Page 68 of Kiss Me Now
“Noah Redmond?”
“Is that a question?”
“No, I mean, I’m going to dinner with Noah Redmond.”
“The new PE teacher.” She seemed to consider this. “All right. I hear his people are good. They’re over in Lynchburg.”
“Right. We eat lunch together most days, and he’s nice. Helps to not be the only new face on staff.”
“Tell me about your classes,” she said, turning back to her weeding, and I did, not sure how I felt about her giving up on the idea of me dating Ian so easily. It was for the best, of course. It was a good thing she wasn’t too worked up over it. I didn’t like disappointing her.
But...there had been something so nice about her having a high enough opinion of me that she’d lured her grandson home to meet me in the first place.
After an hour of chatting and weeding, I stood and held out a hand to help her to her feet. “I should head in. I need to get ready.”For the date I made up.
Miss Lily accepted my hand and rose. “Well, you have a good time, honey. I’ll see you out here tomorrow, and we’ll plant some of that trendy kale and then some actual good lettuces.”
“Can I take a couple of ears of corn?” The first stalks were ripening, and we had two whole rows of it growing.
“Are you crazy, child? Of course not.”
I looked at her, startled by her denial.
“Unless you can pluck it and eat it fresh, leave it on the stalk. It loses most of its sugar within two hours of being plucked. Trust me, you’re going to want to eat it tomorrow when you’re not rushing off to dinner with someone who is a poor second place to my grandson.” Then she winked and strode off toward her house with the energy of a woman half her age.
I let myself into my kitchen, smiling, because it was reassuring that Miss Lily still wanted me for Ian. But then I felt like trash for lying to her about Noah, so I decided to cowgirl up and try to make it the truth.
He’d offered his number in case I ever needed help with spider-wrangling, and we often texted to confirm lunch plans before he made the trek across campus. I had so far declined the opportunity to eat lunch in the stinky gym. I thought for a minute and drafted a text to Noah.
Hey, so feeling like I want to try a place in town but don’t want to be a loser at a table by myself tonight. You up for dinner?
I read it over, decided it sounded non-datey, and pressed send.
Noah answered a couple minutes later.Don’t know. I had my eye on a Lean Cuisine.
I laughed.You’re right. Gourmet burgers can’t compete.
He responded immediately.Lit the Lean Cuisine on fire and threw it in the trash. What time for dinner?
I suggested meeting at the Three Penny Pub at 7:00, and he confirmed he’d be there.
Who knew? Maybe we’d find a vibe with each other that didn’t necessarily show up at work?
Icame home shortlyafter nine, full and sleepy after a fun night at the pub with Noah, but it hadn’t felt remotely date-like. Fun and easy, yes. Romantic? No.
And annoyingly, I’d found myself checking Miss Lily’s driveway for a BMW and frowning when I didn’t see it.
Maybe that was why when Noah suggested dinner out at an Italian place the following week, I said yes. This time, he offered to come pick me up. That was more date-ish. I even put on a dress for it.
But from the minute he knocked on my door, I knew we were as friend-zoned as I’d tried to pretend Ian and I were.
In fact, something about Noah coming to my house turned us both awkward. Where conversation usually flowed easily between us at school, we kept falling into pockets of silence in the car, and by the time our orders arrived, I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever known how to carry on a conversation.
I poked at my ravioli. I didn’t even want it, but my mom had always taught me not to order noodles on a date because there was no elegant way to eat them. I shot a covetous look at Noah’s plate of fettucine alfredo, wishing I’d ordered that instead.
“Something wrong with the food?” Noah asked.
“No, it’s fine.” I took a bite. “Yum. Good marinara.”
