3. Bergan

3

BERGAN

The restaurant is way, way above my pay scale. It’s the swankiest place I’ve ever been with its white tablecloths, mood lit candles, and the wait staff with a towel on their arms. The dress code is a must, and as a well-dressed person I still feel underdressed in this place.

This is far from my scene. I’m more of the chicken wings and a beer kind of gal.

I’m known for being a confident woman, at least in my outward appearance, but this place is pushing my buttons. It doesn’t help I’m sitting alone with a martini, two olives, and the man who asked me here is nowhere to be found.

Needing a distraction, I scroll through social media and hiss as my ex appears on the arm of some model in New York City. I scroll past wanting to forget him, because I should’ve known better. Rocket never loved Colorado. Not like I do. It’s my home and I’ll never leave.

Now annoyed and hungry, I stand to leave when Harrison finally decides to grace me with his presence.

He’s out of breath as he says, “I had to take a call. Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

I scoff.

How many times have I heard that before?

I grab my drink to down it. “I think I’m just going to go home.”

This meeting is for a story, but I won’t let anybody waste my time ever again. Rocket would dismiss my time as disposable. And I let it go when I shouldn’t have. Of course, he was fucking the league’s physical therapist, but still… I didn’t value myself enough to enforce others to value me either. It’s why I’ve stayed single for two years now. It’s not worth the heartache.

Harrison gently rests his hand on my arm, and my skin lights up as tingles progress along my body. “Please stay, or we can go do something else if you prefer.”

He looks me dead in the eye and he seems sincere and it’s hitting me hard that I want to spend more time with him.

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I weigh the cons, but I want the inside scoop.

“I’m hungry. This really isn’t my scene— I know this little place around the corner.”

A little boy's smile brightens up his face like the fourth of July. “Lead the way.”