“I wouldn’t bet on it.” I stood and extended my hand to him. “C’mon, let’s take the scenic route home.”
15
Skylar
“We should grab an early dinner before going home,” I told Clark as he started driving. “Well, to your place.”
Clark frowned. “It’s your place too.”
“Well, whatever. You know what I mean. Also, I should fill my belly sooner rather than later. I need time between dinner and getting to work, otherwise people will see my food baby.”
A laugh jumped out of his mouth. “Your food baby? You’re ridiculous. I can’t imagine you ever looking like you have any kind of belly except a flat, muscular one.”
Don’t flirt with him, don’t flirt with him, don’t flirt with him.
So not going to happen.
“Mmm. How much time do you spend imagining what I look like naked? Though you got quite an eyeful last night.”
He sputtered, starting to speak several times before settling on, “Who said anything about naked?”
“Me, I guess. I like naked. Naked is fun.” I waggled my eyebrows playfully. His face was basically a tomato, which made me chuckle. “I’m kidding. Well, kinda kidding. I do like naked, but I don’t think you imagine me that way.”
“You just like to make me blush, don’t you?”
“I plead the fifth, on account that my reply will make me look like an asshole.”
My response earned me another of Clark’s laughs. I enjoyed making him laugh and smile. He sort of…let go when he did, in a way he didn’t typically. Little glimpses of Clark breaking out of his shell.
“What do you want for dinner?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Anything. I just need you to feeeeed meeeee. Or not you exactly, but you’re driving and not paying.”
“Yes, sir,” he kidded.
“That was hot. Say it again.”
“Stop interrupting me while I’m picturing you naked.”
His eyes darted toward me like he was slightly insecure about what he said. I thought it was fucking awesome and let out a chuckle. Again, it was fun when Clark let loose. Of course, his uptightness was adorable as well. “Maybe wait for that till we’re home. I can be quite distracting while naked, so I wouldn’t want even the thought of that to interrupt you while you’re driving.”
“Noted.”
“Italian.”
He glanced at me, then, “Oh. Food.”
“Yes. Feed me Italian, please.”
“So spoiled.” Clark drove us to a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It definitely didn’t have a Clark vibe from the outside. The building was old, and one of the lights was out in the sign, so to me, it looked pretty much perfect.
“Come here often?” I asked as we got out of the car.
“Actually, I do, Judgy McJudgerson.”
Yikes. He was right.
Clark pulled the door open for me, then winked. “Just don’t tell my mom.”
We both ended up laughing again, and I realized how much I liked spending time with him.
The diner was small, one of those places where you ordered at the counter, took a number, then went to sit down. I got spaghetti and meatballs, and Clark got baked ziti.
I was grateful when Clark let me pay. They gave us garlic bread, drinks, and a number, and I followed him to a table. “So…this place.”
We sat down. “I found it by accident one day. It’s the best Italian I’ve had in the city. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s been owned by the same family for like…forty years. Old-school Italians, from what I’ve been told. All I know is, it’s great.”
Leaning back in my booth seat, I crossed my arms. “I like you here. This is like…messy Clark. You have neat, orderly Clark and messy Clark. Both are appealing. This Clark is just a little looser.”
“Looser?” His brows drew together.
“Yep. Like you’re just…I don’t know, like you’re just being. I don’t know if that makes sense. Also, I love garlic bread, so you better eat a piece now, or it’ll all be gone.”
He hesitated for a moment, watching me, looking at me as if trying to dissect me or what I said or…this whole thing. I should be too. There was a draw between us—no denying that—and it scared the hell out of me to try and figure out what it was or what it meant.
Finally, I picked up a piece of bread, held it out to him, and said, “Bite.”
Clark looked around as if his mom or someone would jump out and catch us doing…whatever this was. Then he leaned forward and took a bite of the bread, and oh, that was hot. Why was that so hot? I needed to stop thinking of Clark as sexy.
He chewed as I handed him the piece he’d taken a bite of, and I grabbed one for myself. We chatted while we ate the bread. It wasn’t long before a guy brought out our food, the scent of cheese, garlic, and Italian spices filling my senses.
I moaned. “God, I love food.”
“You’d never know it, looking at you.”
“You really are obsessed with my body, aren’t you?” I teased.
We ate, and he was right. The food was bomb. I would definitely be coming here again.
Afterward we drove home and parted ways—Clark to do some work on his computer while I jumped in the shower. I hung out in my room for a bit, before putting on my makeup and packing a bag with my clothes for work tonight.
When I came out, he was sitting at the kitchen table, working on his computer. I stood there for a moment and watched him. He was concentrating hard, studying the screen. He didn’t see me as he pushed his black-framed glasses higher on his nose in the most adorable, nerdy way I had ever seen.
I thought about last night, what he said when he realized I’d hooked up with the guy, then sleeping in his room, which I’d done a good job of ignoring, and our day today. It had been…really great. I loved being friends with Clark. This wasn’t anything new to me, so I didn’t know why it made my stomach roll over and play dead.
“What?” he asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I shook my head. “Nothing.” I hadn’t noticed he’d looked at me.
“You were staring at me.”
“That’s because you have a booger on your nose.”
His hand flew to his face before he stopped and flipped me off. “You suck.”
“I almost got ya, though.” I winked. “Anyway, I need to go. Have a good day, honey!” I joked as if we were a married couple or something, and hurried out.
The Playground was already crazy-busy when I arrived. I didn’t see Jesse or Dane, so it must’ve been their night to work in the Underground—and holy shit, I needed to take Clark there. I bet he would love it, the place having a vibe that probably worked much better for him.
Also, I actually didn’t have to bring him. He was a grown-up. I could tell him about it, and he could take himself, or ask Gretchen.
I said hi to a few people on my way to the back to get ready. I changed, but was a bit early. I thought about heading down to the Underground to watch Jesse sing and Seth play the piano, but Steven approached me. He was one of the newer bartenders. Big, buff, hot, and liked to have a good time.