“It always works in the movies,” Erik said, shrugging.
“Don’t encourage him,” Jenny said, trying to play it cool while her heart skipped a beat.
“So does all this mean that you didn’t want to go to dinner with me?” Erik asked, his green eyes flashing to hers.
“I…um…no,” she said. “Ididwant to go to dinner with you. I mean I do. It’s just…”
“Complicated?” Erik offered.
“Yes,” she said, feeling relieved. “It’s all complicated, for so many reasons.”
“Do you want to go back to the inn?” Erik asked. “Or should we talk about our complications overdinner? I reserved us a table at the Village Green, if that influences you one way or the other.”
Jenny knew from her earlier research that the Village Green was the nicest restaurant in town.
This is important to him,she realized.
“Let’s have a nice dinner,” she said.
“I was hoping you would say that,” he said with a smile, offering her his hand.
Once again, she placed her hand in his and felt a tingle of happiness, like this was exactly where her hand was meant to be, even though she knew it wasn’t.
Or she thought she knew, at least.
Was it possible that her precocious nine-year-old actually knew better?
13
ERIK
Erik gazed across the candlelit table at Jenny, feeling like he must be in a dream.
“This is nice,” she said softly, lifting her dark eyes to meet his.
“I’m glad you like it,” he told her.
“Did the text say I wanted a fancy dinner?” she asked, looking a little mortified.
“No,” he said, chuckling. “Don’t worry, it was very nice.”
“I snuck a peek at my phone on the way here,” Jenny said. “But I guess he deleted what he sent to you.”
“Here,” Erik said, pulling his phone from his pocket and handing it to her.
He couldn’t see the screen, but he could picture it perfectly in his mind.
I thought about it and I’m in. Pick me up for dinner tonight at 7. Phone will be off until then for quality time with Gael. :)
He had to hand it to the kid, that text was smooth, simple, and right to the point, so it wouldn’t need a follow up. He’d even used capitalization and punctuation like an adult might do.
Though if Erik had stopped and thought about it, he would have realized the tone was a little light.
“Wow,” Jenny said, handing back the phone. “I hate to say it, but I’m impressed.”
“He’s pretty amazing,” Erik agreed.
“I guess it’s my job to make sure he only uses his powers for good,” Jenny said, shaking her head.
