"Give it back." Dominick tried to grab it away but was several inches shorter than Conrad. He jumped a couple of times, feeling very much like a small child on the playground who’d just had his lunch money stolen.
When Conrad hopped onto his bed, Dominick put his arms down. He sat down on his own mattress and waited for the inevitable.
"It’s mine now, Nicky. Let's just see who we have here..." Conrad tore at the envelope and threw it aside. In his hands were a piece of paper and a photograph. Dominick couldn't see what his date looked like. He couldn’t see anything to give him insight into the date. The fact that Conrad got the first glimpse was more than just a little frustrating.
He looked at Conrad's face. His roommate’s mouth pulled into a frown and his brows lifted in sympathy as he pulled his gaze from the picture and toward Dominick. "Sorry, man."
"Sorry? What do you mean sorry?" Dominick jumped off his bed. He seriously considered getting up onto Conrad's to try to grab the papers out of his hand once more. But he stood on the ground looking up at him instead.
"She's a butter-face."
Butter-face?
Dominick sighed. "What exactly is a butter-face?"
"Everything looks good…but her face." A slow grin spread across his face as he shook his head slowly.
That was exactly the kind of thing Conrad would find funny. Dominick was less amused. He didn't like to think of himself as the superficial type, but was his date really that bad looking? Conrad wasn’t exactly the most discerning when it came to the opposite sex.
"You’re kidding," Dominick said, and instantly began imagining some kind of birth defect, or maybe an accident leaving his match’s face covered in scars.
The shame came almost immediately—because he knew it shouldn’t matter—but not before Conrad had seen his initial reaction.
"See?" Conrad gloated still atop his mattress. "I knew you weren't as perfect as you like to pretend. You would have been pissed if she was ugly."
"No, I wouldn't have."
"Don't worry." Conrad jumped down. "The chick's actually pretty smokin'. If it doesn't work out, make sure to let me know. Maybe I'll try my luck."
He winked and handed the photograph to Dominick before going back to his game. In no time, Conrad had his headset on and was cursing through the small microphone attached to it.
Dominick took a deep breath, and used the brief moment of privacy to look down at the paper and photograph in his hands. When he saw his match, a girl named Harmony, he couldn't contain the smile on his face. He'd seen her several times at one of the many local coffee shops, constantly working behind the espresso machine. She never seemed to run the register, which meant they hadn’t spoken a day in their lives, but Dominick had always thought she was beautiful, even before knowing she was his perfect match.
In the picture, she had dark hair that fell just below her shoulders, wide eyes, and full lips curved into a smile. Harmony was at the coffee shop in the photograph, and Dominick wondered if she had been working when it was taken.
How did someone like him end up with someone like her? He was awkward with ladies and shy to a fault. It was why he had jumped at the chance to use the Date Maker. Harmony, on the other hand, seemed to be the popular type—always dressed nicely, always confident— and that made her unobtainable.
Dominick felt like he'd just won the lottery.
That was until he examined the other piece of paper. When he read the outline of the date, his heart sank. He was supposed to take Harmony to a fancy restaurant for dinner. It was downtown and had the reputation for being very expensive. He was at school on a generous scholarship. Hadn't he told Morgan that during the interview process? A date to the park, or even the food truck rally, would have been a much more affordable option.
But there was more. After the date, the two of them would be going to a painting class. Him? A painter? The idea was laughable. Even though it was one of those places that walked you step-by-step though the painting, Dominick would be lucky if he managed to draw a straight line.
He looked at Harmony's picture again. Going out of his comfort zone would be worth wooing a girl of this caliber. And if that meant spending his meager savings to do so, so be it. Not every date would be an expensive one. Deep down, he knew that. The initial one just had to be special.
He should be thanking his lucky stars Morgan hadn't sent them off to Universal Studios or some other theme park. He'd heard something like that was a possible date with the Date Maker service, but had no idea how he would have paid for it had Morgan decided that was where he and Harmony would go.
"Does the silence mean you're happy?" Conrad's voice called out, breaking his train of thought.
Dominick chuckled to himself. “I’m surprised you could hear anything but the yelling in your headset.”
More gunfire rang out from the television. "Nah, I'm not really listening to the chatter right now. I'm more interested in whether or not you're calling dibs on the coffee shop hottie."
"I hate to break it to you, Conrad. But there is no way I'm passing up a date like this."
"Then I hope you plan to bring your A-game because a girl like that is going to expect it."
Oh, Dominick planned to bring it. He just had to figure out what it was and how one brought it on a date.
If only he had the same good looks and easygoing attitude as his roommate, he wouldn't have to worry about how the date would go. It would go perfectly. But Morgan hadn't set Conrad up with Harmony. She’d set Dominick up with her.
That had to mean something. Didn't it?
"What about the venue?"
"At least the food came out quickly."
3
Harmony had spent hours shopping for her date. She didn't want to admit how much weight she was putting into the match Morgan made, but she went all out.
She'd gone down to the expensive boutique where so many of her friends shopped. It was the place to go for sorority formals or special events, and Harmony was convinced this was a special event. In fact, the more she thought about her upcoming date and looked at the picture of Pax, the more she put her trust in Morgan and her methods.
