16. Leah

CHAPTER 16

LEAH

Staring at the notes app on my phone to make sure I've completed all my Christmas shopping is stressing me out more than usual this year. Normally I have all my shopping done by December first, ensuring everything is ordered with enough time to account for any shipping delays, so I don't show up to Christmas empty handed. What a nightmare that would be.

I take pride in my early planning and preparedness execution every year—except for this year. Because this is the year I have a new name on my list and I don't know how, or if I even want to shop for it.

Sawyer. Freaking. Clark.

I know he'll be there, but what I don't know is if I'm supposed to get him something. Or if he'll get me something. Because what if he gets me something but I don't get him anything? Or worse. What if I get him something and he doesn't get me anything?

My brain literally cannot handle another thought about this right now.

I lock my phone and toss it in my desk drawer, rubbing my temples ineffectively trying to rid my oncoming migraine.

"Hey-yo." Jackson's head appears in the doorway to my classroom, and I involuntarily groan. "Uh-oh. You okay?" He sticks his bottom lip out in a pout.

"Just a migraine, nothing that teaching kindergarten for five years hasn't prepared me for," I tease. "Or maybe that's what has caused them," I add under my breath.

"Do you need to cancel tonight? We don't have to go out if you're not feeling well. We can reschedule," he offers, smiling up at me from where he's bent down in front of my desk chair.

"No, I will be okay. No need to reschedule." I give him a reassuring smile and when he grins ear to ear, I can almost feel it putting pressure on my frontal lobe.

"Okay then. I'll pick you up at six?" I nod in agreement, and he bounces to stand back up. "See you in a bit." I can't even appreciate the wink he gives me because all I can think about right now is laying my head on this cool desk until the kids get back from lunch.

As always, Jackson was at my house to pick me up at five minutes ‘til six. He's nothing if not punctual, I'll give him that. When we pulled up to the steakhouse, I felt a little underdressed but seeing as how he's still in the same khakis and sweater he wore to school today, maybe I'm just overthinking it.

"Good evening, I'm Michael and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you started with?" I've barely picked up my menu when I spot the photo of a raspberry margarita front and center.

"I'll take the raspberry margarita, on the rocks, with a sugared rim." I smile politely at the waiter, earning an unsolicited wink from him that makes me grimace.

"A woman that knows what she wants, I like it." His gaze lingers on me a little longer until Jackson starts to order and snags his attention.

"I'll have a beer. Whatever is on draft. Oh, and can we get some fried pickles?" Jackson wags his eyebrows at me as the waiter nods and walks off.

"That was weird…" I lean over the table, watching as Jackson looks around cluelessly.

"What was weird?" My brows knit together and I'm shocked that he didn't pick up on the inappropriate way the waiter was just looking at me.

"No, maybe it was nothing." I shake my head. "Nevermind." He smiles at me and changes the subject as I see our waiter out of the corner of my eye staring at me from across the room.

Why don't you focus a little less on me and a little more on getting my tequila to this table, Michael.

"I mean even you know that no one wants to be paired with Janice for that." I look over at Jackson, completely lost as to what the hell he's talking about because the gaze that's settled on me from across the restaurant is making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Here we are, fried pickles, one raspberry margarita, and a Coors on draft. Are we ready to order?" Jackson orders his food first, but as soon as he's done the waiter turns to me and I'm immediately uncomfortable again. His gaze falls from my face to what is very obviously my chest, before giving me a suggestive look that makes my lunch threaten to make a second appearance today. I manage to get my order in without asking him what the hell his problem is, but as soon as he's gone again, I contemplate asking for a different server.

Throughout the rest of our dinner any time the waiter checks on us, his focus is primarily on me . I begin to ignore him completely, trying to get the point across that I'm uninterested, but when he asks us about dessert and calls me sweetheart right in front of Jackson, I snap. I let my fork clatter onto my plate and level him with a stare.

"None for me. I'm quite ready to get the hell out of here, thanks." The chill to my tone surprises even me, but even that doesn't seem to get the point across. He simply offers to get our check for us and retreats to do just that, but not before giving me yet another wink.

Does this guy have a twitch or something? What the hell is wrong with him?

Jackson must finally pick up on the fact that this guy is bothering me, because he glances over his shoulder then back at me and shrugs.

"Ah, I see what you were talking about. Of course he's checking you out though, you're beautiful." He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Yeah well, he should cut it out. Plus, he's doing it right in front of you. Like, hello, we're clearly on a date." I roll my eyes and see his brows draw together in confusion.

"Should I say something to him? Do you want me to?"

Is he serious? The date is literally over at this point. Why even bother?

My mouth pops open before I quickly snap it shut again, offering him a soft smile instead.

"No, don't worry about it. Excuse me a minute, I'm just gonna use the ladies' room." As soon as my back is to him my face morphs into utter disbelief.

He literally couldn't care less that this guy is practically looking down my shirt and flirting with me right in front of him during the entirety of our date. It's not like I want him to stand up and clock him or anything but like…he should care, right?

Well, there's only one reliable source to get that answer from. The counsel.

I pull my phone out of my clutch and open the group chat, typing as quickly as my thumbs will let me.

