“Oh yeah?”
“My family usually plays softball or kickball when we all get together.”
“Aiden, are you inviting me to meet your family?” I can’t pick up if she’s terrified, or likes the idea.
“When you’re ready.”
“What about let’s take this slow?” She arches an eyebrow at me. But it’s playful, like she doesn’t like the idea of moving slow as much as I don’t. I just don’t want to fuck it up, there’s too much at stake.
“I think I’ve underestimated my self-control.”
“Thank God,” she says smiling behind her wine glass.
“Oh, were you hoping for something tonight besides dinner and good conversation?”
“Whatever you’re willing to give, or whatever I can give,” she says innocently as our waiter drops off three appetizers.
I’m saved from having to reply as we eat the bruschetta, prosciutto, and the mushroom dish I didn’t know how to pronounce to the server.
Once we’re finished with the first course, she smirks at me, knowing that she’s affecting me as much as I do her.
“Whatever you can give? Huh?”
“This definitely isn’t one sided, Aiden. I plan on giving, often. I just want you to control how you receive it.”
I have to clear my throat and sip more of my whiskey as I just enjoy looking at her. She wore a simple olive green sundress today and it looks perfect against her complexion and dark hair. Though I can’t help thinking about taking off.
Last week was easy, it was all about her, but somehow I find myself nervous over the idea of the night being about me. I haven’t played that particular game before, but I’m eager and more than willing.
I’m having lingering feelings about how far we can take this and how soon. I have this idea in my head that certain things can only happen at Avalon and doing them at home crosses some sort of line that we shouldn’t be crossing.
But we’re definitely not at the point where I can invite her as my plus one… are we?
“You’re making me regret not just taking you right to my house.”
“Honestly, I was starving, but I wouldn’t have minded either.”
“You didn’t eat lunch?” I ask her, and she sighs as she looks at me.
“I was going to but that’s when—” She stops herself. “It wasn’t intentional, I’ll make sure to do better.”
“Good girl.” I smirk at her and the waiter drops off our food at the same time. Jessa’s cheeks are pink. I’m sure in slight embarrassment that he probably heard the tail end of our conversation.
We both eat and the air feels electric, both of us buzzing with excitement and want. If Jessa is anything like me, she wants to do everything but also doesn’t know where to start. I know I told her we should take it slow, but fuck if I don’t want to just go from zero to one-hundred with her. No matter how terrifying it is, she makes me feel a way that I never knew existed, but now every time she makes me feel like her protector, or that I’m someone special to her, I want another hit of that feeling.
The rest of the conversation sticks to being completely PG. She tells me about where she grew up and college and I do the same.
“Would you care for dessert?” the waiter says and Jessa is already shaking her head.
“I think we’re good, just the check please,” I say and Jessa downs the rest of her wine. I do the same as we pay and leave.
It’s slightly colder than it was earlier, and I hold her close as we walk back to my place. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous as I unlock the front door and we go to the living room and sit next to each other on the couch.
I put on something on the TV that I can’t even pay attention to when Jessa breaks the silence.
“Aiden?”
“Hmm?”
