Page 40 of Wish You Faith

“I don’t go out much, I don’t party at all, and I don’t date,” Rosie added.

I don’t date.

What did she mean? What was she trying to tell him?

“So what is this evening to you?” Evan asked carefully.

“Hmm... I would categorize it as two new friends going to River Street to see the fireworks and have some desserts. How do you look at it?” Rosie smiled.

Friends? There she went again.

How could he tell her that he wanted more without scaring her off? This could potentially be their first date night in a future retrospection.

A date night?

He cleared his throat. “I thought we might get to know each other.”

Rosie fist bumped his upper arm. “Well then, may this be the start of a good friendship.”

Please let there be more.

But he didn’t say it.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Rosie’s hands felt cold when Evan held them as they walked through the Friday night crowd at the Savannah waterfront.

“I should’ve brought gloves but I didn’t think of that,” Rosie said.

“You have me.” Evan grinned, rubbing her cold hands in his.

Christmas music was everywhere, including calypso renditions of “The Little Drummer Boy” on kettle drums.

Evan enjoyed listening to Rosie sing along to the carols, and she was able to reach the high notes in “O Holy Night.” He hummed along.

Above them, the sky was dark. The darker the night, the brighter the fireworks. They didn’t have to wait long until the first fireworks appeared in the sky.

Many people crowded closer to the Savannah River to get a better look at the fireworks over the water and bridge. It was almost impossible for Evan and Rosie to get a good spot, but Evan pushed through.

Rosie pulled him back. “It’s fine here.”

Evan stopped walking. “I thought we could get a photo of us with the fireworks in the backdrop.”

“Looks like we have to get here early for that kind of photo opportunity.” Rosie pointed across the river. “Or watch the fireworks from Hutchinson Island over there.”

“Maybe next time.”

“Sure,” Rosie said.

“Oh, it’s another date then.”

“A date?” She sounded alarmed.

Before Evan could reply, the crowd jostled, and Rosie was elbowed in the shoulder by a rather tall man.

“Hey, watch out!” Evan instinctively wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t protest or step away, so he assumed she was okay with it. He lowered his voice. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She massaged her shoulder a bit.

---