chapter Nine
“Is there a reason for this sudden interest in new member education?” Jana sat cross legged on the plush carpet of the pledge room. A large pile of binders and papers sat between us. We were putting together the sorority history packets.
“I just think it could be fun to help with the pledges.” I finished a binder and set it aside.
“So it has nothing to do with any boys?” Her voice lilted slightly.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Just a hunch.” She pushed over another empty binder.
“A hunch?” I asked skeptically.
“It’s just that you’re usually inseparable from Juliet and Cara. I figured there had to be a reason you signed up to do this alone.”
“Juliet was the only one who signed up to help with rush prep.”
Jana smiled. “And she did it for a boy…”
“Good point.”
“So what’s up? Trouble with Tanner already?” She seemed more interested in my answer than normal. We were friends but not particularly close ones.
“No. We haven’t even gone out yet.”
“Not until Thursday, huh?”
“Yeah. Should be interesting.”
“I’m curious how it goes.” She stuffed another binder.
“Do you mind that I’m going out with him?” I had to clear the air. A date with Tanner wasn’t worth making things awkward in the house, or worse, hurting Jana.
“No. Of course not.”
“Okay…it just seemed like you might.” I watched her closely, trying to make sure her expression and body language matched her words.
“We broke up ages ago.”
“I just don’t want to upset you or anything.”
“You’ll be a better fit for him than me anyway.”
“What do you mean?” She had my attention.
“Ask me again after your date.”
“Oh, come on. You have to tell me.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to put any ideas into your head. Enjoy dinner and we’ll talk after the mixer.”
“You’re not going to budge?”
“No. But if it’s not Tanner that has you here, then who is it?”
“Hmm?” I mumbled, concentrating on the pile of paper in front of me.
“Why are you here and not with your friends?”
“I guess word hasn’t spread that fast.”
“Meaning?” She set aside the last binder.
“I’ll tell you when you tell me about Tanner.”
She laughed lightly. “I guess we’ll both be guessing for a few days, huh?”
“I guess so.” I finished putting together the last of the binders.
***
“Hey, you look great.” Tanner grinned as he watched me descend the stairs. I’d gone with a short green halter dress with a pair of killer black stilettos. Shoes can make an outfit.
“Thanks. You look nice too.” His khaki slacks and blue collared shirt looked great on his lean, athletic frame. Tanner wasn’t quite as built as the other Kappas. I wondered if it was a result of his year abroad.
“Glad you think so.” He put a hand on the door knob. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.”
He gestured for me to go first, so I waved at a few of my sisters hanging out downstairs and walked out onto the porch.
“I made us reservations at that new place that just opened next to Starbucks. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s supposed to be great.”
“Sounds good.”
We walked back toward the Kappa house. I wasn’t surprised when he stopped in front of a Lexus sedan. He seemed like a Lexus guy. Not quite as showy as a BMW, but a step up from what most college boys drove. The car was a few years old, and I had the feeling it was probably his mom or dad’s car first. His hand-me-down was much nicer than mine.
After opening my door for me, he went around to his own side and got in. “How’s life living in the house?”
“I like it better than the dorms. I get to live with my best friends.”
He started the car. A loud rock song blared from the speakers, but he quickly turned it off. “That’s fun sometimes, but I like having my own room.”
“You like privacy?”
He pulled out onto the street. “Yeah. It comes in handy.” He looked me over again before returning his eyes to the road.
“Is that your way of saying you bring girls home a lot?”
He shook his head. “I’ve only been back a few days.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t asked around about me.”
“Should I have?” I looked at him. What was he hinting at?
“If you had, you’d know I’m not a player.”
I leaned back against the seat. “Oh yeah?”
“I prefer relationships. Less drama and more meaningful sex.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Meaningful sex? Like you care about that?”
“You don’t?”
“I do, but guys don’t.”
“Hey, I’m not the one who recently hooked up in a hayloft.”
Did he have to bring that up? I crossed my arms over my chest. “Below the belt.”
He shrugged. “I’m just saying you’re not allowed to pass judgment on me like that. You can’t just assume that because I’m a guy, I use girls.”
“Does it really bother you?” I shifted in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable spot.
“It bothers me that you assume I’m a player. I like you, and I don’t want you thinking I only asked you out for sex.”
“Only for sex? Does that mean that’s part of it?”
He laughed a nervous sort of laugh. “Of course. Just like sex is one of the reasons you said yes to me.”
