Worth It (16 page)

His smile widens before he says, “I don’t think I’ve ever dated a chick who drinks beer.”

Insecurity nudges its way back in. “Is that bad?” I ask tentatively.

“Oh God, no.” He shrugs. “Makes you seem laid-back.”

My lips tip up.

“So, how long have you worked at Village Pizza?” He points in the direction of my work—which is across the street—with his thumb.

“Oh, only about ten months or so.”

“Really? You look like you’ve worked there for years.”

“Well, I worked at another pizza place since high school until I got a job at Village Pizza.”

“Why did you quit the other place?” he asks, genuinely interested.

I frown because I don’t want to discuss this sort of crap on a first date. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time,” he says dryly.

I sigh. “Well, I missed an early morning shift because I had an, um…emergency,” I stumble. The emergency was Sam partying a little too close with another girl in front of me, and I stayed up too late to make sure he wouldn’t slip into another room with her. “And I got fired.”

“Oh, that sucks. I’m surprised you didn’t just get a warning since you worked there for so long.”

I shrug. “The place recently switched owners, so he didn’t know me well enough to understand that I’d never done anything like that before.”

“What was the emergency?”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat and debate what to say.

When I don’t say anything, Jed says, “You can talk to me, Anna.”

I glance at him and see sincerity, and even though I can’t explain why, but I feel like I might be able to trust him. It’s not like it’s a secret. It’s just a little embarrassing, so I tell him about Sam and why I was late.

His face screws up in disgust. “Damn, your ex is a complete shithead.”

I can’t help the snort of laughter that escapes me, and I cover my smiling mouth to prevent another one from slipping out.
Real attractive, Anna.

He smiles. “My last girlfriend was a piece of work, too. I feel your pain.”

I smile in response, but talking about exes makes my stomach churn. I wonder what she was like and why she couldn’t hold on to him.
Could I?
I shake my head to clear it, and I look at the menu to distract myself.

“So…” he starts.

I glance up at him.

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” he asks with a serious expression.

I burst out laughing. “I don’t know, do you eat Lucky Charms? Because you look magically delicious.”

He laughs, and I smile, and just like that, my tension is gone. It’s almost like we have a happy and content connection. I can’t put a finger on the word, but it feels like I’ve known him for a lot longer. I’m actually shocked that I feel so comfortable with him already. My trust issues and social awkwardness usually inhibit that, but something about him makes me relax and just be myself. I feel better knowing that we have more than physical chemistry. Judging from our kiss, we have that in spades.

God, that kiss!

I notice his eyes grow hungry the longer our gaze stays linked, and it makes my body heat.

The waitress comes with our drinks, forcing us to break eye contact, which saves me from throwing myself at him.

“Here you go,” she chirps as she places our beers on the table. “Are you ready to order?”

“Crap, sorry. Can you give us a couple more minutes?” I ask.

“Sure, no problem. I’ll be back in a few,” she says, smiling. Then, she turns and leaves.

“So, tell me about your job,” I prompt.

He sighs and leans back in his seat. “It’s not really that interesting. I’m an engineer at the light department, so I deal with how power lines are strung, and I help figure out the best way to get energy to flow to homes. The biggest part of my job is drawing up plans. I help the lineman with their work sometimes, too, but it’s all pretty boring. What about you? What’s your major?”

He doesn’t want to talk about himself? Huh, that’s a first.
“Early Childhood Education. I’d love to be a Kindergarten teacher.” I smile widely, thinking about my passion for my career choice.

“What made you decide on teaching?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve wanted to work with kids for as long as I can remember. I actually wanted to be a pediatrician first, but then I realized I’d have to see blood. I’m so
not
good with blood, so that wouldn’t have worked out.”

He laughs. “Yeah, probably not.” Then, he smiles deviously. “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.”

I laugh. “That one is lame, too.”

“Damn, I might have to Google some. Next time I take you out, I’ll have a good one ready for you,” he says, smirking.

At the mention of a next time, my face splits in half with my smile. My shoulders sag a little with relief because he wants to take me out again, so he must not think that I’m acting like the bumbling idiot that I feel like.

“You guys ready to order?” the waitress interrupts.

“Oh crap, we were talking again. Do you have any idea what you’d like, Anna? I’ll probably just go with the chicken parm.”

“Um…yeah, I’ll just have a burger, I think.”

“Okay, I’ll put the order in.”

“Thanks.”

When I look back to Jed, he’s giving me a weird look again.

“What?” I ask. Then, it dawns on me
. Shit, I just ordered a burger. Is that it? Does he think I’m fat and that I don’t need the calories? I’m not that fat, but next to him, I probably look like a whale.

Damn it, Anna! Cut the insecure crap!

His laugh pulls me back. “Nothing. It’s just that I’m not used to this. I’m used to women ordering salads that they don’t eat.” He grins at me. “I should have known you’d be different.”

I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear. “Different in a good way?”

He nods, still smiling. “Definitely good.”

I want to get my head out of the self-doubt, so I say the first thing that comes to mind, “Do you play pool?”

“Yeah, I’m not great or anything, but I play from time to time. You?”

“Yeah, I play sometimes. Not awesome—kinda like you, I guess.” I shrug.

“Want to play after dinner?”

“Really?” I ask, surprised.

“Oh, we don’t have to. I know it’s a weeknight, but I was—”

“I’d love to play with you,” I blurt out.

He smirks and raises an eyebrow. “That’s good because I’d love to play with you, too.”

Thankfully, our food arrives and saves me from further shoving my foot into my mouth. Throughout the meal, despite my insecurity creeping in from time to time, our conversation flows freely.

