Page 33 of Unconventionally, Elle
He scooted closer to me. "Is this, okay?" he asked cautiously when he noticed me watching him intently.
"Yeah, yeah, you're fine."Note to self, do not--I repeat--do not lift your arms!This was a bad day to forget deodorant.
"Okay." He smiled reassuringly. "Please let me make up for my rude behavior. How about a date?" he asked with a glint in his eyes. I could feel his foot touching mine.
I gave him a sideways grin. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." He waited patiently for my reply.
"All right, but no more football, okay? As much as I love the cold, that was a little brutal."
"Deal." His smile reached both of his eyes. "Are you free next Friday? Say around sixish?"
I pretended to think about it and shifted my gaze skyward. "Hmm," I mumbled. After a few seconds, I looked back into his hypnotic stare. "Yeah, that should be good. I'm about to start writing a novel, so that will be a much-needed break."
"You're writing a book? That's pretty cool. What's it about?" He leaned sideways onto the back of the couch, comfortable and relaxed. Foot still touching mine.
"It's a romance novel inspired by my grandparents. My grandmother was born in NYC, and my grandpa was an immigrant from Palermo, Italy. They both happened to be at the Belmont Stakes at the same time, and my grandfather noticed her sitting next to his assigned seat when he walked up. The rest is history."
"Sounds like quite the story." He smiled.
I took a small, satisfying sip and then held my mug in my lap. "I hope so." My voice was soft and wishful.
"Oh, by the way"--he brushed his free hand through his styled espresso-brown hair--"remember how I asked you if we'd ever met before, at the game?"
"Yeah, I remember." I tilted my head to the side, wondering where this was going.
"Well, I want you to know I remember." His voice went soft and velvety. "You were in a band T-shirt and wearing leggings. Tight leggings." He winked, and I felt a blush bloom along my cheeks. "You were standing next to me at the grocery store, and I remember thinking,Oh my God, who is this beautiful woman?"
I tapped my mug nervously with my nails and tried to breathe like normal.
"I remember like it was yesterday." He paused. "And you know what?" His voice was low, intimate.
"What?" I whispered.
"You're even more beautiful today, especially in an old pair of blue-striped boxers."
25
Now
Me:You guys, I feel like a high school girl with a crush!
Sarah:So, you're like dating already?
Me:Well, not officially or anything. We have our date tonight.
Rach:Nice, Elle. When's the wedding?
Me:Shut up. A million years from now, if ever. Oh, by the way, I have some other news...
Sarah:Your article was published?
Rach:You're done outlining?
Me:Okay, well, yes, my article will be published, Sarah. My favorite optimist. And Rach, YES! I'm about 15,000 words into it!
Rach:Get it, Elle! So proud. Can I buy your first book? It has to be signed, though.
