"True." He nodded. "School wouldn’t start until September."
"And the internship sounds like a good opportunity for you. Between that and your education, I’d say you’ll be fine no matter what you decide."
"You're pretty smart, Jocelyn Andrews." He pushed a strand of hair from my face.
I looked down, afraid he'd see me blushing.
He tilted my chin up and leaned in slightly. My breath caught in my throat and I felt a nervous knot in my stomach.
"I better get you back home."
"Okay," I said, a little disappointed.
"If I want the chief to let me take you out again tomorrow night, I can't blow his curfew."
"You want to go out with me again?" I asked, stunned.
"Ifyouwant to go out withme," he said, and I swore he looked nervous. "I had a really nice time getting to know you, and I think we have more to talk about."
"I'd like that." I couldn't believe he'd want to spend another evening with me.
"I told my friends Zack and James I'd hang out with them tomorrow night, but if you're around in the afternoon, maybe we could go for a drive? Spend more time getting to know one another?"
"I'm not really that interesting."
"I'm gonna have to disagree, sweetheart." He smiled as he pulled me up from the bench and led me toward the car.
As we walked, we talked some more. It was as if neither one of us could ask enough questions about the other.
When we were still a few feet away from the car, someone yelled from the street.
"Alex!" A pretty brunette came running into the parking lot. "When did you get back?"
"Hey, Carly," he said. "I got into town yesterday."
"Are you planning on staying long?" she asked as she looked down at our joined hands.
"A few months," he said. "Then I have to go back to school."
"Well, a few months is enough time for us to get together." She smiled. "You know, like we used to." She looked me over. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Jocelyn Andrews," Alex said. "Jocelyn, this is an old friend of mine, Carly." It was obvious Alex couldn't remember her last name and equally obvious that fact annoyed her.
"You still have my cell number?" she asked.
"I'm sure I do," he said. "But, I'm probably gonna be busy, and I don't think we'll have a chance to hook up."
"I think you should make time." She smiled confidently. "You know I'm worth it."
She made a point of looking at me.
"It was nice seeing you again, Carly," Alex politely said. "Maybe I'll see you around."
"I sure hope so." She leaned in and quickly kissed his cheek. "Call me."
The nerve of her! Alex was clearly on a date with me, and he all but told her he wouldn't have time to see her, but she wasn’t getting it. Not that I could blame her. He was definitely worth throwing yourself at.
"Sorry about that." Alex laid a hand at my waist and guided me the rest of the way to the car. "She never could take no for an answer."
