Page 26 of Hooked
“I’m getting ahead of myself,” she said, playing with Emmie’s long hair. “They haven’t even called me for an interview yet. Until I’m on my second interview at least, we can’t talk about this anymore. Until the second interview, it’s pure speculation.”
Emmie nodded. “Okay. So until they call you for a second interview, we pretend like SOKA doesn’t exist and you’re here forever.”
“I’m not sure that’s what I said.”
Emmie sat up with a smile on her face. “Which means you totally need a fantastic outfit for your date with Jeremy.”
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Chapter Six
On Saturday Jeremystood in front of a mirror, checking his outfit. Favorite jeans that Ginger told him made his butt look good. Leather belt with his favorite Avengers buckle. Fitted T-shirt and vest. It was outdoorsy but hopefully stylish enough to impress Tayla. He checked his hair and combed through his beard with a pick, patting it and wondering if he should have gotten a fresh trim on Friday.
No, too formal.
But would Tayla appreciate formal?
Maybe, but he wanted to surprise her, not fall into expectations.
The whole point of this date was to shake things up. For her. For him. They’d been dancing around each other for months. He needed to know if he could really get to her, and that meant taking her out of her comfort zone and forcing himself to make a move.
Jeremy realized that he’d been playing the long game, but he’d also been too cautious. He’d been afraid of pushing for more because she might have given him a decisive no. As long as they were just flirting, the possibility was always there.
But that left them in a holding pattern. And Tayla was looking to leave.
Forget about her moving away. Give her a reason to stay.
Cary’s advice kept circling his mind. Of course, Cary had also been in love with his neighbor for years and had done nothing about it, so maybe he gave shit advice. But his pop’s advice had also been good.
You can do this, Jeremy. Be yourself. Be charming, but put yourself out there. Be willing to take a risk.
He grabbed his keys and walked out to the packed truck. The ice chest and all the supplies were in the back. Daisy and Ethan had texted to say the campsite was ready.
Here we go.
Jeremy walked down the stairs. “Bye, Pop!”
“Have a good time. Be respectful. Listen more than you talk.”
“Got it.”Listen more than you talkwas the overarching theme of Pop’s wooing lessons. That and a lot about flowers. Pop really put a lot of stock in fresh flowers.
Jeremy drove a few short blocks to Main Street and turned left. He parked in front of INK and walked in, enjoying the cheerful chime of the old-fashioned bell over the door.
“Hey, man.” Ox was between clients, washing equipment in the corner. “She’s upstairs.”
“Should I wait or go up?”
“Em just ran up there a second ago, so I think they’ll be back soon.”
Jeremy perched on one of Ox’s barstools and watched the hum of activity in the store. No one was behind the counter—probably because Emmie was upstairs—but the new clerk, Kim, was reading to a group of kids in the corner while a bunch of parents with farmers’ market canvas bags rested their feet in the sitting area with the refurbished couch and colorful cushions.
“You guys staying busy?” Jeremy asked quietly.
Ox nodded. “It’s steady. Saturdays are good. You?”
“Jules is watching the shop this afternoon. Saturdays can be kind of quiet for us unless we’re hosting an event. We’re busier Friday nights.”
“We’re a little closer to the market.”
