Page 41 of For the Win

Dinner?

I can’t stop smiling.

That would be nice.

I can pick you up, if you tell me where.

I scrunch up my face.That’s not happening, but I don’t want to seem weird about it.

I’ll meet you...where?

After a moment, I’m about to get back on my bike, when I get his text.

Noir.7:00?

I tap back my agreement and, still smiling, jump on my bike and pedal off.

It’s not far to the beach and I get onto the path that follows the shore.It’s an easy, pleasant ride to Rose Avenue.I pass the Golden Fish and head up Rose toward Prana.

Excitement bubbles inside me, thinking about seeing Harrison again.I had fun talking to him the day we went out.I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.It’s crazy.

I don’t want to let myself ponder what happens after that.I get a tight, anxious feeling in my stomach when I contemplate how things could go, so I’m going to push that away, focus on right now, because I have classes to teach and my students deserve my best.

My last class is at four, so I have time to go home and change, thankfully.Last time I went out with Harrison, I was still in my yoga gear.I hardly ever dress up anymore, since my life is yoga and biking and running, and my friends don’t care what I look like when we go out.But tonight, I’d like to look a little more put together.

I already let Taj know I’m going out, so he went to the Golden Fish to hang out with Ziggy.

I’m even going to splurge on an Uber so I don’t have to ride my bike.This makes a skirt or a dress and heels an option.But I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.And I don’t have a big wardrobe to choose from.

Yeesh!It’s been a long time since I’ve been through this pre-date dilemma.

I decide on a dress, wash my face, and reapply makeup.I usually only wear eye shadow, mascara, and lip balm, and all I do tonight is use a darker eye shadow and a lip gloss with a bronze shimmer.I leave my hair down, also unusual.

Oh my God, it doesn’t matter!

When I get to Noir, I walk in peering around, uncertain if Harrison’s here yet.“I’m meeting someone,” I tell the hostess.Then I spot him.My heart jumps in my chest.“Oh, there he is.”

I make my way to the table, conscious of Harrison watching me.

He seems to approve.He stands to greet me.“Hi.”

“Hi.”I smile, our eyes meeting and holding.Heat shimmers over my skin.

“You look amazing.”

“Thanks.”

He pulls out my chair for me, which I love—Mom would approve!—then takes his own seat again.He looks pretty damn good too, wearing narrow beige pants, a white shirt with the collar open, and a black cotton blazer over it.

“This place is lovely,” I comment, dragging my gaze away from him to survey the small restaurant.“I’ve never been here.”

“I’m glad you like it.Do you like wine?I don’t even know that.”

“Sure.”

“They have a lot here.It’s a wine bar.I guess you know that.”

I smile at him.Is he as nervous as I am?Another thing that makes my heart go squishy.“It’ll be fun to try different things.”

---