Page 58 of Grit
More?
She’d… leave the door open for more.
Wait, was she ready for more? The idea of “more” with Cary Nakamura sent a shiver over her entire body, but when she started to think about details, she panicked.
This was so nerve-racking! Dating in college hadn’t been this nerve-racking, had it?
You were a different person then.
In college, Melissa had been wildly confident. She knew she was a pretty girl and she used it. She dated who she wanted. She hung out wherever she wanted, whether that was a club, the library, or a frat house. She was the designated driver. The friendly, smart girl. The one who could hang with anyone. Where had that girl gone? She’d been so much braver when she was clueless about life.
She finished a sweep of plum over her eyelids that made her blue eyes vivid. Then she put on a coat of mascara and zipped a lip balm into her purse. She tugged the seam of her dress one more time before she walked down the hall and into the kitchen.
Joan closed the cupboard door and turned when she saw Melissa. Her mother’s smile lit up her entire face. “You look beautiful.”
Melissa tugged the hem of her dress. “Are you sure? This dress seems too short. I think it shrank.”
“It didn’t. You just got self-conscious about your knees.”
“My knees?” How did her mother know she hated her knees? “Seriously, it shrank.”
“Nope.” Joan walked over to her and took her by the shoulders, pointing her toward the door. “Do you dislike the dress for any reason other than it feels too short?”
“No, it’s just—”
“Good. You look beautiful. It’s a classic dress and you look like a million bucks. Go have dinner with Cary.”
She walked to the door only halfway of her own volition. “Did Rumi tell you?”
“No, you did.”
Melissa squawked. “What?”
“Every time you look at that man, I can see it. So just go. Have fun. I will be going to bed early tonight with a brand-new book Emmie got me because my granddaughter isn’t bouncing around the house and keeping me busy. Enjoy your date.” And with that, Joan nudged Melissa out the front door and onto the porch.
Melissa turned to the closed front door. “Mom, keys!”
Joan cracked the door open and tossed Melissa’s keys at her. Then she shut it in her face.
“Gee, thanks.” She felt her phone buzz in her pocket. It was Cary.
Heading over to pick you up.
She typed back.I thought we were meeting there.
We live a mile from each other. Why would we take two cars into Metlin?
She had nothing to say to him. She had no idea why she’d been thinking she’d meet him there. Before she could think of a good excuse, she saw his headlights turning onto her road.
Normally she’d run down and open the gate at the cattle guard, but fuck it. She was in heels tonight. She perched on a rocking chair and waited for him.
Her date.
What had she gotten herself into?
Chapter Thirteen
Cary had a reallyhard time concentrating on driving. He tried to think of the last time he’d seen Melissa’s legs in anything other than jeans.
