Page 10 of Somebody To Love

I threw myself back on the bed. “I have a date.”

She gave a squeal and tossed her sandwich on the bed and began jumping up and down. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Was it the guy with no shirt on? He liked you. I knew it.”

“His name is Brock and I think he likes me too.”

“Of course he does.” She then bit her lip, “But if you’re going on a date, what am I supposed to do?”

“There’s a kids’ club.”

“Tell me more.”

I laughed and said, “I know nothing about it.”

She flopped down on the bed and reached for the pamphlets they had given us.

“Well, there’s nothing about it here. Or here. Or—ha. Found it.”

She began to read it out loud, “There’s a climbing wall, a mini-golf area, laser tag, free pizza, oh my gosh, FREE pizza. I’m definitely going.”

I laughed. “You sure?”

“Yes,” she said excitedly, “I’ll have pizza and you’ll have boring adult food, like salmon.” She made a face and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Ok, so let’s get you dressed. You have to wear something sexy.”

A few hours later, I was dressed in a Meredith-approved outfit. I had on a mini-skirt and a flowery crop-top. Meredith had great taste. I had dropped her off at the kids’ club and she had quickly waved goodbye to me to go greet a group of pre-teens waiting to climb the rock wall.

I then made my way to the little restaurant where Brock wanted to meet me.

He was already there when I arrived and like a gentleman, he stood up as I approached. He had changed his clothes and now wore lose-fitting khakis and slim-fitting white shirt. He looked like temptation on two legs.

“You look so cute,” he said to me as he pulled out a stool at the bar. I smiled up at him and slid onto it.

“Did you order a drink without me?” I asked gesturing to the drink in front of him.

“I was a little nervous, so I needed some liquid courage,”

“I make you nervous?”

“You’re beautiful, funny… so therefore intimidating.”

“You must not get out much.”

“I’m a librarian,” he joked. “I keep my nose stuck in a book.”

I appraised him quickly, taking note of his large biceps and expansive chest. “There’s no way you got that body by reading books all the time.”

“I read really heavy books.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The bartender came by and asked me for my order. I ordered a beer and Brock shot me a look of approval.

“So what are you doing here all alone, Piper? By the way, I love your name. It’s so different. You have no idea how many Jessicas I’ve dated.”

God, of all names, did he have to use the name of Jerry’s daughter. I pushed that thought away and smiled at Brock. “I hated my name growing up for that very same reason, but then I got older and embraced being different.”

“Being different is definitely not a bad thing.”

“I’m older and wiser.”