My smile spread. “Typically going on a date is when two people go out for the evening or sometimes during the day. Really, it can be any time of the day or night. It usually involves dinner. Sometimes a movie or a walk in the park. Though, I don’t do walks in the park. Maybe on a beach, but since there aren’t any—”

“I know what a date is.” She jumped to her feet, eyes like chips of black ice in the darkness.

“You said you didn’t understand. So I’m explaining what a date means.”

Her lips twitched as she crossed her arms. “That’s not the part I don’t understand and you know that.”

“I was just making sure we were on the same page.”

“We’re not.”

Grinning shamelessly, I lowered my arms, but didn’t tug down my shirt. “So now that we both know what a date entails, we should go out on one.”

“Uh . . .”

I laughed as I sat up. The confusion on her face was adorable in a weird way. “That’s not really a response, Avery.”

“I . . .” Shaking her head, she took a step back. “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

Where in the hell did Shortcake get that idea? “A girlfriend? No.”

“Then who was that brunette stumbling out of your apartment Wednesday night?” she demanded.

As her words sunk in, I smiled from ear to fucking ear. “Have you been watching me, Avery?”

“No. No!” Her face blanched. “What? I wasn’t watching you. I do have a life.”

I arched a brow. “Then how do you know about Stephanie?”

Shortcake shifted her weight. “That’s her name?”

“Well, yes, she has a name and no, she’s not my girlfriend. And she wasn’t stumbling. Maybe shuffling.”

She rolled her eyes.

“So how did you see her if you weren’t watching me?” I crossed my ankles. “And I don’t mind the idea of you watching me. Remember, I like that.”

Her chest rose in a deep breath, and I could tell her patience was running thin. “I wasn’t watching you. I couldn’t sleep and I was staring out my living-room window. I just happened to see you walking her out to her car.”

I didn’t believe her. Hell to the no. Who just happens to be staring out the window at that time of night? As much as I’d love to tease her, it looked like she was about to punt kick my head, but I was a gambling sort of man. “Well, that makes sense. Not nearly as entertaining as you standing by your window hoping to catch a glimpse of me.”

She stared at me.

I winked. “Steph’s not my girlfriend by the way. We aren’t like that.”

Her hand went to the bracelet on her left wrist. “I’m not like that.”

“Like what?”

Turning her stare to the many stars, she raised her hands. “I’m not like her.”

“Do you know her?”

“I don’t just hook up with guys for fun, okay? I don’t see anything wrong with it. Totally not judging here, but that’s not me. So I’m not interested. Sorry.”