Page 14 of Daring Destiny
Me:Goodnight!
Huh. That was pretty easy.
After returning to my email logjam, hours later I collapse into bed. Exhaustion permeates every cell of my body, but my thoughts keep circling away from my work problems and back to Astrid.
Our text exchange surprised me and makes me feel certain the pleasant conversation we had was real. I close my eyes and concentrate on being fully present. Try to access what I’m feeling. Pinpoint moments of clarity.
It works.
Real connections for someone like me are rare.
This is one I shouldn’t let slip away.
five
Astrid
A Few Days Later
Tonight,I’mputtingthisguy Brennan to the test.
I’m not used to being ignored for such a long period of time. Six fucking months. So much for being able to read people. Or thinking he was a nice person. Seems like he’s a dick.
God, he pissed me off and I wrotehimoff. Until I ran into his brother at a coffee shop near Hunts Point, where I have another listing. One snarky comment later and somehow Brennan McGloughlin resurfaced.
Tonight, I thought about standing him up to give him a taste of his own medicine. Unfortunately, I’m intrigued Mr. Second Coming of Tech Jesus is gracing me with his presence.
My words, not his.
It’s a chilly evening but since I’ve arranged to meet him a short distance away from my place, I decide to walk.Slowly. When I’m a block away, I take a minute to powder my nose and reapply lipstick.
As I approach the Zoo Tavern on Eastlake, a dive bar with the charm of a place that hasn’t changed since the ’80s, I have to suppress a giggle. Dim lighting, check. Neon beer signs, check. Pool tables with worn felt, check. The stale stench of fifty years of beer soaked and dried into the carpet? Check. Check. Check.
This place is perfect.
If Brennan’s serious about not wasting my time, he’ll have to meet me on my turf. No fancy restaurants, no business casual. It’s time to see if Mr. Technology can relax and be real.
The second I push through the front door, I spot Brennan immediately. He stands stiffly near the bar, though he’s dressed casually in his uniform of dark jeans and a simple black T-shirt. His hair seems to still be doing its own thing and he’s sporting a couple of days’ worth of stubble.
Good God. The man still exudes a nervous energy. It’s incredibly endearing for some reason.
I stifle a smile. He’s definitely out of his element, but he showed up and stayed when I was deliberately fifteen minutes late. His first test has been passed. In my book, that’s worth a lot.
“Hey,” I call out as I make my way over. “Look who actually made it this time.”
Brennan smiles sheepishly when he sees me. “Yeah, I figured I owed you. Sorry about before. Things got crazy.”
“Yeah, crazy enough to disappear for six months,” I tease, raising an eyebrow as I lean next to him against the bar. “I was starting to think I should have put a digital tracker on you.”
He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, which makes it messier. “Fine, I deserved that. I’m here now, ready to make it up to you. How about I buy the first round?”
“Duh.” I roll my eyes and playfully hip check him.
His eyes widen in surprise but he manages to place an order for a pitcher of Heineken. As we stand side by side waiting for it, I glance at Brennan to gauge how he feels about being here. He’s got a boyish-charm thing going for him for sure. Except, the man exudes a subtle tension. His smile is a tiny bit too controlled. His movements a touch too deliberate.
“You sure this is your scene?” I ask as we make our way to the pool table. “This place is the polar opposite of the Metropolitan Grill.”
He pours us each a pint of beer and looks around appreciatively. “Oh, this is the type of place my brothers and I used to hang out in before they got famous. It’s actually a nice change of pace from the fancy restaurants I seem to spend my life in these days.”