“It’s not.”
“Is that so?” He effortlessly parallel parked. “You weren’t thinking about sex at all when you said yes?”
“Nope.” At least not sex with him. I was probably thinking about having had sex with Colton.
“I already know you aren’t innocent. There’s no reason to pretend.”
“I’m not pretending.”
There was something pretentious about Tanner. He wasn’t being a jerk, but the way he talked to me sounded condescending whether he intended it to or not. I reflected on why I’d agreed to the date as I waited for him to come around and open my door.
“Sure you’re not,” he whispered as he gave me his hand to help me out.
He kept hold of my hand as we walked into the restaurant. After giving his name to the hostess, we were led to a table in the middle of the large dining room.
He pulled my chair out. I took a seat, glancing around at the purple and black décor. They were going for hip, and it showed. I opened the menu, wondering if the food matched. I was really into how places marketed themselves. It’s why I wanted to major in marketing once I could get admitted to the business school. You couldn’t apply until midway through sophomore year.
I studied the menu, pleasantly surprised by the options.
“Did I upset you?” Tanner’s question took me by surprise. I thought he’d moved on from that conversation.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Do I look upset?”
“Not exactly. It’s more like you lost the excitement you had when I picked you up.”
“No. I’m fine.” Maybe he was more perceptive than I thought. Either that or I was doing a horrible job of hiding my feelings.
“I hope so.” His eyes bore into mine.
The intense gaze bothered me. It felt like my privacy was being invaded or something. “Stop staring at me like that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s weirding me out.”
“I’m not allowed to look at my beautiful date?”
“You can look, but maybe not that intently.” I self-consciously smoothed out my dress.
He laughed. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
The waiter came over, and we ordered. I’d gone with a twist on a chef salad. It used seafood instead of the usual meats.
“What did you do this summer?” He spread his napkin on his lap.
“I worked as a lifeguard.”
“Cool.”
“And you?”
“Interned in the finance department of National Bank in Atlanta.”
“Really?” Great. I knew he was into business, but banking? No, thanks.
“Yeah.”
“That’s cool.”
“It was. Great experience, but nothing like my year abroad.”
“Oh yeah?” My dad was in banking, but it’s not like he ever told me much about what he did.
“I studied at the London School of Economics and did an internship at a bank in London last year. It really gave me a more international perspective.”
“I bet.” I studied a faded stain on the off-white tablecloth.
“Okay. Now I’m boring you. I’m not sure which is worse. Upset or bored.”
“Will you stop worrying? I’m not upset or bored.”
“Maybe if you’d smile. You have a nice smile.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, you do. I just don’t know where it’s hiding.” He laid his hand palm up on the table.
I forced a smile. “It’s right here.” What was wrong with me? I’d been in a bad mood since he brought up my hayloft hook up.
“I’d prefer a real one…”
“Oh look, our food’s coming.” I’d never been more relieved to watch a waiter approach before. I dug into my salad, grateful for the distraction.
“Glad to see you have an appetite.”
“Yeah, I eat.”
“It’s a good thing unless you’re using it to avoid talking to me.” He tapped his fingers on the table next to his virtually untouched steak.
“You worry more than a girl.”
“Is that supposed to be a put down of me or girls?”
“Neither. I’m just asking you to stop worrying. Okay?”
“If you’re sure there’s no reason for me to be doing it.”
“Let’s just enjoy dinner.”
“Okay. How about we talk about something that doesn’t bore you to tears?” He took a bite of his steak.
“I’m game for that.” At least he was trying.
“If we’re going to play gender stereotypes, let’s try this. One topic that can’t bore you, you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Let’s talk about you.” He sipped his wine. I’d declined a glass and went with iced tea.
“Okay. What about me?”
“How many boyfriends have you had?”
“One.” Easy question.
“Really? I’m guessing that doesn’t include Colt.”
“Colt was never my boyfriend.”
“Okay. How many guys have you slept with?”
“Is this really an appropriate conversation?”
“Oh, that means it’s a high number.”
“Two.” As tempted as I was to say twenty just to see his face, I went with the real number.
“Colt and that boyfriend.” He took another sip. “Aren’t you going to ask me the same question?”
“No.” I had no desire to know about his past conquests. The number and names didn’t matter since I was almost 100% positive I was never sleeping with Tanner. There wasn’t enough between us.
