"I'm not calling you Daddy."
"We'll see about that." His smile falls when he realizes I'm not reacting. "I'm kidding. Okay, I'm sorry. That was not good. I'm serious, Orion. Just a date. No expectations. Just because I like the whole dynamic doesn't mean it's necessary with the right person."
"I don't know what you mean by that, but fine. Dinner, tomorrow."
“Don’t sound so excited,” Garrett says with a small chuckle.
“It’s not that,” I say. I look from the windshield to Garrett, turning in my seat once more. “I just— I’m not one that goes out a lot.”
I know Garrett can feel the shift between us with my confession. “It’s just dinner, I promise. We don’t have to tell anyone about it.”
"By anyone, you mean Austin." I sit back in the seat and fold my hands over my lap. "I think we're cool. Have you known him for long?"
"Couple months," Garrett says. "He's dating my best friend, Remington, who I've known for years. We met at the club."
"And he's a Daddy?"
"He is," Garrett says. "I know it's a lot, but I want you to hear me when I tell you that I'd like to take you out for a proper Saturday night date, Orion. No hidden agendas."
"I don't own any nice clothes," I say quietly. "So please don't make it anywhere fancy."
Garrett reaches a hand over and rests it against my knee. I look at him. "You can wear whatever you want or have. Or, I can cook at home and you can come over?"
I think about it. Cooking at home would be less expensive. And a Saturday night in the city would mean wait lists for tables. Unless Garrett has an in with an owner or something. I really don't know anything about him.
"Cooking dinner together would be nice."
"Sounds good," Garrett says. "Any preference on what to make?"
"I'm not particular," I say. "I'll help cook, though."
"Are you okay with me picking you up?"
"I'd appreciate it," I say. "I can give you money for gas. I know it's out of the way."
"It isn't," he says quickly. "I'll run to the grocery store before coming to get you."
"Okay. Thank you, for tonight." I look back at the door and then glance back to Garrett. "Am I allowed to get out now?"
"Right, I trapped you in here." The locks click, alerting a sleeping Riley. Before I can get out, he pokes his head between the seats. I reach up and give him a scratch behind the ear.
"I'll see you tomorrow, bud."
I give Garrett one final half smile before getting out and making a dash through the rain. The apartment is cold when I shut the door behind me. As much as I wanted to say no to Garrett, just the thought of knowing I'll get to spend some time in his home is tempting. His spacious home with more rooms than he needs, a private backyard, huge kitchen with all the gadgets. The softest bed I've slept in, ever.
I move to the bedroom and kick off my shoes by the bed as I flip on the light. There's one window in this room and I keep the blind closed. I don't have a curtain yet. It's next on the list to purchase, but they’re unnaturally expensive. The overhead light doesn't give off much and it makes the room look just as dingy as it feels. The walls are white and bare, the carpet is discolored. The only thing worth anything is the bedsheets, blanket, and pillow. I strip out of my clothes and lay down, immediately rolling over onto my side. My frame barely fits in this bed, but I've become used to it over the last couple of weeks.
My eyes struggle to stay open after only a minute. Eating all that food filled my belly more than it's been in months. I lick my lips, believing I can still taste the tangy barbecue sauce. I hear my phone ding with an incoming text, but I'm too tired to get up and check it. It's most likely just a text reminder for a payment that I'm still catching up on.
When I wake up again, it's dark through the blinds. I can feel the cold brushing against the exposed parts of my skin. I shift the blanket further up my body and tuck my feet into the other end. I have no clue what time it is, but I know I didn't mean to sleep this long. I sit up and stretch out my back, sighing when I feel something pop.
I find my phone in the pocket of my pants I discarded and look at the time. Two in the morning. I also have a text from Garrett. It's a simple text, thanking me for agreeing to have dinner with him. Then, an hour later, there's a picture text of Riley snoozing in the bed that I slept in that night. I can barely make out the photo on my phone. I upgraded to the cheapest type of smart phone I could find at the store. The caption makes me smile.
Garrett
He misses the cuddles.
I smile at the double text. Garrett is relentless. I know that I put up the weakest fight before giving in to him. I have no idea why I'm letting him so easily convince me of these things. Actually, that's not true— he's hot as sin, but he's also nice and the first guy that I've enjoyed spending time with. Not that there is a line of guys waiting on me. I keep to myself, watch over my siblings, and work. On two occasions, I've gone home with a guy. But those never lasted more than a night, a mutual decision. Having Garrett quite literally locking me in his car until I agreed to go out with him again is new territory. It's exciting, but doesn't mean I won't make him work for it.
