Date or not, I felt a pull that needed to see him again because he was…Graham.
eight
Elinora
I stared at the four neatly folded gator onesies and three pairs of sweatpants in my suitcase. The only clothing stores in this small town had closed at five, the same time I got off work. Hard lesson learned: Always pack a little black dress. You never know who you’ll run into. I pulled out my sweatpants, and hoped it worked for whatever Graham had planned. Then I called Bre. “Tell me not to go,” I blurted out as soon as she answered.
“Don’t go!” She added a dramatic accent.
I paced between my hotel bed and the tiny window. “Not like that.”
“What exactly are you not likethating?”
“I have a date. With Graham.” The mere mention of Graham’s name sent a flutter of nerves in my stomach.
“Didn’t you already do that last night?”
“That wasn’t a date, but I think this is.”
“And you don’t want to go?”
“Oh, no,” I rushed. “I want to go, but I’m freaking out.”
“It’s just a first date. Those are usually boring anyway. You could probably skip it.”
“I can’t skip it.”
“Okay, then don’t tell me to tell you not to go. I’m confused here. What am I supposed to be telling you?”
My phone vibrated with a text, sending a shockwave of adrenaline right through my arm.
Graham: I’m downstairs in the lobby.
I could die. That would be easier than this.
I returned my phone to my ear, struggling to hold it steady while I blurted out, “He’s here. Gotta go.”
I ended the call and bolted out of my room to the elevator. My inner monologue was rambling like a ninety’s gameshow host.Tonight, I embark on one of life’s most curious adventures. Am I going on a date or not?I swallowed as a chill trickled down my spine.
When the elevator opened on the bottom floor, Graham stood in front of it, wearing relaxed jeans and a nice button-up shirt. My heart constricted, seeing him waiting on me with his hands neatly clasped behind his back. His lips curled up into a flirty grin, making my toes curl. “Hey,you.”
I flicked my hand up to wave, and the quibbles in my gut rumbled. “Hey…how are you?”
“I’m good. Andyou?”
“Good.” I clamped down on my bottom lip, fighting the urge to nervously ramble. “What’s the plan for tonight?”
“Good question. There isn’t much going on, but the town has this outdoor movie in the football arena every week. Tonight, they are playingTitanicin celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its release. I thought we could check it out. Does that sound okay?”
I sucked back a whole lung full of relief. I was so glad it was nowhere fancy with my sweatpants, but fancy or not, I was goingto suffer dearly for this. The last time I’d allowed myself to crush on him, it had taken…well, how long had it taken me to get over him? I slammed my gaze to the heavens.Never.I still lay awake some nights thinking about his smile. Going out on an actual date was only adding gasoline to this fire—the premium stuff I can’t afford.I shouldn’t do it.Now was the time to run before my heart realizes what was happening. “Um, it sounds wonderful…but—”
“Nah.” His lips slid into a teasing grin. “No buts. Just relax.” His gaze paced my outfit, “It looks like you are taking relaxed to the next level.”
“Right.” I spurted out nervous chuckles, as my chin tightened into tiny quivers. Relaxing was not as easy as it sounded, especially when I stood next to him.
He signaled to the door. “I have my car, but the movie’s just around the block. We might as well walk. I don’t think we’d get closer parking, anyway.”
“That’s fine.” We moved in unison out the sliding glass doors, falling into an easy stride on the sidewalk as I set my focus on the sunset, teasing amber and rose tones.