Me

Hypothetically speaking, what would your husbands do if a waiter was not no subtly checking you out and flirting with you while you were on a date?

Shane

Not so subtly meaning????

Me

Practically losing his eyeballs down my shirt while I ordered. Calling me sweetheart and winking at me so much I'm beginning to wonder if it's a nervous tick.

Tay

Guy would be losing his eyeballs one way or another.

Ruby

Possible assault charges.

Shane

Yeah, he wouldn't have a job or the ability to see anything for much longer.

Lauren

Why am I here for this?

Me

See, that's what I thought. SOME kind of reaction other than saying "of course he's looking because you're beautiful" barf emoji

Me

Lauren–Because I wasn't going to start a whole other group chat just because it was a relational question. Duh. eye roll emoji

Lauren

Fine. Also, barf. The least he could do is throat punch him. eye roll emoji

Shane

He actually said that? rolling on the floor laughing emoji

Tay

We already know Tucker isn't afraid to break someone's bones over unwelcome flirting. Let us know if you need back up. kiss emoji

Ruby

I mean, even Hendrix would say some shit to that guy. What a wank.

Me

Thank you, counsel. Going back before he thinks I'm taking a shit or crawling out the window or something.

Well, at least I'm not crazy to think he should have had at least a bit more of a reaction to the way our waiter was acting.

"I can't tell you guys how thankful I am that we moved girls night up this week, I couldn't wait ‘til Friday to pour it out," Lauren says, pouring a gracious serving of Shane's famous margaritas into her glass.

"I hear that. I'm still not over my catastrophic date Monday night." I roll my eyes, earning disapproving grumbles from some of the other girls.

"Did I tell you guys that Zander and Tana are sleeping together now?" Taylor joins in. Shane gasps dramatically from her end of the island.

"TOENAILS?! Shut the fuck up."

"Yes, toenails. I don't know whether or not they deserve each other or if I should still do her a solid and warn her," Taylor snickers into her drink.

"Shit, let it play out and then bring the good popcorn when you tell us about it. We all know that girl can't keep her mouth shut about her personal life," Ruby says.

Tana lived with Taylor for a very short period of time before Shane moved back to town a few years ago and was one of the nastiest humans to ever rent a room from anyone—at least that's what Taylor tells us. Going as far as clipping her toenails in the kitchen.

Barf.

However, she ended up getting a job in Taylor's department last year and come to find out, she has no boundaries and no filter in any area of her life. She has been the source of many a girl's night stories. And now apparently, she's dating Taylor ex-situationship that was nothing less than a walking red flag.

Thank God Tucker was done letting Tay ignore the fact that they were made for each other and swept her off her feet and out from under Zander.

"Okay well there's that. Lauren, you go. Pour it out baby." I shake my head and give her the floor since she seems more on edge than usual.

" UGH, okay. We have this new guy who came in from New York, right? And since he apparently made millions selling some of the most upscale homes and penthouses there, he thinks he's like, the god of real estate or something and wants to tell everyone how to do their jobs. Like, excuse me Mr. Real Estate , I'm pretty fucking great at my job already. Sit down." She tosses the rest of her margarita back while the rest of us stay silent, staring at her.

Normally when Lauren pours it out it's because her parents are on her ass about something, her client ended up having to pay closing costs they weren't expecting, or the nail salon didn't have her favorite dip powder. But I've never seen her this worked up over any of that stuff.

"Who is he?" Ruby decides to be the brave one and asks. Lauren groans in disgust.

" Fitz . That's it. He just goes by Fitz. Like Elvis or Prince . How pretentious is that?"

" So pretentious. What a wank." Taylor rolls her eyes in agreement.

"I should just call him Lucifer. It's more fitting and keeps the one name brand going for him." Lauren smiles devilishly.

I can't tell if she's angry, being sarcastic, or lethally serious right now.

"Who's name is Lucifer?" Tank asks, swiping his keys from the island, holding Poe in his car seat as Hendrix runs past him to the door.

"New guy at my work," Lauren answers simply.

"Poor guy, his parents really set him up for failure. Have fun ladies. See you tonight, Honey. Wait up for me." He kisses Ruby and gives her a wink before heading out for guy's night at Max and Shane's.

"Anyway," Lauren pops a chip in her mouth as soon as the front door closes and dusts her hands off. "Enough about the Satan of real estate , tell us more about this dumb ass date you went on."

"I don't know. I mean, you guys got pretty much all the details when I text you from the bathroom, he was just so passive when the waiter was literally trying to eye-fuck me." I shudder at the thought. "I mean, he barely got out Hi, my name is Michael before his eyeballs were on the girls." Taylor stands up straight, no longer leaning casually over the island as her face grows more serious.

"His name was what? "

"Michael…" GASP! "Oh my god! " My hand flies over my mouth.

"Where did yall eat?" Taylor asks for clarification.

"The steakhouse off 11th. I forgot the name of it." Taylor beats on the kitchen island.

"Son of a bitch . It was him!" Taylor yells. Michael is one of Taylor's more terrible exes, that is truly a piece of trash. "Tucker is gonna kill that guy one day, mark my words."

"Well, someone needs to tell him he's a piece of shit and clearly it won't be Jackson." I roll my eyes as all the girls burst out laughing.