“This means you’re still sure, then?” His eyes meet mine, appearing vulnerable.
I press our mouths together again in a quick kiss to reassure him. “Definitely. Now, get your ass to my truck. We're going out.”
“We can?” he asks when he steps back, leaving a normal distance between us again in case someone walks out of that locker room.
Because yeah, this is risky. And he gets that. I’m embracing this side of me, but I don’t want everyone to know it just yet. I need time for that, which Jace understands, if the soft smile on his lips is any indication.
“Where we're going, we can,” I assure him, pushing off the wall and making my way outside. Jace follows me to my truck, sports bag over his shoulder. I make a quick call when Jace is putting his bag in the back as I hoist myself up in my seat.
“How'd you get here?” I ask when we're both buckled up and on our way. “I mean, I can drop you off here after...” I let the innuendo hang in the air and see him smirking at me out of the corner of my eye.
“No worries. We can go wherever when we’re done. I jogged here.”
I chuckle. “Of course you did. Do you even own a car?”
“Not since I moved here, no.”
“Why?”
“Well, first, everything I need is on campus, so I don’t need it. I can take a bus, Uber, or let you drive me around when I need anything else.”
“Of course you can,” I say, smiling.
“And second, I wouldn't know what to do with something like this monster car anyway. Cars in the Netherlands aren't usually this stupidly big.” He waves his hands around. “Not to speak about the fact that you guys all drive automatic ones. What is wrong with an old-fashioned gear stick?”
I shake my head with a laugh. “This stupid big car does have some benefits, you know...” I let my voice trail off as I reach for him across the bench.
“Oh? And what is that?”
I grab ahold of his upper leg and drag him toward me with a grunt of effort until he's nestled firmly against my side. When I quickly kiss him, he smiles into it.
“Yeah, I can see the benefit in this,” he agrees, squeezing my knee, staying firmly put until we arrive at the first destination, one of my favorite restaurants, which is halfway down the road to my parents' place.
When I park, he makes a move to get out of the car, but I shake my head before pecking him on the cheek. “Nope. I just have to get some stuff; I'll be right back.”
“Is that so?” he asks, head leaning sideways against the backrest. “We're not going to eat here?” He looks mighty comfortable, his Converse-clad feet propped up on the dash. His trusty boots are nowhere in sight, but of course, his Chucks are bright red, whereas mine are blue.
And for some stupid reason I really like that we have the same shoes on.
I also like it that he doesn’t look even remotely offended that this isn’t the–very public–place I’m taking him to.
“Nope, give me a sec?”
He nods at that and I leave him there, making my way quickly over to the diner that has been in my family for ages. Currently mostly managed by my mom and aunty Edna.
I love it here, frequented it a lot as a kid and still do. I love helping around in the summer when it’s busy to save up for the rest of the year. It has a big terrace that overlooks the ocean, and because it's close to the beach and has awesome food, me, Lamar, and my brothers used to hang out here a lot.
But not now; now I'm in a hurry. So when I barge my way in, passing the hostess with a wave and heading straight to the counter, my aunt tsks at me when I grab the basket she just put there.
“Well now, Ty. I have people eating here; can you at least pretend not to be such a galloping gorilla and greet me properly? I haven't seen you in ages.”
“Since when do gorillas gallop?” I ask when I push myself up over the counter to press a kiss against her cheek. “And stop complaining, I was here last night.”
“Yes, thank you again for unloading the new supplies. But you and your brothers were way too busy afterwards talking about sports to even have a chat with little old me.” She huffs as she puts a lock of her dark hair, much the same as my mother's, behind her ear. “But I have everything you asked for right here.” She taps the basket. “Care to elaborate who the lucky girl is?”
I grin at her, gladly grabbing the basket full of what I know is delicious food. “Maybe some other time? My date is waiting in the car.” I deliberately leave out the gender. “You and Uncle Bill coming to the Thanksgiving game this Thursday? I gave Mom and Dad some extra tickets.”
“No, we’re running a Thanksgiving meal here for the homeless and people in need, just like we did last year. And don't go diverting the topic, hun. Your mom just told me last week that you broke up with Kaylee. But does this mean that you’re back on the wagon?”
