I’m about to get in the shower on Thursday night, and my phone rings. I start to ignore it, since the water is already running in the shower, but then curiosity gets the better of me and I rush over to my phone.
It’s a number I don’t know, and suddenly I’m so hopeful I might burst.
“Hello?”
“Mae? It’s Jaxon.”
Relief washes over me. He called. He called. He called.
This is even better than texting.
“Hey, what’s up?” I say all casually.
“Just got back from work and I’m exhausted. But that’s not why I called.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, unable to hide my smile.
“Do you want to see a movie with me tomorrow night?”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
“That would be fun,” I say, still trying to be calm and collected.
“Cool. Um, text me your address? I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”
“Sounds good,” I say.
“Oh, and don’t eat dinner because we’re going to the Alamo Draft house.”
“Really?” My voice is a little too enthusiastic but I can’t help it, I’m excited. I’ve never been to that theater, but I’ve heard about it. They serve food right there while you watch a movie. It sounds awesome.
“Yep. Are you cool with that?”
“I’m totally cool with that.”
I can hear the smile in his voice as he says, “Awesome.”
#
The next day at school is pretty normal. I still don’t run into Jaxon, but we have a date tonight, so I try not to care too much about not seeing him. Jacie agrees that today is our official Day One since it’s our first date. She doesn’t think the Taco Bell lunch was the first day since he didn’t have my number and didn’t talk to me at all between then and now. I grudgingly have to agree with her, but that’s fine. Thirty days will totally fly by.
Jaxon arrives at my house at exactly six-thirty. He even gets out and walks up to my door, which makes me feel a little guilty because he’s a total gentleman. The kind of guy who doesn’t seem to exist among high school boys anymore.
My parents went out to dinner so luckily, I avoid the awkwardness of introducing him to them. We walk down to his car and he opens the door for me.
“Okay, you are totally not like most guys,” I say as I sit down.
He winks at me as he closes the door. I survey the inside of his car as he walks over to the driver’s side. It’s pretty clean. There’s a dog leash in the back seat and an air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror.
“You look really cute,” he says as he starts the car. “I know guys always say that on first dates, but I really mean it.”
I blush from head to toe, and change the subject in an effort to stop the blood from gushing to my cheeks. “Do you have a dog?”
