“Lacey?”
She cleared her throat. “Liberalarts.”
Trevor nodded his head in acknowledgment, but Lacey couldn’t help but notice the way his lips pressed tightly together, or the way his gaze went down to his almost emptyplate.
“I’m still not sure what I want to be,” she said, knowing it wasalie.
“Well, I hope you are able to decide soon. Your profile said you were ajunior?”
Laceynodded.
“You only have one more year to make sure you get the required classes you need for whatever career youchoose.”
Lacey closed her eyes to prevent herself from rolling them. Had she really been concerned that this guy would be too immature for her? Trevor was a seventy-year-old man trapped in a young body. A very fit body, she admitted to herself. But that didn’t change how drivenhewas.
In a lot of ways, he reminded her of Morgan and her laser-like focus onsuccess.
Maybe that was why Lacey wasn’t worried about how different she and Trevor were. She and Morgan got along perfectly. A guy version of her best friend could make an ideal pairing forLacey.
She looked at Trevor carefully, taking in his dark eyes and crisp polo. Could she really fall for the younger guy who sat across from her at that verymoment?
The idea was sounding exponentially better with each passing moment. If she married a guy like Trevor, she wouldn’t ever have to worry about her future. She could get her liberal arts degree and buy her time until she could become a stay-at-home wife andmother.
“Well, I could always get a job at a local non-profit with a liberal arts degree. Lakeland has so many great ones tochoosefrom.”
Interest flashed in Trevor’s eyes. “And what one would you say you’re mostinterestedin?”
Crap. Lacey thought of all the buildings she saw along the main street that crossed through town. It was littered with businesses on either side. She rattled off the name of a place she’d read on one of the many signs, and hoped it was actually a non-profit.
Trevor nodded, his mouth turned down a bit. “That’s a good one. Maybe your liberal arts degree won’t be such a bad ideaafterall.”
Maybe not, she thought to herself. But she knew she needed to change the subject quickly before her date could ask any more about it. “So,” she started. “When you’re not going to school, what do you do in yourfreetime?”
“I don’t know. I run, read, spend time withfriends.”
Boring. “That soundslikefun.”
“Whataboutyou?”
“I watch TV, go dancing. I like to spend time downtown. This lake is actually one of my favorite places in town. I think that’s why Morgan picked it forourdate.”
“I like it here too,” he answered, smiling shyly at her. Her heart flutteredagain.
He went on to tell her about how he ran the Mayfaire race every year, and how he loved running into the crowd that settled here on thepromenade.
“So, you like the attention?” Laceyteased.
She swore she noticed a slight blush to his cheeks before he answered. “Are you going to think I’m an arrogant jerk if Isayyes?”
“No way. I think everyone likes acknowledgment every once in a while. Especially if you just ran three miles in the hot, muggy air. That’s deserving of a round ofapplause.”
Trevor leaned in close. Lacey’s heart skipped a beat. He smelled just as good as he looked. “Would you cheer for me?” he asked with a cocky half-smile.
Now it was Lacey’s turn to blush. She nodded, and when she did, her date leaned back against his elbows with a satisfied grin. “It’s only a month away, you know. Maybe you’ll get to make goodonthat.”
“Okay,” she answered lamely. She started picking up the trash from their meal and packing it into the picnicbasket.
Trevor looked down at his phone. “Do you think we should head toward thePolknow?”
