Page 43 of Mr. February

Jenny snorted.

“I think I can be ready by then.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Wade turned towards his doorway. He whipped back around and darted back over to Jenny where she still stood outside her own door. She heard him and turned around, a question on her expression.

“Sorry, forgot something,” he said.

Before she could ask, he curled his arm around her waist again and kissed her soundly. She joined in on the fun. He had to remind himself they were short on time and couldn’t stand around kissing all night. Not yet.

When he drew back, she looked flustered but happy. He vowed to himself to put that expression on her face as often as possible.

“See you in a few minutes,” he said. This was going to be the best dinner ever.

Chapter 14: Date People Who Like You

WADE

Wade couldn’t wait for dinner to end. Things had started out wonderfully. After they both freshened up, they met up in the lounge area of their suite. Wade changed quickly, grateful again for Kyle’s recommendation to bring something nicer than his usual jeans and T-shirts.

He straightened his hotel room on the off-chance Jenny would be interested in visiting it at some point. It wasn’t messy, but it benefited from a few minutes of frenzied cleaning. Plus, tidying gave him an outlet for his nervous energy.

Before he left his room, he texted Kyle.

“Wish me luck! I’m off on a real date with the most beautiful girl. You were right to recommend some nice clothes.”

Kyle would be happy for him since he knew how long Wade had been interested in Jenny, but he’d also delight in being right.

After a moment, he sent his friend another text.

“Don’t break anything. I hope to have fun at dinner and will be very upset if I have to leave early because you chuckle-fucks can’t be left unsupervised.”

There. Now Kyle would have something else to give him shit about.

When Wade exited his room, his breath caught at his first glance at Jenny. She did something different with her makeup, but it was her sweater that made it hard to breathe. He’d never had an issue talking to her without staring at her chest, but tonight would test him.

The dark purple sweater dress hugged her curves in a loving embrace. There was something about a knit sweater and round, full breasts that left him breathless. Add in a belt that cinched her knee-length sweater dress in her waist, and he was a goner. She wore knee-high boots with tights to complete the look.

“You look amazing,” he said. “Really amazing. Wow. I’m tongue-tied.”

Jenny blushed at his praise before she added, “You look great, too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dressed in anything fancier than an unbuttoned Oxford.”

It was Wade’s turn to feel awkward. Did she like this dressier version of him better? Maybe she liked guys who dressed up. On Kyle’s recommendation, he wore a light blue V-neck sweater with dark jeans. He still wore his usual snarky T-shirt underneath, but he looked nicer than usual and was just as comfortable.

“I wish I had flowers for our first date,” he said after another awkward pause.

“Well, I’m just glad we’re going on a first date,” she said firmly. “I don’t need flowers or chocolates or any of that stuff. Just don’t, you know, flirt with someone else while we’re on the date, and I’ll be happy.”

She turned to grab her long coat from the back of the couch, and Wade hurried to help her put it on. It upset him that Jenny should have such a low bar, but he was determined to change that.

“Do you have gloves and a hat?” he asked. “Usually, they shuttle us around in a charter bus, so it should be warm enough, but we might have to wait outside for a bit. I don’t want you to get cold.”

Jenny gifted him with a beatific smile, and he felt it all the way to his toes.

“I’ve got everything here in my bag. How about you?”

Twenty minutes later, he and Jenny snuggled in the crowded, overheated bus. He had to remind himself he wasn’t a junior high school boy on his first date.

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