“See, I knew you just wanted to talk about yourself.”
“No. I just don’t care about this conversation.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Man, you’re a hard girl to please.”
I ignored the comment and took another bite of my salad.
He smiled suddenly. “I’ve heard you were a little bit of a heart breaker last year.”
I dropped my fork onto my plate. A couple at the next table looked over. “That’s not true.”
“Yeah? Then what happened with Ryan?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“Come on.” He leaned across the table slightly. “No secrets.”
“You really want to know?”
“Yes. I definitely want to know.”
“We were going to hook up when he suddenly missed his ex and broke down crying.”
Tanner laughed. “For real? Ryan bawled on you before sex?”
“Pathetic, huh?”
“For him, yeah. Not for you.”
“I’d like to think I’m enough to distract a guy from his ex.”
He picked up my hand that was resting on the table. “Mallory, you could distract a man from just about anything.” There was something about the way he said it that made things far less awkward.
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely.” He moistened his lips, and I wondered if he was thinking about kissing me.
“Interesting.” I took a long sip of my tea.
We finished eating and set aside our silverware. If I’d been wearing a watch, I’d have been subtly looking at it. I was definitely ready to go.
“Would you like dessert?” he asked as soon as the waiter collected our plates.
“I’m all right, but feel free.”
“I might get coffee.”
“Oh. I could do that.” If I was going to have to wait for him anyway, I might as well get something.
“Are you sure that’s it? You don’t have a sweet tooth?”
“I do. But I’m full.”
“That salad filled you up that much?” He made a noise that might be considered a snort.
“Yes.”
“If you say so.” He ordered us both a coffee.
“Do you like arguing with me?” I shifted my legs under the table and inadvertently brushed mine against Tanner’s. He didn’t seem to mind.
“Yes. You get really animated when you’re annoyed.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” He grinned. “You’re doing it right now.”
The waiter came over with our coffees, and I added my sweetener and cream.
“Well, I don’t like arguing.”
“Yes, you do. What is it about you and denying things?” He sipped his coffee.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your first instinct is to deny.” He set down his cup.
“No, it’s not.”
He laughed. “There it is. And when Colt outed your hook up, you immediately denied it.”
I blanched. “First Ryan, and now Colt? Are you purposely trying to sabotage this date?”
He leaned back in his chair. “No. Not at all. I’m just curious about what makes you tick.”
“I’m not that hard of a girl to understand.”
“No. You’re not. Except that you’re hiding something, or more than one thing.”
“What do you think I’m hiding?” I shifted in my chair nervously.
“I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Phew. At least I have time to distract you.” I threw him my most dazzling smile.
He laughed. “You’re something else, Mallory.”
“I know.”
“So what else should I know about you? You don’t seem to like my questions, so why not decide for yourself what I learn?”
“You want to know about me?”
“Yeah.” He pulled out his wallet when the waiter dropped off the bill. I didn’t bother offering to split it. I always let the guy pay. It fed their ego. Arguing just made it seem like you didn’t think they could afford you, or that you were a cheap date. You don’t want a guy thinking either.
“My middle name is Alice. My favorite color is blue. I love nice boys and fast cars.”
He laughed. “Is that so? What about fast boys and nice cars?”
“Fast boys? Shouldn’t you say bad boys?”
He shrugged. “Do you want me to say that?” He lowered his voice. “Do you want me to be a bad boy?”
“I already told you I like nice boys.”
“What does nice entail?”
“If you don’t know, then you’re not one.”
He laughed dryly. “I know.”
“Good. Then don’t waste your time asking.” I pushed back my chair.
I headed toward the front of the restaurant, and Tanner’s hand settled on the small of my back. He opened my car door for me, and waited until I was buckled before pulling away from the curb. Each time he did something gentleman-like, he glanced at me.
“Are you trying to make sure I noticed how nice you are?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re a goof ball.”
“Goof ball? That’s a new one. Usually girls call me something else.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Maybe later we’ll find out if you do too.”
“Later?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Later.”
He parked by his house. I assumed he planned on drinking since the party was still a few blocks away. I appreciated him thinking ahead, but I wasn’t exactly looking forward to walking home in heels.
He must have noticed my reaction. “Don’t worry, I can carry you home.”
“Not to your place.” I closed the car door.
“Oh? You sure about that?” He wrapped his hand around mine as we walked.
“Absolutely.”
“We’ll see about that.”