Page 19 of Just Keep Driving

Her head tilts to the side and she leans forward to look at my plate. That’s when I crack a smile.

“Wow, you’re spicy this morning too!”

“Your food looks and tastes delicious...just like you.”

She smiles at me, then looks back down at her plate. I let the silence of our eating stretch between us. The food is damn good, and I worked up an appetite last night.

I steal a glance in her direction, and she’s watching me. My nerves immediately melt away. She likes me too. I’m so used to being casual with everyone. Never on the lookout for love. Just moving from one dollar to the next. I feel myself wanting to slow down.

I’m not in love or anything like that, but she makes me feel something different. Hopeful. Curious even.

“When’s your shop opening?”

“Next summer. I didn’t get paid for my last rideshare, so now I’m behind in my savings. Gotta delay it now.”

She bursts out laughing. “You were one ride away, and you chose ass over cash. That’s on you, Champ.”

“It was worth it. I can always move in with my mom.”

“Aht aht! I can pay you right now.” She reaches for her phone, and I grab her hand.

“It’s all good, Sunshine. I actually have a plan. I reached my financial goal a few months ago, but doing rideshares keeps bringing me money.”

And now it brought me her. I keep that part to myself because I don’t know her like that to be claiming her...yet.

“I have a few spots picked out. Got my order for equipment in my cart. I’m ready.”

She nods. “What’s stopping you from starting sooner than later?”

“I’m not sure. I know I want a certain vibe. And a certain type of service. It takes time to build that kind of thing.”

She leans forward, nodding as I speak. “What kind of vibe?”

“Familial. I want it to feel like you’re at home or chilling with your boys, but not trying to be all fancy with those ring lights everywhere and a bunch of men with big egos and IG dreams.”

She smiles. “You got this all figured out.”

“It’s my livelihood. If I want to live it and love it, I have to start it off right.”

She tilts her head to the side, her smile never leaving her face.

“What?”

“I never met a guy like you.”

“No girl has ever made me breakfast the next morning.”

She frowns. “Really? But you put on a breakfast-worthy performance last night. Are you usually terrible in bed?”

I shake my head at her. “You’re a problem.”

“And you like it.”

I do.

“Let me take you out tonight,” I tell her. “On a real date.”

“Yesterday wasn’t a date?”