“I don’t know, but I guess that should be something I ask them when we meet.” She pulls her phone from her back pocket and immediately begins typing out a note.
I let her continue tapping out ideas as we drive the rest of the way home in silence. She’s clearly on a roll, and I’m not about to interrupt.
When we pull into the driveway, I once again rush to open the door for her. She steps out, and I grab her, swinging her up over my shoulder as she squeals with glee. “Rhett! What are you doing? Put me down!”
“I’m taking you hostage. It’s been too long since I’ve had you all to myself. I need to be a little selfish tonight if you’ll let me. Please spend the evening with me. I’ll bake you whatever you want.”
“Even lava cakes?”
“Even lava cakes.”
“Okay, then I’ll hang out with you, but only for the cake.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
* * *
Two and a half hours later, Olivia drills her spoon into the spongey, chocolatey goodness and moans. “This wassoworth the wait! I forgot how good these are.”
I chuckle as I spoon my own bite. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Uh oh.” She worries her lower lip.
“It’s nothing bad.”
“I can’t think of a time that someone started a sentence with ‘I’ve been thinking’ and ended it in a good way.”
“Give me a chance to be the first.”
“Go ahead.” She points her spoon at me before scooping into the cake again and pulling up a melty morsel. I get a little distracted as I watch her delicately take a bite and swipe her tongue across her upper lip. I remember the first time we had these cakes together and how badly I wanted to touch her, how unsettled that made me feel. Now, I get to touch her and taste her and call her mine… I think. That’s what I’m trying to do at least.
“I’ve been thinking that I’d like to call you my girlfriend and take you out on a real date, not just kiss you and hang out with you. I want the real thing.”
She tries to hide her smile, but it shines through instantly, her excitement and giddiness making me feel the same. “I guess you just proved me wrong. There is a good way to end that sentence.”
“Is that a ‘yes?’”
“Of course! I want that too.” She leans in to nuzzle me before giving me a gentle kiss. “So, what kind of moves can I expect Rhett Lawson to break out on a first date?
“I can’t tell you! Then they won’t work.”
“I didn’t realize you needed the element of surprise on your side to successfully get the girl.”
“I don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.”
She purses her lips. “Fair. Can you at least tell me what we are going to do?”
“I want that to be a surprise too.”
“You’re killing me!” she groans, her mouth full.
“I’d hardly say I’m killing you. Ididjust bake you cake.”
“And I’m very grateful, but you got me all excited now. I want to know what we are going to do. When are we going to do it?”
“I have to work the next two days, and you’re busy this weekend with your movie night, right? So maybe we could do something Monday evening. You don’t have to work at the café on Tuesday, do you?”
She glances at her phone. “I don’t, but I was going to pop over to Resilient Paws in the afternoon to help Carol put together some new crates that are supposed to come in that day.”
