CHAPTER FIVE

Josie wasn't sure what to expect as she got out of her car and started to walk up to the restaurant. After all, they had agreed to meet at the movie theater first, but she saw him standing outside the restaurant next door so she went there instead.

Almost as if curiosity were drawing her to him, like a moth to a light. She arched her brow and looked him over. He had also changed clothes. Or else she wasn't entirely paying attention earlier. She decided she hadn't paid attention earlier as he smiled to her and held his hands out wide as though he were surprised by something.

"You look beautiful!" He said happily in greeting. "How are you feeling? Still dreading this?" His voice a deep purr.

"Still dreading this, yes. You look... clean,” she noted and toyed with her small clutch purse. She wasn't going to be left stranded without at least some form of payment to get home... in case something happened.

"You shouldn't dread this, we're going to have a marvelous meal and then see a good movie."

"You said this was only a movie..."

"You're going to have such a good time at dinner that you won't realize you're in the theater next,” he said playfully.

“Uh huh,” she rolled her eyes, trying not to be amused by how smooth his words were. She felt herself starting to calm down matching how calm he was.

"What? You honestly don't think this is fun?"

"We're standing outside. How can this be fun?" She tilted her head and watched as he just chuckled at her.

"We can fix that. This way, beautiful,” he opened the door for her and let her pass inside. Once the door closed behind him, he carefully lead her towards a simple table and with less people around. He pulled the chair out for her, noting the way she slightly wrinkled her nose.

"Why this place?"

"I knew you'd see me here, and it's just a short walk in the fresh air to the theater if you were actually interested in going with me after our meal."

"I have a feeling I won’t," she goaded playfully.

"We'll see."

"So, you are a teacher,…” she said moments later. The silence had settled comfortably just long enough for a wait staff to break it up and cause them to start talking again after their drink order.

"Yes," He hummed.

"Have you always wanted to be a teacher?"

"I did not, not to begin with. I was interested in learning in general. In college, my mom suggested that I become a teacher. Learning was important to me and I had a hard time picking just one subject to teach." He chuckled and chewed over his bottom lip for just a second as his eyes glistened with amusement at the thought of how much fun he had enjoyed while in school.

"Sounds... interesting,” she offered and tilted her head to the side. She hummed in obvious thought.

"You should let me ask you questions."

"I don't think so, I'm supposed to have fun here, not get interrogated,” she teased.

"I'm going to cross examine you, and you can interrogate me with all your questions,” he smirked.

The next couple of hours was spent with them asking each other questions, making a game out of it during their time eating.

"So, you like brunettes more?" Josie teased.

"No, I like purple haired ladies."

"Oh well that is a shame, isn't it? I haven't seen any ladies with purple hair that are your age."

"Are you calling me old?" He scoffed playfully.

"Aren't you though?" She giggled faintly behind the rim of her wine glass.

"I think you're having fun."

"Is that a question or a statement?"

"Statement."

"I might be having a little bit of fun."

"Then come to the movie with me?"

"Hmmm...." She tapped her index finger to her lip, weighing it heavily in her mind before she nodded.

"You act like you just made a life and death decision."

"Maybe I did, you already stalk me. I mean, I might as well be extra careful. You might not let me leave,” she teased playfully, giggling faintly to show she was only joking.

“Uh huh, I might keep you anyway,” he teased back with a playful snort.

"Alright, I will go to this movie with you, but we'll count it as the same date."

"Good."

“Good," she agreed slowly.

"What else do you like to do?"

"I love reading, and relaxing... by myself."

"We'll have to change that,” he hummed quietly, as if in thought.

"Are you planning to read to me now?"

"Might. You never know."

"Have you ever done anything with archery?"

"No..."

"Bowling?"

"I have been once or twice in my younger years..."

"How about…ice skating?"

"No, I don't think I have the balance for that."

"Horseback riding?"

"Once when I was little I went to horse camp."

