Chapter 3

 

 

She managed to keep her doubt contained until Friday, but mostly because Reed said he had homework. He was also working on his thesis, which he would have to present to a committee soon.

The blondes sensed her turmoil and tried to get her to talk, but this time she resisted. The days sped by and Friday came, with Reed arriving promptly at 5:30. He smiled and walked her to his ancient Camry that had already quit once on a date.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Starving,” she said.

He handed her a piece of paper with the words of his invite. “Did you figure out the clues?”

She shook her head. “I tried, but I think I only got the last line. Thirty-one flavors has to be Baskin Robbins.”

“It is,” he said, raising his eyebrow. “Is that all?”

Despite her doubts, his smile was contagious. “What are we doing that’s tinted?”

“Dinner first,” he replied, pulling into the parking lot of a grocery store. As they walked in he explained, “We are going to split up and take four aisles each.” He handed her ten dollars. “You have drinks and dessert. I have main course and appetizer.”

“What are you getting?”

“That’s the twist,” he said. “We won’t know the other half of dinner until we meet back up.”

“So I have no idea what you’re getting?”

“Nope,” he said. “I got the idea from your dessert on our second date. I figured we could try it at dinner.”

“So now you’re learning from me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“A great deal,” he said, coming to a halt and brushing her hair behind her ear. “Ready?”

“Are you going to give me a hint what you’re getting?” she asked.

“Nope,” he replied, and then asked for her phone. “One more thing, he said, setting a timer. “We’re on the clock. Five minutes is all you get.”

“To pick both?”

“Yep,” he said, his eyes lighting with anticipation. “It’s a race.”

She grinned. “On your mark.”

“Get set,” he said.

“Go!” they said in unison and raced toward their respective aisles.

She hurried down the ice-cream aisle, hunting for something that sounded good. Spotting a razzleberry pie, she snagged it and then made her way to the drink aisle. Feeling the weight of time, she darted back and forth, trying to guess what he would choose.

She could pick a regular soda and play it safe, or go for an unusual soda like Jones. Or she could choose something more exotic. Among the juices she spotted a Mexican fruit juice and smiled, but just as she reached for it she was assailed by doubt. The doubt was unusual—especially with Reed, but it found a foothold. Bound by hesitation, she paced back and forth until opting for a root beer.

She regretted the choice all the way to the register, wondering about the source of the doubt. Since the Lantern Date, she’d never worried so much about their relationship. Did it have to do with his upcoming graduation? Or was it a chink in their relationship? Spotting Reed, she joined him and he held up his sack.

“I’ve got Stove Top Stuffing for dinner and strawberries for the appetizer. What do you have?”

“Pie and root beer,” she replied.

“Great,” he said. “We’ll go back and while it cooks we’ll start the game, the List.”

“I think you mentioned that before,” she said.

“It’s one of my favorites,” he said.

They returned to the car and drove back to his apartment. Although they smiled and talked, he kept glancing her way as if trying to crack a difficult puzzle. She avoided talking of school, afraid that it would reveal her doubts.

“Jackson and Shelby are playing basketball with a group of friends,” Reed said, shouldering his way into the kitchen. “You ready to cook dinner together?”

“I’ll start with the strawberries,” she said. “I’ve never cooked stuffing, but my mom always made it on Thanksgiving.”

“I’m sure we can figure it out,” Reed said, examining the box.

They set about cooking their surprising meal, and Kate all but forgot her fears regarding Reed’s graduation. They brushed each other against the stove and sink, their arms touching, their eyes catching each other as they talked.

She thought several times of their last challenge date, of them kissing under the waterfall. With any other guy, they would have had sex then and there, but Reed had irritatingly managed to keep his boundaries. Still, she wondered if there were cracks in his resolve.

Although they’d had many dates, this night was oddly the most intimate. They talked and laughed like a married couple, their conversation easy as they worked next to each other to prepare the meal. Kate imagined what it would be like to be with Reed in such a setting, and for the first time in her life, imagined what it would be like to be a wife.

Would it be cooking dinner together? Smiles and kisses shared next to the stove? Or would it be fights in the hall and slammed doors? Cold nights spent alone, wondering when an angry husband would return? She glanced at Reed as he unwrapped the pie and placed it on a pan in the oven, and dared to hope of a life together.

“Are the strawberries ready?”

“Almost,” she said.

Reed seemed to sense the intimacy of the night, but rather than shrink from it, he cast her amused looks and placed his hand on her back as he passed, their eyes connecting briefly while he stirred the pot.

“Ow!” she cried.

Her focus on Reed, the knife had slipped and sliced into her finger. She winced as blood welled up and dripped into the sink. She dropped the strawberry and caught a paper towel as Reed appeared at her shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

“Just cut myself,” she said, pulling back the paper towel to examine the injury, but blood welled into view.

“Looks deep,” he said.

“You’re too distracting,” she said, wincing again. “You’re very attractive when you cook.”

“You should see me vacuum,” he said, his lips twitching. “In the meantime, can I get you a Band-Aid?”

“Please,” she said.

He disappeared and she used his absence to regain control of herself. She’d enjoyed the image of a life with Reed but did her best to quash the hope. Although they’d been dating for seven months, they’d only been together for one, and she couldn’t let herself fall so far that she lost touch with reality.

He returned and wrapped the bandage around her finger. She swallowed, annoyed that he had such an effect on her. She was the one with more dating experience, so why was she trembling? His touch made her shiver, and then he kissed her finger.

“Sorry,” he said, his smile all but melting her into the floor.

“Nothing to apologize for,” she said.

“You have the same effect on me, you know,” he said.

“I’m not sure I do,” she said.

“Trust me,” he said. “You do.”

Held fast by the intensity of his gaze, she caught a glimpse of just how much he desired. He held himself in check, but a part of him wanted to let go. They were standing close, her hand still in his, the proximity so close she could feel his leg against hers, his other arm around her back, but he did not pull her close.

She swallowed. “Are you saying you want to . . .”

“I do,” he said quietly. “But you mean enough to me that I want to wait.”

“Most guys say the opposite,” she said, touching his cheek.

“I don’t want to be most guys,” he replied. “Especially with you.”

The timer went off and they both jumped. They laughed in unison and he stepped to the stove, pulling the pot off the burner. The moment had lapsed and she expected to be disappointed. Instead she felt safe. Whatever happened, she would never have to worry about Reed pushing boundaries. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he cared about her enough to hold himself in check.