Page 33 of Love Resurrected
Neil smiles big back at me and waves a hand at Nessa. “I’m looking forward to it,” he says, casting a triumphant look at Brad as he leaves the room.
“Nessa, that was Neil Nicholson. Since he doesn’t have the manners to introduce himself properly,” Brad says to her.
“He was a little too smitten to pay me any mind,” Nessa says.
Brad grunts again, before turning toward me, his face void of emotion. “Did you get anything done while I was working? Or were you too busy flirting?”
“I wasn’t flirting.”
He mumbles something that sounds a lot like, “Bullshit.” I ignore him.
Nessa asks for my help on something and I gladly move to her side of the table, grateful to leave Mr. Personality on his own for a while. Before I realize it, we’ve hit the six o’clock hour and the shift change is happening at the station. We pack up our things and say our goodbyes. By ten minutes after the hour, I’m on my way home to change for my date.
I call Sadie from the car on my way home. “Hey, beautiful girl,” she answers.
“Hey, mama. Guess who has a date?”
“You?”
“Yep.”
“Yay! When?”
“Tonight.”
“With whom? Anyone I know?”
“Neil Nicholson.”
“Really?” Her voice is flat.
“Uh-oh. Why the voice? Is this a bad idea?” I ask.
“Well,” Sadie starts. “I mean, I don’t know him as well as everyone else. So maybe not a bad idea, per se. He’s just, kind of the station hound dog, you know what I mean?”
I laugh. “Hound dog?”
“Yeah, you know: hound dog, Casanova, womanizer, slut.”
“Sounds right up my alley,” I say.
“Sure, old Tenley-alley. But new Tenley-alley is looking for monogamy. A grown-up relationship.”
“Well, maybe while she’s looking for that, she can go out and have a good time in the meantime. I haven’t been asked out in forever.”
“Which I totally don’t get. I mean, what’s not to like about you? I’m surprised more guys don’t ask you out.”
Me too.
“Okay, in all seriousness, I think with him you should be cautious if this goes beyond dinner,” she continues. “I know for a fact that he’s not the kind to get serious about anything.”
“It’s not like we’re starting a relationship or something. It’s just dinner. And I only agreed because he asked in a cute way and looked kinda hot in all his firefighter gear doing it.”
“Yeah, there’s something about all that turnout gear that is such a turn-on.” She sighs.
She’s not wrong.
“Okay, so, what do I wear?” I ask her.