Looking in the full-length mirror, she gave herself another once-over. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy up-do that said she didn't care. Only Harmony knew she'd spent an hour perfecting the loose curls that framed her face.
She'd kept her makeup simple—red lips, neutral eyes, with heavy winged liner. She didn't want to detract from the dress she wore. It was another part of her ensemble meant to convey her “carefree” attitude. It was flowy and simple, but she'd scrutinized the outfit from every angle, spending the better part of an hour in the dressing room. She'd sat down, crossed her legs, bent over, lifted her arms, and every other movement that could possibly happen on the date, just to see what the dress would look like in every possible circumstance.
No wardrobe malfunctions were allowed on her date.
Harmony was sure the girls who worked at the boutique were relieved when she finally left after making her purchase.
She twirled one more time in front of the mirror in her dorm before leaving and heading down to the restaurant where she would meet Pax. Harmony was so excited, she even giggled to herself as she walked toward the parking lot.
Twenty minutes later, Harmony was sitting at the small table Morgan had reserved for the happy couple. She'd debated waiting at the hostess stand, but decided sitting in the chair that faced the front entrance gave her a strategic view of her date.
She wanted to be the first one to spot him. When he looked her way, she'd give him the sly grin she'd practiced in the mirror. Sitting at the table would also give her the opportunity to check him out as he made his way toward her. It was perfect!
"Can I get you something to drink?" the waitress asked for the second time.
"No, just water." Harmony was afraid the mix of nerves and booze would have her saying something stupid over dinner. She wanted to keep her head c
lear.
The waitress nodded and walked off.
Harmony looked down at her phone. The screen read 5:30. Pax would be here any minute. Just the thought of seeing him in person was enough to set her heart racing. Harmony was so excited, she could barely stand it.
She continued to watch the door. A middle-aged couple came in and were seated. They were holding hands like a couple of teenagers. Next came a group of women. They were all dressed up, and several carried small gift bags. Harmony assumed they were celebrating someone's birthday.
The next person to come in was a single guy—a guy who wasn't Pax. Would her date ever get here? The newcomer looked to be close in age to her. He was slightly nerdy with his pressed khakis and tucked in polo. Behind thick glasses, his eyes searched the restaurant nervously. It was adorable.
She was glad to know she wasn't the only one meeting someone for a date. Harmony wished him the same happiness she felt, as she continued to watch the scene unfold. He was talking to the hostess, who then pointed in her direction.
Harmony turned her head left and right, looking at the nearby tables. She wanted to see the guy's date and her reaction. But everywhere she looked, people were eating, or paired up already.
When she looked back over toward the front door, the nerdy guy was looking at her—and he was smiling. He carried a small bouquet of flowers and started walking in her direction. The hostess had gotten confused and sent him in her direction. No big deal. Harmony would politely explain the mix-up and hopefully in a speedy enough way so that she didn't miss Pax's grand entrance.
And so that this poor guy didn't get the wrong impression.
She smiled up at the guy approaching her table, hoping to make him feel comfortable. There was no sense in getting him all flustered before he met his real date. "Hey."
His mouth pulled into a wide grin that showed a brilliant smile. It was the kind of warm expression that would win his date over in no time. If she wasn't already matched, she could see herself drawn in by it. "Wow. You're…" He cleared his throat. "You look beautiful."
Aww. Harmony tilted her head. "Thank you. That is very sweet, but the hostess got confused."
His smile faltered. "What do you mean?"
She leaned forward over the table and spoke to the guy in a whisper as if they were conspiring together. "It looks like there's more than one couple going on a blind date tonight."
His head spun back and forth, as he took in the room. "Really? Do they need us to move to another table?"
Us? Oh, noooo.
He didn't understand, and still thought Harmony was his date. She thought she might die from secondhand embarrassment. Harmony was almost tempted to invite him to eat with her just to avoid making him feel bad, but reminded herself of the guy who was coming to meet her. Pax was her dream guy, the perfect match thanks to Morgan.
Besides, the guy standing next to her table had a date he was meeting too. She didn’t want him to miss out on it. Maybe he was matched by Morgan too, and they would both get a happily ever after.
Harmony took a deep breath. "No, I mean I'm waiting on someone else. Maybe your date hasn't gotten here yet. I bet the hostess could help though." She leaned over to steal a quick glance at the front door. Still no Pax. That was a good thing. She would still have a chance to regain her composure before they met for the first time.
The guy didn't move. Instead, he was pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket. He looked down at it, and back up at her. "You're Harmony, right? Harmony Daniels?"
A sinking feeling hit her stomach, and any remaining warmth left her face. "Yes, that's me."
The guy looked even less confident than he had before, if such a thing was possible, but didn't move. He stood stiffly and handed the paper in his hands to her. Harmony grabbed it and gave it a quick look.
It was a date outline from Morgan. Everything looked the same as Harmony’s. Dinner at this very restaurant and then a painting class to follow. The same date, the same time. The only thing that was different from the paper she currently had stuffed in her purse was one name. Just a handful of letters.
