Chapter 5 - I Just Wanna Know You Better

Willow

On the day of my so-called date with Reid Grayson and I am a nervous wreck. I hate feeling cornered, and that's exactly what he did with that phone call.

However, I must admit I was still feeling flustered from his closeness yesterday and how he looked at me. Yeah, I know we entered into a fake relationship, but I didn't expect him to slip into the role so quickly. The man played the part well.

“...llow. Earth to Willow?”

I hear and snap out of my thoughts. When I look up, I find myself staring into the soft green eyes of Seth Sawyer.

“Anybody home?” He says with a coy smile and waves his hand in front of my face. I blink and my face flushes as an annoying blush creeps up my neck.

“Hey, Seth. Sorry - a lot on my mind at the moment. What's up?” His brow furrows at my answer.

“Is everything okay?” He says.

What exactly do I answer? ‘Uhm, sorry I was just thinking about Reid, could you come back later?’

“Yes, I promise,” I answer him with a nod, not sure of what else to say right now. I couldn't exactly tell him I had been thinking about Reid. He flashes me another smile and takes a seat in front of my desk, looking a bit awkward.

“Okay, good. I know I am probably overstepping my boundaries and the rules right now, but I have to do this before it drives me crazy. Will you go out to dinner with me tonight?” He asks, and I blink in surprise.

Of all the times he finally asks me out, he does it when I am already in a so-called relationship. Talk about bad timing!

“Uhm, I would love to, Seth, but I, unfortunately, have plans for this evening already,” I say, feeling stupid at my missed chance with him.

I wasn't wrong about the attraction between us, and now he's decided to act on that. I was so dumb! His smile drops a little.

“That's a pity. Well, do you mind joining me for coffee after work then? I know I seem a bit persistent right now, but for some reason, I actually have the courage to ask you out today, and I want to act on it before my bravado drops again.” He says, coyly and I notice a slight blush on his cheeks.

OH MY GOSH! He's so adorable!

The yes slips out of my mouth faster than I could think about an answer, and he smiles.

“Perfect. I'll come to get you at 5,” He says, then walks around my desk and takes my hand in his, kissing the back of it.

“You look beautiful today, by the way.” Giving me another smile, he turns and leaves me with my heart beating like a drum line.

I stared at the hand he had just kissed and put my palm to my chest to calm my heart. What the heck? Was I releasing pheromones or something?! Two dates in one day??

By lunchtime, I couldn't keep anything to myself anymore and rushed off to get Mel and go to our usual table. Yesterday, I dodged her, so she was a bit pissed off with me, “I have a dilemma of the opposite sex kind,” I tell her and see her raise her eyebrow in surprise.

This would be a first for me, and I knew she would want to know every detail. We pick a secluded spot, and I start before she explodes from curiosity.

I look at her with my hands folded on the table in front of me.

“Okay, so remember when we went out last Friday, and Reid tagged along?” I ask, and she stops chewing at the mention of Reid's name.

“Yeeees?” She answers, putting down her chip and eyeing me.

“He overheard us talking about my book and finding me someone to share a romance with and blah blah blah, and he proposed we enter into a fake relationship-”

“WHAT?!” She exclaims before I can finish, almost dropping the fork she was holding.

“Shush! I'm not supposed to be telling you this, anyway! Listen!” I reprimand her, and she clears her throat before I continue.

“So, he proposed that we enter into a fake relationship where he shows me what true romance is, and in turn, I act as his girlfriend in front of his family at his brother's wedding.”

“That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard," Mel interjects with a shocked look on her face.

“I must admit that I thought the same thing about it when Reid suggested it. I mean, a fake romance just for my book? That just spells trouble, am I right? But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Office girl gets swept away in a whirlwind romance with the boss’s son. Doesn’t it sound like something you would read?” I ask her, and she crosses her arms in front of her.

“Hmm. I guess it does sound intriguing. But what if, you know, you guys start developing feelings for one another?” She asks, picking up another chip from her plate and eyeing me. I shrug.

“That’s one of the rules we’re not allowed to break. And besides, can you see me falling for a guy like him?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

Mel laughs, “Okay, yeah, no, I don’t see that happening. Why does he want you to accompany him as a girlfriend to his brother’s wedding, though?” She asks.

“Apparently, they’ve been badgering him about finding a girlfriend and stuff, so he saw this as an opportunity to get them off his back.”

I explain, and I see her nod at this, “Okay, that I get. But how is this a dilemma if you’ve already agreed to it?” She asks with a confused look on her face and takes a sip of her coffee.

I sigh, “Because he asked me out on a date tonight, and I said yes, but a few minutes ago, I also said yes to going on a coffee date with Seth after work.” I say, and Melissa sputters out the coffee she had just taken a sip of at the mention of Seth’s name.

Before she could yell, I put a finger to my lips.

“Seth?!” she whispers loudly, and I nod. I haven’t told her about our back and forth flirting in the office because I thought it would lead nowhere, now I’ve been proven wrong.

When I tell her this, she tosses a rolled-up napkin at me. “How dare you not tell me! Am I not your best friend?” She asks with a fake hurt expression on her face that causes me to giggle.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! But now I need your help! What should I do?” I say with a begging expression, and I bring my palms together.

Mel sighs. “Well, the way I see it, you should go on both and see who you would rather try this experiment with. I mean, it's not like it will get serious with Reid, but who knows about Seth?” She says. Hmm, go on a date with both on the same day and then make a decision?

That could work, I suppose.

I nod, “Okay, then I’ll do that. I don’t see this going anywhere with Reid either, but I am curious enough to see what will happen. With Seth, there’s a definite attraction, but it could just be physical and nothing more. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.” I say with a made-up mind.

Mel makes me promise to tell her everything afterwards. I told her I would send a rating out of 5 when our dates were over, and we concluded our lunch.

The rest of the day, my stomach is in knots over what would happen this evening. From being semi-unwanted to dates with two guys in one evening. This could either go both ways or blow up in my face. Badly.

“Ready to go?” Seth asks when 5 pm hits, and I nod as I walk out with him.

With a smile on my face, he leads me to his car, and we drive to a nearby upmarket coffee shop. Once we were inside and seated, the butterflies returned to my stomach. As if Seth could sense my nervousness, he leaned over the tiny table and winked.

“I promise not to bite, Willow. You can relax. I would really like to get to know you a bit better outside of the workplace.” He says and leans back in his chair. I take a breath; what do I talk to him about exactly?!

Our coffees arrive, and Seth looks at me, lacing his fingers underneath his chin, “ ‘A Night Like This,’” He says, and my heart stops. I look at him with my mouth agape and dry.

How did he know the name of my dreaded first romance novel?