“Our meeting takes place outside,” he said.
I laughed, but when he didn’t so much as smile, the noise faded out. “Seriously? You… this is an actual meeting?”
“If that’s code for date, then yes.”
My stomach jumped with excitement. “You’re taking me on a date?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I didn’t think dates were your vibe.”
“Remember when I said you needed to stop assuming things about me?”
I closed one eye, embarrassed. “Sorry, sorry.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “It’s okay. We’re both learning.”
27
The parking lotof Horrorville was littered with old cars and costumed attendees. There was a proper crispness in the air that burned my lungs but offered infinite amounts of comfort. We followed the heavy flow of foot traffic to the pumpkin-framed entrance. I could already hear the music and pre-taped screams from this side of the fence.
“So?” David watched me as I bit back my smile. “Good pick?”
I was a horror girl through and through, who’d grown up in a household that couldn’t even stand sitcom Halloween specials. Horrorville was an annual pop-up event that boosted the best haunted houses on this side of the country. The tickets reflected that accomplishment tenfold, which was why I had to pass on going this year, since my funds were limited.
“Eh.” I shrugged and tucked my hand underneath David's arm.
“Come on.” He pressed a kiss on my temple. “You got to give credit where credit’s due.”
I looked up at him, stomach fluttering withevery kind of thrill known to man. “I’ve been wanting to go here since the temperature dropped.”
David nodded with a grin. “I knew it.”
“But…” I sobered. “The tickets are almost a hundred dollars more than they were last year. I don’t think?—”
He shook his head. “It’s fine. I’ve got you covered.”
“No, I mean… you don’t have to have me covered. I know between football and school, money’s got to be?—”
“Yara,” he interrupted, tone clipped. “I can afford to take you on a date.”
My grip on his arm loosened. “I didn’t say you couldn’t.”
“No, you insinuated.”
“I… I didn’t mean to,” I said in a whisper. No part of me wanted to poke an unhealed wound right after we had mended our fences. “I’m sorry.”
David took a deep breath and shook his head. “No, I am. I… it’s been weird, thinking about where this is going. Where we’re going.”
“Where we’re going?” I repeated.
“You’re going to make me spell it out, aren’t you?” His smile reappeared.
“I dare you.”
“What a waste of a dare.” David tsked. “You’ve gone soft on me, Daredevil.”
“And what do you call what you’re doing?” I raised a brow. “Picking me up, taking me out, buying me dinner.”
