“You’re in a band. You probably have tons of random hook-ups. I was only memorable because I didn’t give you my number.” In his line of work, he probably had girls throwing their numbers at him.
“Hold that thought.” Chase looked at his brother. “Len, could you help me out for a second?”
Len gave me a once over. “Sure.”
“Would you describe me as the kind of guy that has so many hook-ups I don’t remember the girls?”
Len laughed. “Not quite. He’s the celibate of the group. Even Jessa gets more ass than him.”
“Thank you. Now one more question. How would you describe my behavior after meeting Cara?”
“Meeting? Is that what you’re calling it these days?” He wriggled an eyebrow. “But either way, he was half flying high and half freaking out.”
“Thanks, Len. You can go back to bragging about how great you are to that poor girl.”
Jade laughed. Clearly she wasn’t bored with whatever he was saying.
Chase leaned in close again. “So, what were you saying? Why do I remember you?”
“I want you.” Those were not the three words I meant to say.
“Blunt. I like it.”
I wanted to disappear. “Sorry. I can’t believe I just said that.”
“And you said it while sober, am I right?”
“Completely.” A drink would have been great to cut my nerves, but there was something nice about not having anything clouding my judgment this time. Chase was hard enough to resist as it was.
Our pancakes were delivered, and I bought myself some time, taking a bite.
“I want you too, and I’m sober.”
I set down my fork. “Are you always this honest with girls?” I was used to forward guys, but they still usually beat around the bush more.
“Are you always this honest with guys?”
“I asked first.” I took a long sip of water.
“I don’t know. Sometimes.”
Len laughed. I guess he was listening in. “In other words, he hasn’t asked a girl to hook up with him in a while.”
“Unlike Len, who’s the expert on getting shot down.”
I chuckled. “Wow, you guys are brothers.”
“And bandmates. The combination leads to some interesting arguments.” Len leaned back in the booth, slinging his arm around Jade.
I was curious what he was eluding to, but I let it go. “So, where in Charleston does your brother live?”
Len laughed. “Already thinking about how you’re going to get Chase alone, huh?”
I could feel the blood rushing to my face. “No. Of course not.”
“Of course not?” Chase leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Weren’t you just telling me that you wanted me?”
“That doesn’t mean that’s the reason I was asking,” I whispered back.
Len smiled. I sensed he heard every word we were exchanging. “He’s downtown near the battery. He’s got a place with his fiancé.”
“Nice. So, I gathered from what you said earlier, he’s not a musician.”
“No, he’s a lawyer.” Len polished off his pie and pushed the empty plate away. “At least one of us is making Mom proud.”
I smiled. “I’m sure you all make her proud.”
“Do you have any siblings?” Chase asked. It was the kind of question you’d ask when you first meet someone and not after you’d had sex, but better late than never.
“Nope, it’s just me.”
“An only child. Interesting.” Len studied me.
“Why is that interesting?” I leaned back into Chase’s arm. He squeezed my shoulder lightly so I looked up at him and caught a smile.
“I just think the number and gender of siblings in a family can say a lot about someone.”
“What does having one sister say?” Jade asked.
Len smiled at her. “It says you know how to share, and you’re probably competitive.”
“Know how to share?” She gave him a skeptical look. “You better not be referring to what I think you are.”
Len held up his hands in defense. “I just meant that you share toys well.”
Jade shook her head. “Likely story.”