Page 58 of Inked Temptation
ChapterThirteen
Killian
“I’m fucking nervous.” I ran my hands through my blond hair as Penny snorted beside me. She took a long inhale of her joint and handed it in my general direction. I shook my head. “You know that’s not my thing.”
“I thought it would help with your nerves. You never know.”
I just sighed and looked up to stretch my neck. “I don’t think getting stoned before my date—the first date, mind you, that I’ve had in a decade or so—is probably a good idea.”
“This isn’t your first date. I assume your first date was a casual walk through the woods checking out the property. Your second date was a beer and a movie at Archer’s house. This is your third date.”
I paused in the act of rolling up my shirt sleeves, since I had decided to wear a button-down with dark jeans, the gray shirt the only color I owned these days.
“Third date. You’re going to go with that math?”
“I’ll go with any math that makes it less nerve-wracking for you.”
I smiled at the woman who had become my friend despite me doing my best not to let her be anywhere near me.
“You look nice, though. Good jeans, a crisp shirt. Although, in my day, a man would be wearing slacks.”
I looked over at her and raised a brow. “In your day, you wouldn’t be wearing a bra, and you’d be wearing a hippie skirt. Now, look at you in your lounge pants and tank top.”
“Excuse me. I’ll have you know I’m not wearing a bra underneath this tank top because it has a built-in.”
I rolled my eyes and made sure that my wallet and phone were in my pocket. “I’m meeting him at the restaurant since it’s in Boulder, and he has to drive far to get out here.”
“An hour’s not too far these days, but that is still a distance.”
I raised a brow, then pet Cora, knowing she left dog hair all over my jeans. That was fine with me. I was used to it. “Maybe the distance is needed.”
“So you’re saying that a physical distance will help the emotional version that you’re putting between you two? Very cute with the metaphors.”
“Maybe it’s okay that I don’t have all the answers yet. I haven’t been good at getting them anyway.”
“That is true. But look at you, going out on a date.”
I rubbed my chest with my fist and let out a deep breath. “Maybe I should just not go.”
“If you disappoint that young man and hurt him, I’m going to have words with you. I will always be your number one supporter, Killian. But you need this just as much as he does.”
“He really needs a broken old man?”
“There’s nothing old about you, except perhaps your soul. And you’re not broken. You’re healing. Maybe with a little bit of duct tape and adhesive, but it’s working.”
“You have a lot more confidence in me than I do.”
“Somebody other than Cora has to. But remember, that dog loves you and trusts you no matter what. Maybe you should let someone else do that.”
The L-word just then made me want to vomit, but I didn’t say anything. Instead, I leaned forward, kissed her on the top of her head, and said goodbye to Cora.
“I need some time.”
“You’ve had nothing but time, Killian. It’s okay to just want to be in the moment.”
“And figure out exactly what I’m doing with this guy.”
“Or boy, basically.”
