Her eyes widen before she says, “Oh, it’s nothing really. Just a silly list Ryan and I put together for things to do before the fall.”
The light changes and I focus back on the road. “Sounds fun. Can I ask what else is on there?”
“Mmm, I don’t know, that kind of sounds like something that’d be classified until the second or third date at least.”
“Here’s to hoping I don’t make a fool of myself tonight, then.”
“I don’t think it’s you we have to worry about in this scenario. You’re far more experienced than me—I’m the one who’s never been on a date before, remember?”
Taking one hand off the wheel, I scratch the slight stubble on my cheek before admitting, “This is actually my first official date too.”
Taevin chortles at that. “Good one.”
“I’m being honest. I’ve hung out with girls in group settings that I’m guessing they classified as a date, but I’ve never done anything like this.”
“And what’s different about this?” she questions.
“Well, for starters, I’ve never picked a girl up and drove her to a date I planned out from start to finish. And I’ve never spent time alone with a girl like this trying to get to know her. Ultimately, you’re the difference.”
When I’m met with silence, I sneak a glance and see Taevin’s eyebrows are raised skeptically. “I mean, I did my homework on you a little bit, Jackson. You’ve got quite the reputation as a ladies’ man. It’s actually why I made it what I thought was nearly impossible to take me out.”
With my focus back on the road, I admit, “Look, I’m no saint. But I can say with complete honesty that a girl’s never knocked me on my ass the way you have. I was captivated by you the moment I laid eyes on you in church. My reputation precedes me, but if you give me a chance, I can prove it wrong.”
She doesn’t respond, and instead smiles at the neon sign lighting up the building we’ve just pulled up to. I put my truck in park and look over at her. “If you tell me I don’t have a chance in changing your opinion of me, I can take you home right now. But if you’re up for a night of fun together, I think you’ll get to know the real me.”
I’m surprised when Taevin unbuckles and turns to face me. “I’ve got faith in you, and I agree, I think we can have some funtonight.” When she reaches for her door handle, I reach across and she halts her movements when I place my hand on hers.
“Let me start the date off right by opening your door.”
“Okay. I’d like that very much,” she says, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Keep me on my toes was right. For our first date, I brought Taevin to the arcade that’s seen thousands of nickels between my siblings and me over the years.
We were both hungry when we got here, so we ordered a pizza and ate first. Then, for the first hour or so, we played arcade games and raced go-karts.
Now, though, I’m being bamboozled by Tae as she walks around the pool table to chalk the end of her cue stick again. She’s beaten me twice in a row—about to be a third time—and all I can do is sit here completely dumbfounded. How is it that when we first walked up to the pool table, she grabbed the cue stick and acted like she didn’t know what to do with it? She had me bent over, showing her how to line it up and where to place her hand to get the best shot, and yet she’s an absolute pool shark.
And what’s worse? She’s calling her shots before making every last one of them. I’m not just getting beaten by the girl, I’m getting obliterated. So much so, that a small crowd has gathered around to watch her run the table.
“Thirteen ball in the far corner pocket,” Tae calls before pulling back and making hard contact with the cue ball, sending her last striped ball into, you guessed it, the far corner pocket. It doesn’t take much for her to sink the eight ball and then it’s game over for the third time in a row.
“Damn. You really had me with the wholeI’ve never played beforeact you had going. Where’d you learn to play like that?”
“We may or may not have a pool table in our basement. My parents used to play together a lot when I was growing up, and my mom was a bit of a pool shark when she and my dad met. Her father owned a bar, and I guess I picked it up from her.”
“And the whole playing me for a fool?”
“My pathetic attempt at flirting?” she answers back in question.
I can’t help grinning like an idiot. “I think you just wanted to have an excuse to check me out.”
“Maybe . . . Could’ve gone better had I not kicked your butt.”
“Touché. You’ve got me there.”
Once we’ve racked up our sticks, I suggest we go next door where there’s a candy store for dessert. Taevin chooses two white chocolate-covered Oreos, and I select half a pound of cookies and cream fudge. And because that won’t quite induce a sufficient sugar coma, I convince her to try their ridiculously good old fashioned cream soda.
After I pay, we sit at one of the booths at the front of the store. Snow begins falling outside the window in thick, cottony flurries, and Taevin lets out a dreamy, contented sigh.
