How You Know It Won’t Work:
You…don’t
The maid’s closet was an inferno on Monday morning. So much so that not even Satan himself would want to work in there. Taking a few days off meant working overtime to catch up on the unwashed linen toppled over the laundry bags piled on the floor.
Wiping my forehead with my arm, I got to work. My earbuds were in, my music cranked up, and motivation at a moderate level.
An hour into my shift and I was already regretting the bootcut jeans I wore. Even with the flowy tank that I paired it with. The laundry rooms lacked air conditioning, and the owners hadn’t put in a fan to regulate the temperature. I was sweating in places unknown to man.
I yelped when my earbuds were pulled out of my ears, causing my arms to flail in some half-assed attempt to karate chop my assailant.
Iris smacked my hands before I could land a hit. “What the hell are you trying to do, the Kermit flail? If anybody should be bitch slapping people, it’s me!”
I lowered my arms. “What?”
Her glare pierced my soul. “You’re going out with my brother.”
I winced. I hadn’t even thought about telling her, but I should have guessed he would. “I was going to bring it up, but we haven’t even made plans yet. When did he tell you?”
He’d asked me out two days ago. I was surprised she hadn’t blown up my phone the minute he left my apartment.
She threw her hands up. “He didn’t!” she blasted in offense. “I had to hear it from the damn teenager at China 19!”
“Dave?”
“Yes, Dave,” she scoffed. “I can’t believe you guys kept me in the dark. He never keeps things from me. What did you do to him?” she gasps. “You broke my baby brother!”
“Uh…”
“You know what? It doesn’t matter,” she decided, waving it off. “What matters is that you two are finally admitting you’re attracted to each other.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a laundry bag, throwing it over my shoulder to carry downstairs. “Don’t make a big deal out of this, okay? I don’t even know if it’s happening.”
“Oh, it is.”
“You don’t know that.”
The dumbfounded look she casted my way had me second guessing myself. “Have you checked your phone lately?”
I set the bag back on the ground and slipped my phone out of my back pocket. Sure enough there was a little green dot indicating a new message.
“I never got notified,” I murmured, opening the first text. It was from yesterday evening and I had no clue how I missed it.
Unknown: Are you going to answer this time?
Unknown: Don’t make me call Iris
Unknown: I’m picking you up Wednesday. Be ready by 7
After programming his name and number into my contacts, I peered back up at Iris. “Did he really contact you?”
She nodded. “He told me where he’s taking you, too. Wear something casual but sexy. Like those tight black skinny jeans with the zippers on the sides.”
My nose scrunched. They were cute pants but ran a little too tight around the waist.
“Oh! And you should borrow my faux leather brown boots.”
Iris had a huge boot collection that ranged from combat to hooker heels. On a good day, I couldn’t walk normal in flats. Adding heels wasn’t the best idea.
“Don’t look so terrified,” she mused, punching my arm. “They’re flat slouchy boots that would end just below your knees. I wouldn’t make you fall face first on your first date. They would add a touch of sexiness to your outfit, and still make you look conservative.”
I wasn’t sure conservative equaled sexy, especially not how most people viewed it. Was that how she looked at me?
“Where are we going?”
She grinned. “Caleb made me promise not give you any details. But it’s the kind of fun you need, so enjoy it.”
“Iris—”
“And wear your hair down,” she directed, backing out of the room. “And put on a shirt that shows some cleavage. Oh! Oh! Maybe a pushup bra to give your boobies a little boost. You need to get some, girl.”
When she disappeared around the corner, I leaned on the edge of the folding table and stared down at my phone.
Caleb was taking me out.
My eyes popped open.
I couldn’t believe I was going on my first real date at the age of twenty-three. I wanted so badly to consider the bonfire my first, but deep in my heart I knew it wasn’t. Ever since Nathan called it casual we’d been taking two steps backwards in whatever tango we’d been dancing.
Picking up my phone, I let my hands glide across the keyboard until I had a semi-decent reply. I didn’t want him to see my nerves, though I’m sure he expected them.
I had never let anyone in before, but Caleb knew more about me than anybody from my past. Being open with him was easier than it was with the others. Did he know that? If he did, he’d probably bask in his glory. An ego stroke was the last thing he needed.
Caleb’s involvement was already more prominent. He’d shown he cared, asked questions, and even bought Mashed Potato toys.
The point was, he could end me in a single heartbeat, walking away and leaving me a shell of a person I was before him.
I just hoped he was worth the risk.
