Rami engaged with the staff every time they came to the table, letting me look down to shield my face. We’d been coming here long enough that he knew what I wanted anyway.

Rami was still tense and I knew him well enough to recognize that he already wanted to revisit the fake relationship discussion with new arguments his lawyer brain had concocted, but he would save it for when we weren’t in public.

I enjoyed the shit out of my pancakes and chocolate shake, sticking my straw into the metal container they always brought with the overflow amount that didn’t fit in the glass. We didn’t talk much since both of our minds were clearly spinning, but it felt good to be out in public, doing nothing much, and not having to worry about being Alex Chase for a bit.

Rami slid out of the booth. “I’m gonna go take a piss.”

Left alone at the table, my thoughts returned to the formidable Lady Elena. Her presence was magnetic. Would I get to see her let her guard down if we spent that much time together?

Within a minute of Rami disappearing, our waitress sidled up to the table. I kept looking down, thinking she was just dropping the check off, but when I didn’t look up, she tapped me on the shoulder.

She gave me a flirty smile when I made eye contact. “So it is you.”

I hadn’t gotten a good look at her before, but now I could see she was gorgeous, with long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, highlighting her high cheekbones. She was wearing shorts that showed off her toned legs. In another life, I might’ve been interested, but tonight, I was just disappointed she’d recognized me.

I didn’t confirm or deny my identity. There didn’t seem to be a point.

“Don’t worry.” She looked around then leaned closer. “I won’t tell anyone else. I just wanted to give you this in case you ever want to hang out or something. I think we have a lot in common.”

She slid a napkin with the name “Alicia” and a phone number scrawled on it onto the table in front of me.

“Cool, thanks.” I didn’t pick it up. I never knew how to handle this. If I politely turned her down, I sometimes looked like a jerk, but I also didn’t want to lead her on. She continued to stand there, close enough that I could tell she smelled sweet like cupcakes.

How long could it possibly take Rami to pee?

He mercifully appeared in the doorway to the bathroom headed back to the table, his shrewd eyes taking in the situation, so he pulled his wallet out and extended his credit card to Alicia.

“Thanks.” She tucked it into her apron, but continued to stand there awkwardly. She pulled her phone out, and I knew what was coming next.

“Um, can we take a selfie?”

“We’d prefer not…” Rami started to say, but I could already see her face falling. Not only would we ruin her night by saying no, but the story of me being an unapproachable asshole would likely end up online.