I tell him about my family, and he tells me about his. He has an older sister who is married, a younger brother, and his parents. They seem very close, and I find myself wishing that I had something like that at home. Apparently, he also has a lot of extended family here, too, which I don’t have since my parents moved out here from Wisconsin when I was four.

We even talk about things we’re not supposed to talk about. We discuss a little more about our last relationships. Sharing about Sam is a little embarrassing, but despite the strange tightening of his eyes, he makes it easy for me to talk. We touch on politics for a bit even though I don’t follow it too closely, but he does. We both like rock music, and he especially likes the eighties. We discuss whether or not we want kids, and thankfully, we both do. Before I know it, we’re done eating, he’s paying the bill, and we’re getting ready to head over to the pool tables.

He places his hand on my lower back as we walk, causing the buzzing current to course through me again.

“Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only ten I see,” he says.

I throw my head back and laugh.
I really fucking love this game.
“That might have been the lamest one yet.”

He reveals his sexy smile. “It probably was. I’ll think of some more, and next time, I’ll get you good.”

Maybe it’s the beer talking, but I feel it is my turn to make some playful suggestions. “Get me good, will you?” I smirk.

He smirks back, and his eyes heat. He dips his head to whisper in my ear, “Yeah, I’ll get you good.”

My heart rate speeds up, and a jolt shoots straight between my legs. Those words, that look, that
man
might cause me to spontaneously combust before this night is over.

Before I can respond, he pulls back, grabs my hand, and winks. “Ready to play with me?”

“You want another beer?” I ask as we near the bar.

“Sure. You want to order, and I’ll get us a pool table?” she suggests.

I still can’t get over how awesome she is. She’s sweet, smart, laid-back, funny, and hot. Every time she blushes, I want to kiss her and nibble on that bottom lip.

I smile. “Sounds great.”

As she walks to one of the empty tables and sets down her purse, I watch her ass sway
. It’s so fucking round and perfect.

“What can I getcha?” The bartender’s voice drags my eyes away.

“A Wachusett Blueberry Ale and a Wachusett original on tap, please,” I tell him.

When he walks away, I go back to watching Anna. She’s racking the balls while I take in everything about her. Shit, I can’t even explain the pull she has on me. I think she looks even more beautiful now that I’m getting to know her. I love talking to her, and I feel drawn to her. But something crosses her face every now and then, and I don’t like it. I don’t know what it is, but it pulls her away from me for a second, making me want to snatch her back.

“That’ll be seven dollars,” the bartender says, interrupting my thoughts.

I turn back to pay for our beers, and then I take a glass in each hand.

When I turn back around, Anna is backed up against the pool table by some blond asshole. Anger begins to boil as I get closer.

When I get near enough, I hear him say, “You sure?”

She stiffens as he steps closer and presses himself against her. He puts a hand on either side of her on the pool table, pinning her in.

I’m going to punch that motherfucker.
I hurry up and reach the table with her purse, and I set down the beers.

With a shaking voice, she says, “I’m sure. Now, please back off, and go away.”

I start toward her when I hear him say, “A fine piece like you shouldn’t be left alone to play pool by herself. Let me join you, or you can join me…in my car.”

What fucking jackass says that shit?

I’m almost there, and I see her shake her head.

This motherfucker doesn’t give up when he says, “Come on, sexy, it’ll be worth—”

I grab the fucker by the collar, putting my face inches from his. “What the fuck are you doing, asshole? She told you to back the fuck off, and I suggest you listen,” I say through my clenched teeth.

He takes me in and pales.

Yeah, that’s right, asshole. I’ll fuck you up.

He raises his hands and stutters, “I, um…was just, um—”

“Leaving,” I finish for him and push him as I release his shirt. “I suggest you do it now.”

After I watch him walk out the door, I turn back to Anna. “You okay? Did he hurt you?” I place my hands on her shoulders and rub them with my thumbs. Touching Anna is calming me down. I wanted to rip that motherfucker’s throat out, and
how
angry I was throws me for a second. I’ll protect my woman, but this is something else.

“Um…yeah, I’m fine. I actually get that pretty often. Sometimes, I think I have
please fuck with me
tattooed on my forehead,” she half jokes.

I don’t know what to say to that, but I plaster a smile on my face, not wanting that shithead or the idea of her getting harassed to ruin our night. Instead, I swallow the anger that is rising again. Trying to joke, I search her head and say, “I don’t see a tattoo, but I’ll let you know if I find one.” She gives me a half smile, so I lose the playful tone and I say with a smirk. “I bet you get a lot of attention when you go out, though.”

“What?” she asks, tilting her head.

I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out this girl. “I said, I bet you get a lot of attention when you go out.”

Her jaw goes hard. “Why do you say that?”

I quirk an eyebrow, wondering why she’s pissed. “’Cause you’re hot.”

Her jaw relaxes, and that look passes over her face before she reddens, and she half smiles at me. “Oh…thanks.”

What the hell is with her?
Just like before when we entered the restaurant, I want to push her to talk, but I drop it instead. It’s not my place, not yet, so I smile back. “No problem, baby.”

I walk over and grab a cue. “You want me to break?”

“Um, sure,” she says, distracted.

With her attention on finding her own cue, I study her. Her shoulders sag, and she looks somewhat defeated.

How the shit did this get awkward all of a sudden?
“You okay, Anna? Did I say something wrong?”

She looks over at me and gives me a slightly forced smile. “No, I’m fine, really. You didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Then, why are you acting funny all of a sudden?” I know I’m pushing now, but I can’t help it.