Page 48 of The Scientist
“I’m trying. I agreed to have dinner with them again even after I sat through the first one with him talking incessantly about how he was a star lacrosse player in college. Then he proceeded to explain the rules of lacrosse to me.”
“Well, did you know the rules?”
“No, but it somehow felt anti-Semitic when he did it.”
I laughed and continued putting away my groceries.
“Please, Hadley. Please please please please please…”
“Fine,” I said to get the begging to stop. “Let me go change.”
“Yes! Thank you! They think I’m taking out the trash, so I’ll just say I bumped into you, and you begged and pleaded to come over for dinner, and I couldn’t say no.”
“Don’t you dare,” I threatened.
“Fine. I’ll just say that I saw you going out to dinner all alone and being the kindhearted soul that I am, I took pity on you and invited you over.”
“Or you could just tell them the truth. You stalked me and then begged me to come over, so you didn’t have tothird wheel.”
“My version’s better,” he said, rushing out the door. “See you in a bit. And don’t take too long.”
I blew out an exasperated breath before heading upstairs to change into something more casual than my work clothes. Being in the classroom today really helped pull me out of the funk I’d been in when the day started.
I had called to check on my mom a few more times after I left yesterday and then again this morning. She insisted she was fine, and she honestly sounded better, but I still felt unsettled.
Teaching served as a great distraction from worrying so much, and my mood improved dramatically by the end of the day. That was probably a good thing for Stuart, because otherwise, I don’t think I would have agreed to go over and be a dinner distraction.I wondered if he was right about Merrick. Stuart had a flair for the dramatics, but he also had a knack for seeing people’s true colors.
I finished putting away the last of my groceries before heading to the guys’ house. I had barely knocked once on the door before it swung open with Stuart standing there to greet me.
“Hadley! Come on in. Glad I caught you before you went out and wasted all your hard-earned money when we have plenty of food for you here.”
“Subtle,” I muttered to him as I walked through the door.
I didn’t see Lex anywhere, but Merrick got up from his chair at the table and walked over to me with a huge grin on his face.
“Nice to see you again, Hadley,” he practically purred at me.
“Yeah, you too. I hope I’m not interrupting guy’s night.”
“No, we’re glad to have you. If I’d have known Lex had such beautiful neighbors, I would have invited myself over sooner.”
“Hope you’re hungry, Hadley,” Stuart said, saving me from having to respond. “Lex said it was almost ready.”
“I am.”
“Would you like something to drink?” Merrick asked even though it wasn’t his home.
“I can get it,” I said.
“There’s soft drinks and water in the fridge,” Stuart said, hooking his thumb toward the kitchen.
I walked through the swinging door into the kitchen to see Lex taking a pan out of the oven. He didn’t look surprised to see me, so I figured Stuart must have told him I was coming over.
“Hey.” I smiled at him.
“Hey,” he said, setting the dish down on the stove.
“Smells delicious. What is it?” I asked, trying to look over his shoulder at whatever smelled so heavenly.