Wednesday started with a basket of assorted Hershey’s products showing up at my door. Under the Reese’s peanut butter cups and snack bites I found a note. Biting into the chocolate, I snorted when I read the three words scrawled in messy handwriting.
From, Not Dave
Shaking my head, I placed it back in the basket and dug through the candy some more. He even included chocolate peanut butter dipped pretzels, something only Iris knew was my addiction.
Me: Looks like you’ve got competition
Caleb: Oh, really?
Me: Yeah, “Not Dave” has game.
Caleb: Sounds like you’re infatuated
Me: I’m going to marry him
Caleb: I’ll remember that
I smiled at our conversation, crossing my legs and getting comfortable on the floor. Underneath all the candy was a catnip infused pizza toy. As soon as I pulled it out, Mashed Potato came out of nowhere and batted the damn thing out of my hands. She was becoming as infatuated with Caleb as I was.
Me: Thank you for the bribes
Caleb: Anytime, babe
The rest of the day flew by in a blur of errands, thrift shopping for new clothes, and getting my hair done. I was half tempted to get my nails done, but I didn’t want to seem like I was putting too much effort into tonight.
Despite buying four new shirts today, I couldn’t decide what looked best with my black jeans. The pants and Iris’ shoes looked perfect together, but the tops didn’t seem to match the look I was going for.
I examined myself in front of the mirror with my last option, a soft pink sweater that hung precariously off my right righter. My brown hair hung in waves just below my shoulder blades, and the only makeup I wore was a pink gloss splashed on my lips to compliment the color of my top.
Flattening my hands against my thighs, I let out a tiny breath, and checked the time on my phone. I kept my bedroom door cracked and walked into the living room to wait for Caleb’s arrival.
When the clock ticked seven, I was biting down on my thumbnail until it cracked and stared at the door willing for something to happen. Mashed Potato sat next to me, mimicking my stare down with the old block of oak.
My hand twitched when my phone buzzed.
Nate: Hey. What’s up?
Why was Nathan texting me now after weeks of silence?
Anger bubbled inside my veins as I waited for my date. My date who liked my crazy nerdy ass, who wanted to spend time with me, who touched without crossing a line or leading me on.
Jumping at the sudden sound of knuckles against wood, I forced myself to take a deep breath. I didn’t deserve to hold onto someone who only wanted me on his terms—to be angry over actions I couldn’t change.
I deleted the text, then his number from my contacts.
Mashed Potato nudged me with her head as the knocking started up again.
“I’m going, I’m going,” I grumbled, pushing myself up. One last time, I ran my hands through my hair and pressed out the wrinkles of my shirt before turning the lock and opening the worn door.
My mouth hit the floor at the sight in front of me. Caleb’s usual blue jeans and tee were gone, replaced with dark pants and a tight light blue button-up shirt that hugged his biceps deliciously and were rolled up to his elbows. My eyes followed the length of him from top to bottom, which were covered in a new pair of black boots.
“You look…” I shook my head.
“I could say the same.” I didn’t recognize the huskiness in his voice, which made me look up at his face. His bottom lip was drawn into his mouth, his front teeth sinking into the plump skin there.
The way his eyes lowered in a slow perusal had me squirming under his obvious scrutiny. When those blue globes found their way back, I was frozen in place. I didn’t know how one look could feel like I’d been touched by a thousand flames all at once.
Clearing my throat, I grabbed my black purse from the entryway table and slung it on my shoulder. “So where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he answered, offering me his arm. I stared at it skeptically. “Throw a guy a bone, Paisley. I don’t bite.”
Sighing, I linked our arms together. “I take it you charmed your way in here. Again.”
He just grinned.
“Mrs. Meyers is going to try claiming you for herself,” I teased, bumping our shoulders.
He glanced at me playfully. “I guess you’ll have to let her know that I’m already yours.”
“Confident, are we?”
“Don’t have a reason not to be.”
I thought about the text from Nathan but pushed it to the back of my mind. Caleb deserved my undivided attention.
“What if this date goes horribly wrong?”
“Why would it?”
“Maybe I’ll hate where you take me.”
“Doubtful.”
I sighed.
He held the front door open for me, letting me go first. His hand rested on the small of my back, causing me to shiver.
“I don’t like surprises,” I admitted.
He guided me down the street. “Iris mentioned that. But don’t worry, you’ll like this one. Because you’re with me.”
Now I rolled my eyes. “Just because you gave me chocolate doesn’t mean you can be one of those guys and not expect me to say something.”
