips.
“It reminds me of you. You’re so positive, so upbeat. I forget you’ve been hurt. That you’ve seen the other side of happiness. You need this, Hailey. Not so you can get a date right away but so you can open the door again. Someday.”
“You didn’t want me to do this. You thought it was dumb. You didn’t want to do it.”
His smile was quiet. She loved that one. “But I’m here. Because you thought it would be good for me. We don’t have to sign over our feelings tonight. We just have to be open to them.”
She poked him in the shoulder. “Suddenly, you’re smart?”
He laughed, dropped his hand. “Actually, I’ve always been smart. Above average across the board.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”
When she stepped forward, his fingers circled her wrist. “You’re okay?”
Taking a deep breath, she let it out. “Yes. No matter what happens, at the end of the night, I don’t have to leave alone.”
18
So much for bowing out gracefully. He’d dressed, second-guessed his agreement the whole way here, and then decided Hailey deserved to have him tell her in person he was out. Except now, he didn’t want to go. Not because he wanted to find a date—he’d rather go back on the apps than this, and that was saying something—but because he wouldn’t ditch his friend.
Even though he’d felt the vibrating hum of tension when he’d seen her, which he recognized as more than just friendly feelings, she was his friend. Outside his siblings, probably his best friend. He truly enjoyed being with her, and seeing her upset like that unnerved him, made him want to fix it. Which, ironically, she’d hate.
He couldn’t fix her past or what hurt her but he could stay and be her wingman. That’s what friends did. Did anyone actually believe this shit? Five minutes for love? Fine. He could admit a spark took less than five minutes but really, what were the statistics on relationships formed in this setting long-term?
As a tall, broad-shouldered man tapped on the microphone, Wes looked over at Hailey. She seemed to be breathing a bit easier now. He’d recognized the panic because he’d been there himself more than once. She smiled, looking so lovely with her hair down, her cheeks adorably flushed. She wore a pair of dark jeans that fit her well, emphasizing her enticing curves. Her floral top had two little strings dangling right between her … what the fuck are you doing? Checking out your friend? He felt mad at himself. The only thing you could offer her unconditionally is what you have between you now.
“You’re frowning,” she whispered as the man at the front explained the rules.
“I’m not.”
“Why would I lie?”
He winked at her, trying to forget that seconds ago he’d been on a visual tour of her body. “To throw me off my game.”
She laughed loud enough to make the host stop, then buried her face against his arm. “You have no game.” It was whispered from somewhere in the vicinity of his armpit.
“They don’t know that.” He loved making her laugh.
The announcer continued after someone asked a question. “If you make a connection, put a star beside that person’s name and we’ll explain how to make contact at the end of the night. We ask that you move promptly when the buzzer goes so everyone gets their chance to visit. The most important thing is to have fun. Very worst-case scenario, you’re going to meet some new people tonight.” The guy’s jovial tone suited a carnival setting more than a romantic restaurant, but people clapped excitedly.
“Do we need a signal?” Fiona asked, nodding to Wes in greeting.