Chapter 5

 

 

They drove home, laughing and talking about the waterfall and the skycoaster. For the first time since they’d started the dating challenge, he felt out of his depth. Kate had learned from his methods about dating, but he was just starting to understand what it meant to be a boyfriend. When he said as much, she smiled.

“You really feel that way?” she asked, glancing his way.

“I do,” he admitted. “Because of how much time is required, planning a creative date implies a deeper connection. I was always careful to avoid dates that would be too intimate. With you, I want to do that, but I don’t have a lot of ideas.”

She cast him a suspicious look. “Are you just trying to throw me off track?”

“Not at all,” he said. “Today has been perfect, and I wonder if I can plan dates that live up to the same level.”

“You’re not about to quit, are you?”

“Of course not,” he said. “But I thought that’s what boyfriends do—they express their fears.”

“Now you’re afraid of me?” she asked, her lips twitching with amusement.

“You can be intimidating,” he said with a smile. “After Ember posts this to her blog and tells of the waterfall date, I suspect public favor will swing in your direction. I’m just feeling the pressure to come up with the next event.”

“I’m confident you can deliver,” she said. “But the day isn’t over yet.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me there’s more.”

“You’ll have to wait and find out,” she said.

He issued a self-deprecating laugh. “What exactly are you trying to prove? Today has already been perfect.”

“I’ve wanted to date like this for months,” she hesitated, and then added, “now that we are, I find a surprising sense of worry.”

“About what?” he asked.

She glanced his way and then returned her attention to the road. “You’ve been doing your creative dating for three years and never dated seriously. Part of me is worried that you’ll get tired of dating just one girl.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“How can you be sure?” she asked. “The last two weeks have been incredible—beyond incredible, actually—but how can I know you’ll want to stay with me?”

“Because I really like dating you,” he said. “And I don’t want to stop.” He was already holding her hand so he squeezed it. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“Maybe I went a bit overboard today,” she admitted.

“Not at all,” he said. “I just assumed you wanted to set the bar so high I could never beat it.”

“That too.”

He snorted a laugh as they got off the exit in Boulder. They drove through town until they got to his house, where they’d left that morning after breakfast together. It was getting dark, and he realized it was the first time in years that he’d ever spent the entire day with a girl.

They pulled into his driveway and got out. Although they’d walked to the door together many times since the beginning of their dating challenge, today felt different. She seemed to feel it as well and betrayed  a touch of nervousness as she stood on his doorstep.

“I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to kiss you after a date,” she said.

“Hugs were just not enough,” he agreed.

She grinned and leaned into a kiss, but the door opened and Jackson stood framed in the doorway.

Tall and muscular, Reed’s roommate wore a t-shirt that said, Should be supervised at all times. He loved every sport, and usually played with his girlfriend Shelby. He folded his arms and looked on in disapproval.

“Do you have any idea how late it is?”

“Seven?” Reed asked, confused.

Jackson scowled. “I’ve been slaving over dinner for hours, and you didn’t have the decency to call?”

Kate groaned. “I’m sorry Jackson. I got caught up with things today and forgot to tell you we were running late.”

“Call about what?” Reed asked.

“I promised Jackson and Shelby we would join them for dinner when we got back,” Kate said, and then turned to Jackson. “I didn’t realize it would take so long.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jackson said, uncharacteristically grumpy.

Shelby appeared next to him. Also tall and blonde, she had the lithe figure of an athlete, and wore a shirt for her favorite team, the Lakers. She caught Jackson’s hand, pulling him out of the doorway and motioning Kate and Reed inside.

“Don’t worry about the time,” she said, throwing Jackson a warning look. “I’m sure you’re hungry after your long drive.”

“It’s too late for dinner,” Jackson said. “It’s already cold.”

“Cold cereal is supposed to be cold,” Shelby said.

Jackson leaned against the wall as Reed and Kate entered. Reed thought he was just feigning anger, but there was real annoyance in his features. Then Reed caught sight of the table. Waffles and pancakes were stacked onto the plates, while a dozen boxes of cereal were lined up on the counter. Bacon, eggs, and other breakfast foods were also present, including sliced fruit, milk, and juice.