While her date plan said Pax, his said Dominick.
"Do you mind if I sit?" The guy, whose name she now knew was Dominick, gestured toward the empty seat in front of her.
"Yes." He lowered himself into the chair, so she clarified. "No, what I mean is yes, I mind. No, you may not sit."
For the first time, hurt flashed across his features, but he remained seated. "I'm confused. We both signed up for the Date Maker, right?"
Harmony nodded her head.
"And we're both at this restaurant, waiting for our dates. My paper has your name and your picture, which means your page has my name and my picture. But it seems like you don't want to be here."
Harmony reached into her purse and pulled out the picture of Pax. She slid it across the table toward Dominick. "I want to be here, but I thought I was meeting this guy."
"But the paper?"
She reached into her purse, pulled out her date outline, and proceeded to slide it toward Dominick as well. He grabbed it tentatively, and read it over, all under her watchful gaze. The moment he connected the dots, his eyes went wide, and he looked back up at Harmony.
"There was a mix-up."
Harmony bit back the cutting remark on her lips and nodded once more.
"So, does this mean you're supposed to be here with me? Or with Pax?"
She knew which one she would prefer to be here with, and it wasn't the insecure guy sitting across from her, no matter how warm his initial smile had been.
If Harmony looked closely, she could see a small tremor in Dominick’s hands as he continued to hold the paper. Even his voice shook as he asked, "Should we text her?"
Why hadn't she thought of that? Oh, that's right, because she was too busy cursing Morgan for mixing her date up. Harmony pulled out her phone and messaged Morgan, aware that Dominick was also typing something on his cellphone at the same time.
Harmony: What the hell??? You messed up my date.
When text bubbles didn't immediately pop-up indicating Morgan texting back, Harmony sent another. And another.
Harmony: Please tell me my date was supposed to be Pax.
Harmony: You DID NOT set me up with Dominick.
Harmony: MORGAN. ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!!!!!
She took a steadying breath and put on a fake smile, before looking back up at Dominick.
"No answer?" he asked.
Harmony shook her head. "What about you?" She tipped her head toward the phone in his hands.
"Oh, I wasn't messaging Morgan. I texted my roommate trying to figure out…" His voice trailed off, and he shook his head like he'd said more than he intended. "I didn't text her."
"Do you think we should…" Harmony's voice also trailed off.
Dominick smiled shyly. "See where things go?"
Seriously? That was not what she was thinking. Harmony had just been about to suggest they go home and wait to hear back from Morgan. What was the point of going on a date you weren't supposed to, after all? And Harmony was convinced, more than ever, that she was supposed to be with Pax.
She looked down at her phone—still no response from Morgan. What was she doing? When Harmony lifted her gaze back to Dominick, his expression about killed her. He looked so hopeful, and she didn't want to be the person to steal the small amount of joy he had tonight.
Harmony plastered a smile on her face. "Might as well, right?"
His entire body relaxed with her words, and she wasn't sure if she felt better at his relief or like the worst kind of person for giving him false hope. She glanced around and spotted the waitress a couple of feet away. Harmony lifted her hand to call her over.
The waitress came to the table quickly with the same bright smile as before. "I see your date made it. Can I get you something to drink?" she asked him.
"Just water," he answered, looking down at the menu in front of him.
The waitress started
to walk away. "Excuse me," Harmony called after her.
She turned. "Yes?"
"I'd also like a gin and tonic." She cleared her throat. "A double."
After checking Harmony's ID, the waitress walked off to get their drinks. Harmony looked down at her phone once more. Still no message back from Morgan.
"So…" Harmony started. "What do you do?"
Dominick cleared his throat and played with the watch around his wrist. "I'm, um, a full-time student."
"It must be nice to have all that free time."
He chuckled. "Yeah, well, my parents wanted to make sure I focused on my studies while at college. If I don't maintain the grades, I'm off to community college. It’s a lot of pressure."
"I work at a coffee shop, and it takes up so much time." She felt a small tinge of jealousy. She’d love to only worry about making good grades. If Harmony had more free time, she probably wouldn’t need Morgan’s help in finding a date. She imagined herself going out dancing, sitting at a coffee shop studying instead of working. A cute guy like Pax would walk over and smile. She’d smile back. They’d laugh and hit it off.
"You must work all the time.” Dominick’s voice interrupted her daydreaming. “Anytime I've gone into the coffee shop, you're there."
She couldn’t stop the smile that touched her lips. Work was her life—that and school. But Dominick made it sound like he was in the shop all the time. If that was the case, why didn’t she recognize him?
She decided to ask. “Why haven’t I noticed you before?”
Dominick flinched at the words, and she instantly regretted her bluntness.
“Maybe because you’re never working the register?” he asked. “You’re too cool to talk to everyone who comes in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, feeling defensive.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I just notice you always hide behind the espresso machine, and never work the register. And when you put the drinks on the counter, you usually get back to work instead of chatting.”
Meet Your Match (Disastrous Dates Book 1) Page 2