The implication was more than a little ridiculous.

Micah and Damon didn’t even know each other, and despite Adella’s assumptions, they weren’t on a date. Even if Micah wasn’t literally dressed like a prostitute at the moment, the guy sitting next to him was eons out of his league.

“Gee, Adella,” Damon snapped, yanking Micah from his self-depreciating thoughts, “thanks for the glowing review.”

She ignored Damon’s obvious ire, only shrugging. “His sister, on the other hand, now she knows how to party.”

Micah raised his eyebrows, turning to Damon. “You have a sister?”

The man grimaced, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Three of them, actually.”

Micah could only imagine the suffocating cloud of estrogen surrounding the poor guy growing up. He probably should have been pitying, but honestly, Micah couldn’t help but feel a little bit jealous.

He had always dreamed of having a big family as a kid.

“Joelle and I used to do up Damon here in dresses when he was a boy. He looked fantastic in pink – still does, I imagine.”

“Are you planning on chatting our heads off the rest of the night,” Damon interrupted sharply, back to glaring at Adella, “or are you actually going to take our order sometime in the next hour?”

Adella huffed, Damon’s barbed words rolling off her shoulders like she was used to his gruffness – which, by the sounds of it, she probably was. “I’m all ears,” she assured, once again pulling out her notepad.

“Good. I’ll take the shredded pork and refried bean tamales with a side of rice.”

“And you, precioso?”

Micah supposed he could grow to enjoy the silly nickname if it caused Damon to look this annoyed every time Adella uttered it. Besides it could be worse – “Peregrine” for example.

Micah quickly scanned the menu, instinctually eyeing the cheapest item he could find – which looked to be a platter of nachos with queso dip. Glancing at Damon, however, Micah had a feeling he wouldn’t be impressed with the meager order. “Uh, I’ll have the trio of tacos, please,” he decided after a minute.

Damon had said they were the best in Queens, after all.

“Good choice,” Adella promised. “I’ll be back with those in a second.”

Micah wasn’t sure whether the woman meant that as an assurance or a threat. Either way, she shot one last piercing look Damon’s way before turning and disappearing back in the direction Micah assumed was the kitchen.

“So,” Damon said, breaking the silence they’d descended into with Adella’s departure. Micah couldn’t help but notice how much softer he sounded with her gone. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Micah asked, twirling the paper straw in the glass of milk Adella had left for him. He supposed the striped things were good for environment, but he imagined he didn’t have long before it got soggy.

“You have any siblings? Surely, you can’t have more meddling women in your life than I do. Maybe a brother?”