"Aww," he teased softly.

"I know, can you imagine? Pig tails and overalls on the back of a grey pony?" She laughed softly and he just stared at her in awe. She did not realize it though. She was too busy focusing on her fingers wrapped delicately around the stem of her wine glass as she wondered what she was doing. Why she was telling him so much?

"I can, I bet it would be cute even now."

"I doubt that—I’m much too old for pig tails."

“Lies," he chuckled and scratched his chin in thought.

"Alright, so what about you? Do you like any of those things?"

"Of course, I do! They are all activities I participate in at the Country Club."

"You're a part of that?" she gasped.

"I am, I spend a lot of time there actually. They have one of the biggest libraries in town, as well as the best place for archery and horseback riding."

“Wow, I never thought I'd actually talk to someone from the Country Club."

"Yeah, well... it's something I used to do with my father."

"That is kinda cute. I hear they have a good tennis court there as well. Were you a tennis boy?"

"I was, though my father put a stop to that quickly when he saw how terrible I was."

"Sounds like a challenge."

"We'll see,” Blake laughed as he paid the bill and left the tip.

"So, you're serious about taking me to this movie?"

"Yes, that's why I got the tickets for the late showing. Then I'll drive you home afterwards... we'll come get your car in the morning."

“Very funny, but no,” she said with a soft chuckle as they were met by the fresh night air. The soft crisp breeze caused her to naturally step a little closer to him. She hadn't expected it to get so chilly at dusk.

"Aww, we'll see then,” he said with a soft sigh. It was obvious he was losing to what ever inner goal he had.

“Maybe," she muttered and tilted her head.

The movie was the longest two hours of her life. She had no idea how people could sit still for that long, but she did not want to get up and go to the bathroom and possibly ruin the experience for everyone else. Though this had given her time to eat some popcorn and let the wine get out of her system before she drove home.

She hummed softly, sipping on her lime water and started to head straight to her car now that the movie was over. He pursed his lips and lightly grasped her hand, she turned to see his face still in that set look.

"What?" she asked.

"You're not going to tell me goodnight?" he purred in that husky way that was close to making her feel weak at this point. The effect that purr had on her—it was strange. She had no idea why or even how he was managing to do this to her. Perhaps it was how little he did it that made her want to hear it more?

"I did, didn’t I?" she asked.

"No, you didn't. I feel a little hurt,” he pouted, though she could tell by the glint in his eye he was joking about the hurt.

"No, you want to know if I'll go on another date with you?"

"To be honest, yes. I want to know if you'll go on another date with me. I would greatly appreciate it, especially if you'd let me actually pick you up?”

"Hmmm..." she stared at him for a long few minutes before she held out her hand, "Phone."

His brow wrinkled and he looked at her as though she had lost her mind for a split second before he handed over his phone.

Without unlocking it to possibly dig through all his things, she simply dialed her number and called herself.

"There, now you have my number and I have yours. So, I can call you when I decide I'm ready for this next date,” she said simply and handed his phone back.

"I hope to hear from you soon,” he said with a soft smile as she walked off with a playful wave over her shoulder.

“Uh huh!” She called out in a playful purr of her own. She drove home with her heart pounding. Although the movie had been extremely long, she had a great deal of fun and now driving home she could collect her thoughts and try to make an honest decision as to whether she should go on another date.

She hummed along to herself with the song on the radio. Lightly bobbing her head in time with the music even after she parked in her parking spot and headed to her apartment. She grabbed her mail and heard a little 'ding' from her phone.

"Already?" she murmured and looked at it, wondering if it was Blake, and was surprised when the thought made her giddy.

I had fun, thank you,
That was all it said. There was no pressure, nothing.

I suppose I had fun too, she typed back. The way they had talked, she had lost the bet and would go out with him a second time.

She smiled softly and hummed to herself even as she decided to skip yoga and settled down in to a warm bubble bath to calm herself down.