This apartment is not big enough for the amount of pacing I’m doing. I lost count of how many times I’ve gone from one wall to the other. I’m starting to regret saying yes to Jake. I’m not even a hundred percent sure why I did. Maybe it was all the happy endorphins from being told I can start taking clients, who knows.

I’ve never been so nervous or apprehensive about a date. I should not have butterflies caused by a guy that I don’t even really know. The few times I’ve been around him all he’s done is annoy me…on purpose. I mean, who does that?

I don’t even know what we’re doing. When I asked him what I needed to wear, he just replied back with something comfortable. Comfortable to me is a band t-shirt and yoga pants, but sure he doesn’t mean that sort of comfortable.

I’m almost tempted to text Bianca and ask her if what I’m wearing is okay, just so I have another female’s perspective. I quickly decide against that. Besides being super humiliating, it’s just one more thing for her to give me shit about.

I stop at the full length mirror hanging on the wall, first looking at all my sketches surrounding it, then studying myself. I have on light blue skinny jeans that hug the few curves I have just right. I paired them with a solid white tee, covered up by a plaid long sleeve shirt tied at the waist. I have no idea if where we are going is to be indoors and cold, or outside and hot. I finished the look off with my Vans. I’m tempted to switch them out for wedges but decide against it.

Running my fingers through my long, wavy hair, I make sure my makeup isn’t smeared after all my movement. I grab a hair tie and shove it in my small bag just in case I want to throw my hair into a ponytail later. Let’s be honest, it’s more than likely going to happen. I love my long hair, but it usually just gets in my way.

I’m starting to sit on the sofa so I don’t wear a hole in my floor with all the pacing when there’s a knock at the door. I jump. I knew he would eventually be here, but I still jump. The sound of his knuckles on the wood door scaring the hell out of me. I look at my phone. He’s early. Not by much but still. I figured he would be the type of guy that is always late.

I start speed walking to the door, my nerves pushing me forward. I pause, willing my feet to move at a normal pace. I continue to the door. Hands shaking as I grip the knob. I take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and open the door.

His hand is raised mid-air, as if he was about to knock again. He jerks back in surprise when it registers that the door is in fact already open. “I wasn’t sure you were going to answer.”

“I just had to put a few things in my bag,” I lie. He doesn’t have to know that I’m completely freaking out. I’ve been on dates before. But, not with anyone that has intrigued me, or driven me as crazy, as he does.

He takes a second to look me over. Starting at my feet and working his way up, until his eyes land on mine. “You look amazing,” he barely whispers.

He grabs a piece of hair that has fallen in my face, gently pushing it behind my ear. “I’m surprised your hair is down.” His hand is hovering by my cheek. He quickly moves it to his side. “I like it like this.”

I blush. There’s no doubt my cheeks are tinged pink against my pale skin. I also can’t help the small grin forming on my lips. I’m so used to being around everyone at the shop. They’ve treated me like one of the guys for as long as I can remember. It’s nice to be treated with fragility sometimes. It’s a great reminder that I can be more than just one thing.

I’m not sure how to react without completely ruining the moment. “Are you ready to go?” I blurt out, rocking on my heels. Any chances of appearing like I’m not nervous are now completely blown out of the water.

“Yep,” he says. “Are you?”

“Well, I did ask,” I reply. “Let me grab my bag and lock up.”

He waits patiently at the door, not even trying to come into my space without being invited. Maybe he’s actually a gentleman, and not the cocky athlete that walked into the tattoo shop. I’m not getting my hopes up, but we’ll see how tonight goes.

He steps back as I close the door, allowing me my space. Reaching his hand out, he looks me in the eye, silently asking for permission to take my hand. I place my hand in his, and we make our way down the stairs in silence. It’s not weird or awkward, either. There just isn’t a need to fill the void with words. I do wonder who is going to break the silence first.

Leaving my building, we stop short at a black truck in pristine condition. He presses a button on his key fob to unlock the doors, opens the door for me, and gives me a hand to get into his lifted truck. It’s a good thing he did, or I might have scrambled in ungracefully.

He walks around the front of the truck and slides into his seat with ease before starting the truck. “I have two questions for you.”

He takes a moment to check the road before pulling out into traffic. “You can ask, but I might not answer.”

I roll my eyes. The cockiness is still there. “First, how did you manage to find parking right in front of my building?” I take a breath. “Second, how in the hell did you fit this behemoth in that spot?”

Laughter fills the cab of the truck. “We’re going on our first date, and those are the hard pressing questions you have for me?”

“Um, yeah.” I fiddle with the strap of my bag. “Also, where are we going?”

“That’s three questions, Charleigh.”

“Humor me.”

He settles his arm on the console between us, palm up. An invitation, but not one I’m going to accept until he answers my questions. Childish, probably. But I never get that lucky, and I live there.