“Jackson,” Kate groaned, also noticing the table. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize you planned so much.”

“It’s not your fault,” Jackson said, picking at his nails. “Ever since Reed started dating Kate, he hasn’t been around much.”

“Is that what this is about?” Shelby asked, looking between Jackson and Reed. “You miss your friend?”

“I didn’t say that,” Jackson sniffed.

“I’m sorry,” Kate said. “I didn’t know—”

“Don’t,” Shelby said. She reached out of view and appeared with her purse in hand. “Let’s just leave them to hang out for a bit.”

Kate looked between Shelby and Reed and smiled. “I think we can do that.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Jackson protested.

“Play some video games or something,” Shelby said, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.

“Video games aren’t going to . . .”

But Shelby was already gone. With a huff, Jackson disappeared into the living room, leaving Reed with Kate at the door. Torn between staying with Kate and following Jackson, Reed shook his head.

“I’m guessing this isn’t the ending you planned.”

“I already got my date,” she said. “I’ll kiss you goodnight and you can hang out with your friend.”

“You sure?” he asked.

She kissed him soundly and then smiled. “I can give you up for one night. You already fell for me.”

She laughed and walked away, joining Shelby where she stood leaning against her car. Reed watched her go and then stepped into the living room. Jackson sat on the couch, picking at his fingernails.

“You shouldn’t blame Kate,” Reed said. “It’s my fault I haven’t been here much.”

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Fine.”

Reed spotted the cereals on the counter and realized three were his favorites. Jackson was notorious for having cold cereal for dinner, and he’d likely planned the breakfast-for-dinner with that in mind.

“You got my favorites,” Reed said, pointing to the three boxes.

“They’re my favorites too.”

Reed sighed and stepped to the TV. Turning on the Xbox, he picked up two controllers and sat down. Halo was an older game but one of their favorites. He didn’t say anything, but he put the second controller next to him on the couch. Then he began to play alone.

The minutes ticked by as Reed played, the room filled with the sounds of dying aliens and grenades. Then Jackson released an explosive breath and picked up the second controller. Neither spoke, the silence stretching until Reed failed to see an enemy coming from behind.

“Watch your back,” Jackson said.

“That’s what I have you for,” Reed said.

“Yeah, well, I can’t do that if you’re never here.”

“I’ve never had a girlfriend before,” Reed said. “It’s new.”

“Doesn’t mean you have to forget your wingman.”

“I didn’t forget.”

“If your wingman drives you to Florida and back, and then you disappear for two weeks, you did forget him.”

Reed threw a grenade into a mix rushing Jackson. “Is that what this is about?”

Jackson grunted in annoyance. “You’re like a brother, you know that? And not a little one, either, but a big one that gives me advice and helps me figure out what to do—like how I’m supposed to propose to Shelby.”

“I have kind of been absent the last couple of weeks,” Reed said with a grimace. “You never warned me that the first few days of a relationship can be so intense.”

“My bad.”

Reed laughed and recalled the events of the last two months. He’d become so preoccupied with Kate that he hadn’t really thought about the impact on Jackson. Now he realized just how much he’d neglected their friendship.

“I am getting hungry,” Reed said. “Care for a bowl of cereal?”

“Was that so hard to ask?”

Reed grinned and paused the game, and the two moved to the table. Reed heated a pair of waffles in the microwave and then sat down with a bowl of Golden Grahams. The tension evaporated as Reed asked about Shelby and how things were going.

Filling his mouth with a spoonful of Marshmallow Mateys, Jackson shook his head. “I think she knows I’m hiding something, and she almost found the ring.”

“Where did you hide it?”

“In a box of cereal.”

Reed burst into a laugh. “Which one?”

“Grape Nuts,” Jackson said. “I never thought she would go for them, but she decided to try them yesterday.”

“Do you know how you want to propose?” Reed asked.

As they discussed options Reed realized Jackson had bought the ring weeks ago, and had been waiting on Reed to help him plan the proposal. Resolving never to abandon his friend again, Reed dived into the discussion, intent on making up for his absence.