• HUMAN AU •
"This was a terrible idea," Keefe muttered to Dex.
"More like a genius one." Dex flashed a grin. His periwinkle eyes had been dancing with amusement ever since they'd entered the restaurant five minutes beforehand.
Now, at half past six, Keefe eyed his watch. "She's late."
"So were we."
"You," Keefe said, "aren't even supposed to be here. It's my date."
"A blind date," Dex amended. "You don't even know who she is — or what she looks like."
Keefe couldn't help himself. "Is she pretty?"
At Dex's blush, Keefe grinned. Clearly, she was pretty.
It'd been months since Keefe's last heartbreak, and he'd
vowed to never date again — until Dex had made him an
offer. An offer containing the girl who happened to be his first kiss.
They weren't a thing, of course, because now they were
best friends —but Dex seemed to think Keefe and Sophie would connect well.
Dex turned his attention to the restaurant's front door.
"Right there," he said. "The blonde girl.
Keefe snorted. "They're all blonde."
It was true. Of the dozen New Yorkers spilling into
diner, all of them had some variation of light hair.
Some with highlights, other with extensions —
"The natural blonde," Dex clarified. "Brown eyes. She's
kinda short."
Keefe searched the crowd again and found the
specimen Dex had described. He moved on almost
immediately upon seeing her; he knew better than to
assume he had a date that pretty.
But she kept walking towards them, her gold-flecked
eyes fixed solely on Dex. Her pace was a near sprint by
the time she'd reached him, and her first words made
Keefe choke down a laugh.
"Please say he canceled," she breathed.
Amused, Dex shook his head. "Nope."
She squeezed her eyes shut a moment. "I don't think I
can, Dex —"
"Of course you can." Dex grabbed Keefe's arm and
pulled him into close proximity to sophie. "He's right
here."
A blush softened her features. She struggled to meet
Keefe's eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean —"
"It's okay," Keefe said. "I was whining too. Before, I mean." He flashed a charming smile. "Not anymore."
Her blush blossomed deeper as her eyes fell to her toes.
Dex coughed over his laugh. "I should go."
Sophie's eyes followed him until he disappeared from
sight. Then they returned to her sneakers.
Man, she was not good with eye contact.
"Don't you want to sit down, love?"
Sophie lifted her eyes. "I guess."
Her voice was in such need of enthusiasm Keefe had to
laugh. "That's the spirit."
Her lips twitched.
Keefe drew his eyes away and repositioned them onto
an empty booth towards the far wall. The diner may
have been crowded, but it was still large enough to
house hundreds.
Sophie followed him. They sat on opposite sides of the
table, each paying no attention to their menus. Dex had
warned him that she often lost her appetite, and he
wasn't exactly eager to make his own nausea worse.
"Are you cold?" Keefe asked. Sophie was fiddling with
her light brown cardigan, pulling it tightly around her.
"Yeah." She smiled soft, as if reliving a memory.
"Edaline says I'm always cold."
"Edaline?" Keefe said.
"My mom," she clarified.
"You call your mom by her first name?"
"I'm adopted," she said, in explanation.
Oh.
Keefe didn't voice the word, mainly because it would've
carried too much surprise for Sophie's comfort. Dex hadn't mentioned this — though that was maybe because he wanted Keefe to learn for himself.
"I wish I was adopted," he finally said.
Sophie eyed him a few moments, making Keefe fear he'd
offended her.
"Bad home life?" she guessed.
"Depends on the day."
"Today?"
Keefe ran a hand through his hair. "Definitely."
Her eyes crinkled. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, love." Keefe pushed his menu aside, and Sophie did the same. "It's fun to embarrass my parents."
"I'd help you," she offered.
Keefe flashed a grin. "Yeah? I knew you weren't as
innocent as you looked!"
Instead of laughing as Keefe had intended, Sophie
stiffened, tension written across her brow.
He laughed. "Hasn't anyone ever teased you?"
She shrugged, pulling on the sleeves of her sweater.
"You can tease me back," he offered.
Sophie's lips lifted. Man, she had a gorgeous smile.
"You," Sophie said, "do not have a good memory."
Keefe snorted. "What makes you think that?"
"You haven't called me by my name."
"I've called you 'love'."
" . . . Which isn't my name."
"It suits you," Keefe said, leaning in close to add, "Sophie."
"You do remember?"
"Of course. Photographic memory, as a matter of fact."
Sophie smiled at the ground. "Me too."
Keefe laughed. "See? We have a lot in common."
"Not much," she admitted, "besides Dex."
"Right," Keefe agreed. "Dex told you in advance how
incredibly gorgeous I am, right?"
A flush plagued her cheeks. "He didn't."
"Are you agreeing with that statement, then?"
"I — no —"
He grinned. "I think Dex was right."
"Right about what?"
Keefe leaned in close enough to paint his breath on her
cheeks. "You and I have potential."