“And what kinda guy is that, Paisley?”
“Arrogant.”
He thought about it, twisting his lips left and right before stopping in front of a black sedan. “Confidence sounds more appealing.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
He gestured toward the vehicle. “Get in. We’ve got a little bit of a drive ahead of us.”
I batted my eyelashes and gave him my best Southern accent. “Mama told me never to get into cars with strangers.”
He chuckled. “Good thing we’re not strangers.”
“I don’t know,” I argued, popping my hip against his car. “We don’t know very much about each other. For all I know, you could be leading me to my death.”
He crowded my space. “You went to a guy’s house for a bonfire knowing only one person there,” he reminded me. “They could have thrown you into the flames for all you knew. No worries though, you’re safe with me. I mean, I can’t promise I won’t try having my way with you, but…”
I smacked his arm as hard as I could. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
He laughed. “I’m joking. Are you going to get in? The food is getting cold.”
Food?
I glanced in the car to see a wicker basket like the one delivered to my apartment this morning. Whatever was inside was wrapped in aluminum foil and smelled amazing.
“Well?” he asked.
I gave him one last look. “Only because I love food,” I relented, climbing in.
He chuckled. “If you’re ever kidnapped, I’ll know it was because somebody lured you into a white van with a ‘free food’ sign on the outside.”
I went to defend myself, but he was totally right.
When he got in, he nudged the basket toward me. I eyed him for a moment before grabbing one of the packages, slowly unwrapping it.
I smiled. “What is this?”
“It’s a chicken bacon ranch sandwich,” he explained, taking one for himself. “I wanted to make sure we had actual food. Where we’re going doesn’t exactly have anything like this.”
“Are you taking me to a remote island?” I doubted.
He laughed. “I said they don’t have hearty meals, not that they have nothing.”
I just rolled my eyes, taking a huge bite. The ranch alone had me moaning as the flavors hit my tongue.
He groaned in pain. “You can’t make noises like that. It drives me to insanity.”
I blushed, setting my food down. “I don’t want to drive you insane.”
He huffed. “I hope not.”
I wasn’t sure why his tone shifted, so I just remained quiet. The less awkward that escaped my mouth, the better.
The silence ate at me as I picked apart the chicken. The radio was off, and the only sound was the passing cars on the highway.
“Where’d you get the sandwiches?”
“I made them.”
I gaped. “You can cook?”
“I’ve picked a few things up,” he answered, glancing at me. “Is it okay? You’re not eating. I wasn’t sure what you liked but thought maybe it was a safe bet.”
I brushed a piece hair behind my ear. “It’s delicious. The nerves are just making me feel all jumbled inside.”
He reached out and squeezed my knee. “I don’t want you to be nervous, Pais. This is supposed to be fun.”
“I’ve never done this,” I reminded him, staring solely at my food. “I don’t know what to expect, or do, or say. And I feel stupid—”
I gasped when he suddenly jerked the car to the side of the road, slamming to a stop as traffic sped by us.
“What are you—”
“Never feel that way,” he cut me off suddenly, his stern tone making me flinch.
Shifting uncomfortably, I replied, “I’m twenty-three, Cal. Most women my age have plenty of experience. Then there’s me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you. Do you believe that?”
“I do, but—”
“Good,” he cut me off.
“Caleb!”
“What?”
I huffed out a heavy breath. “Just because I know there’s nothing wrong with me, doesn’t mean I don’t have doubts. Like you, for instance.”
His brows drew up.
Despite my body heating over what I was about to say, I didn’t want to go back. “Why would you want to be with somebody who has nothing to show you? Nothing to offer? There are other women you can have who would be willing to give you anything you wanted. It doesn’t make sense why you’d think being with me would be better.”
His hand tightened on the gearshift. “I thought we already went over this? I like you, Paisley.”
“But—”
His eyes sharpened, stopping me from talking. “You’re not afraid to dance in public, or listen to music older than you, or admit that chocolate is your lifeline. You’re beautiful, funny, and so awkward that it’s fucking cute. Sexy, even. I’m addicted to your energy, Paisley. I’m addicted to you.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him.
He leaned back in his seat. “I don’t want you thinking that I’m doing any of this out of pity. I may not know a lot about you, but tonight is supposed to remedy that. I want to get to know you.”
I glanced down at my lap, unsure of what to say. We sat like that in silence, only this time it was comfortable because I knew he was here because he wanted to be.
“Ready?” he asked.
I let out a tiny breath and looked up timidly. “Ready.”