“I was just, uh…” He hooks his thumb behind him to the shore. “It’s one of the last sunny days of the autumn, so I was hoping to get some good shots.”
“For a new exhibit?”
“No. Just for my personal collection. Finding decent shots of nature is kind of my jam.”
“Wow, you are amazing.”
“Oh, stop.” He glances at my hands behind my back. “What’s that?”
“It’s why I wanted to see you in person today. I don’t have a lot of time for my lunch break, and definitely not on weekdays. And only some weekends, but…” I whip out the bouquet of roses. “Would you like to go out with me on Saturday?”
He gasps, and his eyes go wide behind his glasses. “Are these for me?”
I nod. “Do you like them?”
He beams as he takes the bouquet, his camera dangling on his neck. “They’re gorgeous. No one’s ever done this for me before.”
My eyebrows furrow. “I find that hard to believe. No previous guys?”
“They didn’t exactly do romantic gestures.” He shrugs as he stares at the petals.
“That’s absurd. You are deserving of every lovely gesture.”
“Well, no one’s considered me worthy until now,” he replies.
I scoff, then grin. “You are beyond worthy.”
A blush grows on his cheeks, and we both take a moment to listen to the crashing waves. “So. Date. Saturday? I’m thinking a nice restaurant, then hitting up the first Christmas markets of the season?”
He bites his lip and nods. “A date sounds amazing, Reed.”
“Awesome. I gotta run back to the hospital, but uh, I can pick you up at your place? Say, where do you live?”
His smile momentarily falls before he grins again. “It’ll be easier if you pick me up here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“But, what, you’re going to park at work on your night off?”
He nods. “Mhm.” He touches my shoulder, then looks away. “This looks amazing, but I gotta go back to work. And so do you.”
There’s something he’s not telling me, but I decide not to push it. “Okay.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he leans up and kisses me on the cheek. The warmth on my face is worth every penny I spent on the flowers. Something tells me everything about Skyler is worth more than all the presents money can buy.
Dinner that Saturday is a lovely time, if I do say so myself. I drive Skyler to a fancy Italian place near the downtown public parks. Our meal is delicious, but not as divine as Skyler in his tight, dark blue button-down and black slacks. I swear, the kraken in me wants to burst out and rip off his clothes with each of my tentacles. But I refrain, and the conversation stays lively throughout the meal.
Skyler is so fun to be around. And handsome. And when we walk outside, he takes my hand, and the cold November air doesn’t feel so frigid anymore.
We walk among the stalls in the Christmas market as the sun sets. I take in the colorful lights, cheerful music, and the amazing guy with his hand in mine. Everything feels so right. He tells me all about his childhood growing up in rural Arizona, and I find I keep wanting to know more and more about him. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling once all night.
It was wrong of me to hold back my feelings for him; we could have been dating for months by now if I weren’t so foolish.
We decide to share a cup of hot wine and manage to get one picnic table in the corner all to ourselves. While he sips and gazes at some Christmas carolers, my pulse rises, and I’m sure my pheromones are spiking.He looks so good. Maybe it’s the liquor granting me courage, but I find I want to let Skyler in on my biggest insecurity. It’s the only thing holding me back from asking him to be official with me.
“So, um…” I clear my throat and take his hand. He gives me a quizzical expression, and I chuckle for no reason. “There’s something I think I need to say.”