“Question one, someone was pulling out as I was pulling in, so I was lucky. Question two, I’m a country boy. I can fit this truck anywhere I need it to be.” He pauses, looks over at me and winks. “And last question…it’s a surprise. You’ll just have to wait and find out.”

He turns the radio on, and country music plays quietly in the background. Not loud enough to deter conversation, but enough to fill the silence. He pulls onto the highway and starts to drive us out of Dallas.

“You won’t even give me a hint?” I plead.

“Nope, just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

“Where are you from? I’m going on a date with you, and I don’t even know where you live.”

Chuckling, he glances at me. “Don’t you have my address in your files at the shop? You know from when you made a copy of license?”

Why the hell didn’t I think to look at his paperwork? “I didn’t think to look. Are you hiding some deep dark secret?”

A shadow passes over his face, but it’s gone before I can say anything, making me wonder if I imagined it. “Nope. I live thirty minutes south of here in a little town called Asheville.”

I’ve never heard of it, but I don’t leave the city much. Why would I when everything I need is literally ten minutes away from me, or can be delivered?

I lean back in the seat, listening to the soft crooning coming from the speakers, and watch the lights of Dallas fade into the distance.

* * *

It doesn’t take long to get to our destination, twenty maybe twenty-five minutes. But I squeal, when we pull up to a carnival. I’m so happy I decided not to wear my wedges because my feet would likely be aching at the end of the night. A ferris wheel and a multitude of rides light up the dark space where we’re parking.

“I can’t decide if you are brilliant or insane.” I whisper yell. “I haven’t been to a carnival since I was a kid.”

And it’s true, I haven’t. I used to go with Mom and Dad all the time when I was a kid. But, I traded that in for days spent at the shop watching Corey work his magic. I don’t notice that Jake has gotten out of the truck until I pull the handle and almost hit him with the door in my excitement.

“Are you surprised?” he asks.

“Yes. As far as first dates, this might be one of the best.” I throw my arms around his neck and hug him. He stiffens, not expecting the movement, but quickly relaxes. Wrapping his arms around my waist and embracing me.

“Good,” he whispers. “I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not, but you can thank Marshall for convincing me to go with it.”

“Maybe I’ll tattoo him, no charge.”

“No offense, but I don’t think he’d like the SpongeBob to match my Patrick,” he laughs.

We walk hand in hand to the ticket booth. The lights becoming brighter the closer we get. I can see them bouncing in Jake’s eyes when I sneak glances at him. I’m completely surprised that he had this in him. I know I don’t really know him, but first impressions say a lot. I’m happy that he’s not who I had him pegged as in my mind.

He’s buying tickets, and my eyes wander around the carnival, trying to decide which ride I want to drag him on first.

Tickets in hand, I pull him toward the ferris wheel. It’s always been my favorite. I remember sitting next to my dad and feeling like I was queen of the world when we would stop at the top. The people and booths so very small below us.

Luckily there isn’t a line. I look to Jake for the tickets, but his face is pale. “Do you not like heights?”

“No,” he pauses. “I’m good with heights.” He turns to the ticket taker to give him the amount posted on the sign.

We climb into the chair, and while the person running the ride makes sure we are fastened in, I take Jake’s hand. It’s clammy, on the verge of being downright sweaty. “Are you sure you’re okay? We don’t have to ride this if you don’t want to.”

“I’m fine, Charleigh.” He flashes me the same charming smile he gave me the night I tattooed him, but I see the fear in his eyes.

The chance to get off the ride is taken from us, and we start gliding backward. The higher we go, the stronger Jake’s grip on my hand becomes. It’s almost painful, but I don’t want him to lose any sense of security he finds in me.

We stop at the top, and instead of enjoying the view like I used to as a child, I look over at Jake. “You obviously aren’t okay with being up here.”

He’s trying his best to look anywhere but the ground.

“Focus on me,” I lean in closer to him. “Why did you agree to the ride if you’re terrified of heights?”

“Because you wanted to ride this death trap,” he replies.

“You could have told me no. It wouldn’t have broken my heart or anything.”

“I know, but I want this to be an amazing date for you. So amazing that you’ll agree to a second one.”

This is one of those moments you dream about as a teenager. The ones you only see in movies and can’t help but swoon over. I’m not sure what comes over me, but I scoot closer to him, place my hands on his cheeks, and kiss him.

I pull away long enough to mutter, “Anyone who will put their fears aside to impress a girl, definitely deserves a second date.”

This time…he pulls me to him. His tongue sweeps across my lips, asking my permission, waiting for me to part my lips wider. And I do. Everything else fades away as his tongues glides around mine, setting all my senses on fire.

I’m not sure where this is going to go. But right now, I am so glad I text him, and I don’t want this night to end.