Was this a date? Our first?
Sure, most people didn’t try to solve a catnapping, move in together, and meet the parentsbeforedate number one, but I kind of loved how unconventional it all was. Talk about a chaotic meet-cute.
The restaurant was packed. Giant red lamps hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow around the space.
“I’m kind of surprised you like sushi,” I admitted, once we were seated.
“I’ve never tried it before.” He took a sip of his water. Did he look nervous? The idea made me slightly pleased with myself.
“Really?”
“Nope. You’ll have to order for me.”
I held a hand to my heart. “You trust me?”
That got him to smile wide. “I don’t know if there’s anyone I trust more than you.”
Ugh, my freaking heart.
When the waitress came, I ordered us a few of my favorite rolls.
He mentioned he’d been online with his group before coming over. One of them had looked into the security camera company and found that they had great reviews. Tons of people had posted stories about how they’d been able to recover footage from the cloud they’d thought was lost forever.
It sent my hopes skyrocketing through the roof.
When the rolls arrived, I reached for the soy sauce, splashing some onto the table while pouring into the tiny bowl. Reid carefully pulled out his chopsticks before placing his napkin neatly on his lap. I took my first bite while examining Reid. He picked up a piece of the maki roll, studying it with narrowed eyes.
“This is the part where you put it in your mouth,” I said.
He followed my instruction and his eyes widened. “That’s actually pretty good.”
“Obviously. I picked it.”
A sense of satisfaction burrowed its way into my chest as Reid tried each new roll, ranking his favorites. This wasn’t his cup of tea, and neither was a thrift store, but he was pushing himself. For me. Or because he wanted to? I wasn’t quite sure. Either way, it was disarmingly sweet. I could get used to date nights like these.
Reid might be set in his ways, but he was also warm and soft and loveable.
Loveable?
Shit. Had I really just thought that? I was getting ahead of myself. But hewasloveable. So sweet, and thoughtful in ways that snuck up on me. It made me ache a little to know that he’d been with someone who couldn’t see everything he had to offer. Because he was more than enough.
I hoped I could bring out a good side of him. I hoped he wanted me to.
One way or another, pretty soon, I’d have my answer. Thiswould be over, and I’d be out of Reid’s house. Then we’d have to define whatever we were.
I hoped more than anything he wanted me to be his girlfriend. Ireallywanted to call him my boyfriend.
When the check came, Reid paid without even giving me a chance to reach for it. I hoped it was because he considered this a date as well, and not because my financial situation stressed him out. He barely let me pay for anything when he was around, even forcing me to eat his groceries instead of getting my own.
After dinner, Reid drove me to my car, and we rode back separately to his house. I was grateful for a few moments alone to hype myself up. I put on some playlist called “Main character energy” and took some deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
We’d just been on a date.
We were about to be alone together.
In his house.
After he’d made me orgasm…
