“Thanks, Mom. This looksamazing.”
Ash’s eyes were shining as she placed the tray down in front of him. Of course, he went for the caramelized bananas first – he’d always had a sweet tooth.
“Slow down, honey,” she laughed, as he started piling his plate high. “We have plenty of time, and you don’t want to have a stomach ache while you’re out.”
And make me interrupt my date – my date!!! – to come pick you up.
Of course, she’d do it in a heartbeat if Ash wasn’t feeling well… but she’d really rather not, if it was avoidable by telling Ash not to shove everything on the table into his mouth within thirty seconds.
“I won’t, Mom,” Ash insisted around his mouthful of pancake. He chewed and swallowed, but then paused as his fork hovered over the pile of bacon. “Are you going to meet that man from yesterday later on?”
Diana swallowed. Of course, Ash had heard her and Calvin making plans. He hadn’t had much to say about it yesterday, but maybe he’d just wanted time to think it over.
“Yes,” Diana told him. “We’re meeting up at the diner for breakfast. You’re okay with that, right?”
Ash and Calvin had seemed to get along well yesterday, with Ash even telling Calvin he’d teach him more about cryptic crosswords – something that Diana had to admit she didn’t understand in the slightest. But that was a little different to Ash seeing him as someone who he could really bond with, who he might want more of in his life.
As usual, Ash took his time to think before he answered. “Yeah,” he said eventually. “He’s really nice. And tall.”
Diana smiled.Well, he is that!
That was the other edge of the sword, Diana supposed – on one side, there was the risk that Ash wouldn’t bond with Calvin, but on the other, there was the chance that he’d get too attached to him too quickly, and suffer if things didn’t work out between him and Diana.
I have to remember to take things slow,she told herself. She couldn’t behave like a schoolgirl with a crush – she had to be sensible and remember her responsibilities to Ash. Even if Calvin made herfeellike a schoolgirl with a crush.
“Well, I’m really glad you liked him, but I’m just getting to know him a little better,” she told Ash. “Hedoesseem nice, but I don’t know if he’ll be staying in town long. So should we just see what happens, hmm?”
“Yeah,” Ash agreed, though Diana wasn’t sure how much he was listening, considering that his brain seemed to be mainly occupied with seeing how much ice cream he could stack on top of his pile of pancakes and bananas. “But he seemed like he really liked you back.”
Diana’s heart did a little flip-flop inside her chest.
I guess I shouldn’t ever think Ash isn’t paying attention to what’s going on around him!
“Well, let’s not get too hasty. And what do you mean, likes meback?Who said I liked him?” she said, forcing out a laughand fluttering her hands, which earned her a skeptical stare from Ash.
It was a response Diana thought she richly deserved.
“Okay, okay, you got me, Idolike him,” Diana laughed, as Ash stared at her with a look that clearly saidThat was obvious.“But I have to rely on you to tell me to keep my head on straight, deal?”
Ash seemed to think it over as he chewed on his bacon – liberally coated with melted ice cream.
“Okay, it’s a deal.”
“All right – well, if that’s a done deal, you better finish up your breakfast and start getting ready to go,” Diana informed him as she stood up – only casting a wistful glance down at the remains of Ash’s pancakes and bacon for a moment. She really was hungry! “I’ll go pack your bag – but you have to get your clothes out. We should be out at the car in fifteen minutes. Got it?”
Ash smiled at her as he grabbed up another pancake with his fork.
“Got it.”
***
Okay! Take a breath! A nice slow breath! Just breathe!
Standing outside the diner, Diana took a moment to steady herself. Okay – Ash was dropped off. Bella was at home with some treats and a doggie bowl full of iced water and plenty of shade. All that was left was to go inside the diner and eat a meal, make small talk, and try to figure out if Calvin wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Oh, what am I panicking about? It’s just a date. You know, those things I used to go on in college? Just because it’s withCalvin, the world’s hottest, most magnetic, most gorgeous and sex—
“Diana?”
