“No, I get it.” Head still shaking, his lips quirked up at the corners. He still looked uncomfortable, but I felt like some of the tension had left him.
I wanted to say things, joke some more, but I was so nervous it glued my mouth shut.
Waiting for me to pass him, he gestured me forward, “After you.”
“But I don’t know where we’re going,” I reminded.
“Right.” His face flushed a pinkish green, same as mine did. As if his embarrassment summoned mine, my face flushed in a blush along with his.
He seemed so uncomfortable now… I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“I’m so glad you asked me out,” I murmured softly.
He stumbled a step but recovered. “Ah- You’re… erm, welcome.”
I blinked, staring at the back of his head. What an odd thing to say. Perhaps he was as nervous as I was. I imagined meeting your one could make him gun-shy as well. I’d just assumed it would only be an issue on my end. He was so… I had to stifle a happy noise as I discreetly inhaled, desperate for another hit of his scent.
A shiver racked my frame as I breathed in his essence. He was everything.
My breath caught as we entered his backyard. “Oh,” I breathed, “it’s so beautiful.” Walking up behind him, our fingers brushed as I stopped. Greniv jumped like I’d just goosed him and practically leapt away.
Oh my, he was very nervous. This made me feel a little better, yet worried me as well.
Rushing to a heavy garden bench made of cast iron, he pulled it out. “Won’t you have a seat?”
Delighted, I felt like I was floating on a cloud as I drew near. “Thank you.” No matter how hard I tried, I kept blushing and glancing away. He was too handsome to stare straight at and his manners were so lovely. I felt like a princess. My hands wrung in my lap and I swallowed thickly. “I was so nervous,” I admitted. “You know, about tonight.”
About to take his seat, he froze. “What about tonight?” His eyes were so wide in his thick black glasses he was starting to look owlish.
“About our date.” Leaning in, I whispered curiously, “What did you think I meant?”
“Oh! Yes! Yes, I meant that. I-” Pausing suddenly, he cocked his head and his nose wrinkled, “What’s that smell?”
“What smell?” I gave a sniff but mentally shrugged. Without thought, I lifted my arm and gave it a quick sniff. “My scent changes when I’m nervous,” I offered.
“No. It’s not you. It can’t be. It smells like… dried leaves.”
Dead foliage. How mortifying. That was me. I smelled like old autumn leaves when I was upset. My face flushed as he excused himself to slip inside the house.
Two minutes in and I was already ruining this. But I was his one. Surely he could accept this failing in me? I actually liked the smell of leaves. I wasn’t nervous often. Well, I was never in a situation to be nervous often. Mostly, honestly, I was nervous around him. I never felt nervous around anyone else.
He was gone for several minutes, looking a little disheveled as he came back.
Hubba-hubba, I thought, wondering if he looked like that when he woke up in the morning. Down, girl. Heel! Take this slow. You’ve got all the time in the world. Get to know him first. My reaction was instant though. He smelled divine, like heaven on earth. Okay, he smelled like sex on a stick, if I was being perfectly blunt here. MINE.
“One minute,” he said quickly, pausing, sniffing, and turning, doing a circuit of the house. Did he sense something was amiss? His frown didn’t cease as he did one more round. “I smell…” he mumbled, but then shook his head. Again, he disappeared inside his home. I was about to venture in and see if he was alright when he came out moments later with a small pot and two bowls. “I hope you don’t mind tomato soup.” His shirt was untucked and he smelled as if he’d just-
My heart began to flutter with hope. He was so overcome he’d had to find relief. My heart began to pound so hard it hurt. He wasthataffected by all of this.
One glance down at the alphabet pasta in our tomato soup and I looked up at him askance. This was the longest our eyes had met. Was he going to kiss me? Did he want to?
“I have bread, too,” he added sheepishly.
“I love bread and lettered soup. I’d love anything you served,” I blurted, then clamped my lips shut.
Greniv’s face flushed once more and he hastened to fill his own bowl and sit. “A Cyclops, Troll, Werewolf, and Satyr ate all of my chili, I’m afraid.”
“That sounds like the introduction to one of my lame jokes,” I said conversationally.
