“You’re telling me that being on the kiss cam is something you’ve actively thought about before tonight?”
He huffed out a laugh. “No. But it got put on my list in bold capital letters real fast.”
I looked over at him, suddenly feeling shy. “What’s on your real bucket list?”
“It’s all been checked off. I can officially die a happy man.”
“Your ambitions in life are inspiring,” I said.
He glanced in the rearview mirror before switching lanes. Was getting turned on by watching your date be a conscientious driver a sign of maturity? Asking for a friend.
“What’s on your list?” he asked. “Maybe I just need some ideas.”
“I wish I could tell you, but I save all my deepest thoughts for the second date.”
“Is that an invitation?”
The retort itching to leave my lips halted before it could escape. I shouldn’t have been flirting with him like this. I usually didn’t flirt withanyonelike this. I was moving to North Dakota in three days. It seemed dishonest to lead him on—unless, of course, he was just being friendly.
He pulled into the cookie shop parking lot, and in a super-suave way, I blurted out, “I’m moving in three days.”
His mouth had been open, as if to say something before my confession, but he closed it, glancing at me with furrowed brows. “Huh?”
“I just…thought I should tell you that I’m moving to another state in a few days. Just in case.”
“Just in case what?” He put the car in park.
My heart stopped until I saw his lips twitch.
“Just in case you fall madly in love with me during this cookie date,” I sputtered, trying to keep my wits about me.
“What if I’m already halfway there?” His alluring grin my way was over the top and, strangely enough, put me at ease.
I breathed out a soft laugh and unbuckled my seatbelt. “Ha ha.”
“Where are you moving? And why?” he asked as we walked toward the entrance. The Chocolate Melt had several flavors, but the poster outside boasting about the chocolate chip cookie that was voted the best in the city two years back already had my whole heart. I didn’t need to see any other flavor.
“My grandma lives by herself and needs some help for the next while. So, I’m moving to Fargo.”
“North Dakota?”
“Yeah.”
He made a noise of disbelief. “I’ve heard of the Dakota states, but I didn’t think anybody actually lived there.”
I laughed, brushing the hair off my shoulder. With my work in the cafe, I usually had it up in a bun or ponytail. After being down all night, the constant feel of it at my neck was starting to annoy me. “A few people do. The entire state of North Dakota is as flat as a pancake, but Fargo is actually a pretty cool city.”
Duke opened the door for me, the smell of butter and sugar and chocolate making my mouth water. I had seen this cookie store and many more like it all around the city, but I had never gone inside.
A few minutes later, we sat at a small table in the corner, both of us eating a warm chocolate chip cookie, and I determined I would have said yes to Jason’s date a thousand times over if it led me to this moment.
“So, I thought you were in school. What are you going to do about moving to Fargo?” Duke asked.
“I’m almost done with finals for this semester, then I’m switching to online classes. I’m retaking my last test tomorrow. My grandma offered to pay for my degree in exchange for helping her out.”
“And what are you going to school for?”
“Graphic design.”
