Page 4 of Summer Sweethearts
Starting the car,Flowersby Miley Cyrus plays, and the touch screen comes to life in the center of the dash. “So, this is a nice car. I guess I haven’t been paying much attention to my surroundings to miss a BMW in Kingston,” I chuckle.
“Yeah, umm, my dad bought it for me right before he died. My mom just about died with him when she found out. But I love it, and will probably drive it till the wheels fall off,” she chuckles. I shrug a shoulder at her, and she shifts the car into drive, guiding us out onto the road. I’m pulled from my lip-syncing of Miley’s song by Jessica’s voice. “So I’m glad you rode back to Sugar Spines with me.”
“It’s no biggie. Thanks for taking me back to my car,” I respond.
“Well, if I’m being honest, I was hoping you’d let me take you back so I could spend more time with you,” she murmurs.
I whip my head to stare at her, shocked. “You want to spend more time with me?”
“Duh, I thought it was pretty obvious I was into you by the daily trips to your workplace. Do you know how much I’ve spent on coffee and muffins trying to work up the courage to ask you out? My accountant is going to have a heyday,” she admits.
“I didn’t know. I just thought you liked supporting Aiden since you and Cain are close.”
She throws her head back in deep laughter. “I love Cain, don’t get me wrong, but not that much. I wanted to ask you out for a while, but I was too nervous. Then tonight, I’m pretty sure I caught you watching me, and the movie was a simple way to ask you on a date without it seeming like one. I’m rambling, sorry. I do that when I’m nervous. So did you think that, ummm, maybe you’d like to go out again, together? This time, just the two of us.”
Nervous? This sexy as hell woman was nervous about asking me out? What other dimension have I fallen into?How did today go from me wondering what was wrong with me for being single at thirty-two to this twenty-something bombshell asking me out?Snapping myself from my inner turmoil before she thinks I’m not interested, I turn to face her, smiling. “I’d love to!”
“Okay, cool,” she says as she reaches down into the center console with one hand, digging for something, but her focus is still on the road. Seconds later, she pulls her hand back and gives me her phone. “Put your number in so we can plan something.”
Grabbing her phone, I quickly program my number in and hand it back to her. Perfect timing, too, because we’re pulling up in front of the shop, right next to my blue Nissan Maxima. I grab the door handle, and as I open it, I look back at her. “Thanks for tonight. I had fun.”
“No problem. I had a good time, too,” she replies. I shut the door and rifle around in my purse for my keys, then unlock my door. Getting in my car, I shut my door, start it, and then turn to give her a wave.
Backing out of my parking spot and starting the drive home, I can’t help but think about how fast today’s events changed. Fingers crossed, Jessica isn’t a fleeting thing, and once she gets to know me, she still likes me. Tonight solidified my interest in her, and I really want to see where this could go.
JESSICA
How long are you supposed to wait before you text the person you’re interested in? Isn’t there a ‘rule’ on this nowadays? I don’t want her to think I’m desperate, but also, what if I wait too long? Why am I so nervous about this? It’s a dang text message, not a marriage proposal.
Deciding to find my lady balls, I grab my phone from the counter and find Loretta’s number.
Me:
Hey! It’s Jessica. I missed you at the shop this morning. Is everything okay?
Well… now, I sound like a stalker.God dammit.I might as well just text and say, ‘Hey, I showed up at your work today, but you weren’t there. Where are you?’ I’ve always thought I was smooth with women and men, but Loretta is proving to bring out a side of myself I didn’t know existed. A nervous, double-thinking mess is what she’s made me into you.
Loretta:
Hi I had a late start today. Are you stalking me? LOL.
See!I slap a hand on my forehead. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. She literally thinks I’m stalking her now.Congrats, Jessica, you might as well tell your mom you can’t run the store anymore and leave town. Any minute now, the cops will come to serve me with a restraining order.My phone beeps again, and I hurry to look at the message.
Loretta:
You there? winky face
I let out the breath I was holding. Fuck, this woman had me going. She really has me tied up in knots. My fingers fly over the keys before I can second guess what I’m typing.
Me:
Here. Not stalking I swear….unless you’re into that kind of thing?
Loretta:
Ha! I do love a good dark romance.
Me:
