Tied Together by Z. B. Heller

fast.
    “Do you like Italian?”
    Her face fell. “Umm, sure I do.”
    “I thought we’d have some dinner, and then we can see where the night takes us.” I hoped the night would take me straight back home after dinner was over.
    She seemed to brighten up again and gave me a devilish smirk. “I like that idea. Maybe we can come back here for after-dinner drinks.”
    I may have been a little naïve, but even I knew what that translated to: sex.
    Instead of responding, I put the car in drive and headed to the restaurant, which was in Little Italy. The drive was short, and we pulled up to the valet in no time. I hated using the valet because it was about twice the amount to park. It also reminded me how pissed I was at myself for letting Ryan talk me into getting a car, considering I always meant to use public transportation.
    “Such a gentleman,” she said when I opened the door to the restaurant. She dragged her nails across my chest as she walked past me. Still, there was no reaction from down below.
    The restaurant was small and crowded because it was Saturday night. A very nice-looking, tall man with dark hair and dark eyes greeted us. “Welcome to Antonio’s. Do you have a reservation?”
    Would Ryan think this guy was hot?
    Uninvited jealousy rushed through my veins. Images of Ryan flirting with this man, kissing him, wrapping himself around him to drive into him blanketed my thoughts.
    “Brandon?” Nicole bumped my shoulder, and I blinked away the fog I’d gotten lost in.
    “Oh, sorry. The reservation is under Ford.”
    The man looked in his reservation book for confirmation. “Ah yes, Mr. Ford.” He took two menus from the stand. “Please, follow me.”
    Nicole and I walked past the other patrons until we got to our seats. The tables looked elegant draped in white cloth with fine silverware and wine glasses. The host pulled out Nicole’s chair for her. She smiled the same smile she had given me when I picked her up. I couldn’t help but sneer at him when he handed me my menu.
    “This looks wonderful, Brandon,” Nicole cooed as she glanced at the menu.
    “I heard it was good; a friend told me about it.”
    Ryan had told me about it.
    “I’m looking at all the food on other people’s tables; it all looks good enough to eat. Kind of like you.”
    She looked at me and licked her lips as if I was the main course of this meal. I swallowed hard and shifted in my seat. I looked away from her and around the restaurant when something caught my eye. Two men sat in the back of the dining room, one with his back to us, but from what I could tell, he had a head of familiar brown messy hair. My pulse picked, and my hands began to shake. When he turned, my stomach dropped. It wasn’t Ryan.
    “Brandon!” Nicole startled me out of my thoughts.
    “Sorry,” I said, adjusting my glasses. “I thought I saw someone I knew.”
    “Well, if he’s as good-looking as you, maybe we can invite him for after-dinner drinks.” She stuck her tongue out to swipe her bottom lip. My jaw dropped a few inches.
    “I’m pretty sure I’m not into that kind of thing,” I said as I wiped the sweat forming on my neck. Before this date, I thought I might be over my head. Now, I knew for sure I was. I reached for my goblet of water to take a drink when the waiter came to our table.
    “Hello.” He nodded at us. “My name is Ryan, and I’ll be your server this evening.”
    Water dribbled out of my mouth, and I choked.
    “Sir! Are you all right?” The waiter rushed over to me and patted my back. I took my napkin from my lap and wiped at the mess that trickled down my shirt.
    “I’m fine. Thank you.” I waved my hand and then looked at Nicole. She had one eyebrow raised and the corner of her mouth was tugged up. I couldn’t imagine her thoughts were good.
    The waiter took our order, and I tried to make small talk with Nicole. She was a trust fund baby and was in between jobs. According to her, she was biding her time until