Page 28 of Love, Interrupted

“Come here.” He says and pulls me into a hug before I can protest. Not that I would protest, he still gives the best hugs. When we pull apart we are both giving each other big dopy grins.

“It’s good to see you.” He looks exactly the same as the last time I saw him. His hair might be a smidge longer and his cheeks have a little scruff but he looks the same, he looks good. If Meg or Erica were here they’d probably say he’s looking as hot as he ever has. I wouldn’t disagree.

“You look great.” He tells me and I can see him checking me out in my green sweater, jeans, and knee-high boots. I actually feel my cheeks blush a little under his praise. I mean whowouldn’tif they got a compliment from the man that they’ve been piningover for the last five years? I’ll take every compliment he gives me. “Thank you.”

I grab my jacket off the hook and bundle up before we step outside. Ohio weather in the winter is no joke. It’s cold, windy and half the time it’s either icy or snowy outside. Tonight is no different. It’s freezing and spitting tiny balls of snow. Not enough to accumulate but just enough to be annoying. Once I’ve got my coat on, we head out. Brad is a complete gentleman and waits with me at my front door as I lock it. Then when we get to his SUV he opens the door for me. Back in college, I never rode in his car so I wonder if this is what he drove a few years ago during undergrad. The inside has that new car smell so I’m not sure.

He rounds the car and when he gets inside, he starts it up and gets the heater going. We sit there for a minute while he lets it warm up. There’s no awkward silence between us. If anything, I can feel a spark in the air between us. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been apart. It doesn’t feel like we just stopped talking for years. Either way, here we are now. Once he’s deemed the car warm enough to drive, he backs out of my driveway and sets off to the downtown area. My rental house is only a few miles from downtown, so it doesn’t take us long to get there.

As we get into the downtown area that’s bustling with small shops and restaurants he begins to slow down. “I was thinking we could eat seafood tonight if that’s fine with you?”

Internally I pat myself on the back for picking up on the hints that he was throwing down earlier. “Yeah, any place sounds good.” I don’t even know if I’ll be able to eat no matter where we go. The anxiety and nervousness of being out with Brad has fully gotten to me. My stomach couldn’t handle me chewing gum right now let alone a piece of fried shrimp. I’ve never been one of those girls who can clean her plate on a first date. And not just because I’mtrying to look dainty and cute but because my stomach is usually in knots the whole time. Then when I get home, I scarf down the leftovers like an imitationAlf.

A moment later, he parks his SUV into a parking space right in front of a giant red sign proclaiming we are at theRed Lobster. This town might be small but we’ve got our fair share of restaurants and I can’t help but chuckle at the fact that this is where he wants to go. He hops out and again, he comes around and opens my door for me. I wonder if he’s just trying to impress me or if opening doors for girls is a habit. I stop myself from this train of thought, not wanting to think about all the girls he may have opened doors for.

When we get inside the restaurant, I realize it’s rather dark. Maybe they’re trying something new, rebranding, going for more ambiance. The hostess who looks completely frazzled comes up to the podium, grabs some menus, and then plasters on a smile when she asks,table for two.Brad and I both nod yes in reply and she starts walking off to lead us to our table. Brad gestures for me to lead the way. When I go to pass him to follow the waitress, I can feel his hand on the small of my back and just that simple touch from him excites me.

When the hostess reaches a small booth, we take off our coats before sliding in. She hands us our menus, lets us know our server will be with us soon, and leaves. I look around the restaurant and there are only about three other tables occupied. When my eyes come back to Brad he’s sitting there watching me. The menu forgotten under his clasped hands on top of the table.

“Did I tell you that you look really nice?”

I feel my cheeks heat but nod. “Yeah, you did.”

“I’m glad we’re finally doing this.”

I set down the menu that was in my hands. “Doing what? Dinner?” He smirks and it’s like he knows what I’m doing.

“Yeah, dinner. A date. This is a date, Nikki,” he states. There’s no question, no room for misinterpretation. We are on a date.

The server comes over and introduces herself. Brad pays her little attention and every time my eyes gaze in his direction while she talks, he’s looking at me. I give her my drink and food order and then turn to Brad. He tells her his order, never taking his eyes off of me. Thankfully, it doesn’t take us long to get into conversation and it doesn’t feel awkward or forced. It feels like old times and by the time the end of dinner comes my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing.

Once the bill is paid, we stand to put our coats on. Brad holds my coat up to help me get it back on. We make our way out to his car and as we leave the restaurant he reaches out and holds my hand. The simple act of holding his hand makes me want to tear up. I have wanted this for so long and to feel that feeling inside of yourself that the thing you’ve wanted for so long is finally coming to fruition is overwhelming. Overwhelming in a good way.

The air is even colder now. As I sit in his SUV and wait for him to round the car and turn on the heater, I can see my breath. Brad jumps into the driver’s seat and quickly gets it started and the heat blaring. He reaches across the center console and takes my hand in his, rubbing it in an attempt to keep it warm. “Feeling any warmer?”

“Yes, thank you,” I tell him all breathy because his body and face are so close to mine, leaning over the console. I’m completely caught under his spell, unwilling to break it so I whisper, “I’ve had a great time with you tonight.”

He doesn’t say anything but he leans the few remaining inches over and pecks his lips to mine. We sit there trading kisses that gofrom slow and sensual to fast, frenzied and hungry. My body burns with the same fire from five years ago, delighted that it never left. The only difference is we aren’t twenty years old anymore. We’re nearing twenty-five and we both know what we want and don’t want. Right now he’s giving me everything I want. His hands roam over my shoulders, into my hair and then finally he settles one hand on the back of my neck. It’s as if he doesn’t want to let me go.

Eventually, he pulls back but he keeps his hand on my neck. His lips look red and puffy from our kisses which only makes him look sexier. “I think we should head back to your house before we fog the windows up and we’ve got a cop knocking on the glass.”

I laugh at his joke. In this small town, I wouldn’t put it past a police officer to show up and ask us what’s going on. This is a college town after all, and I’m sure they’ve seen it all. Hell, I remember the stories Lola would tell me about her sexcapades and I’m still to this day surprised she didn’t get arrested. I feel so free right now, I make an attempt at a rebuttal. “I can’t have the person I would call for legal services be getting arrested right beside me.”

He smiles his megawatt smile at me and squeezes my hand in an intimate gesture. He backs the car out of the space, and we head back to my house. When we get there, I invite him back inside but he turns me down, explaining it’s late with the sky releasing snow flurries. He needs to start the drive back. I understand but I’m a little disappointed. It was such a good evening; I hate to see it come to an end.

He must see the hesitation on my face because he’s quick to reassure me. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. I don’t want to lose you again. I can drive back and forth to see you and you can drive to me too.” That makes me feel better and I nod my head in agreement.

“It’s just a two-hour drive.”

“That’s right and we’re not going to let that stop us. I’ve waited long enough to start calling you my girlfriend.”

Now it’s my turn to light up. I can feel my entire face burst in happiness. I’m sure if someone I knew saw me right now they would wonder if I’m having some kind of medical emergency. I am Brad Matthews’girlfriend.And he knows that means something to me.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE

December 18, 2009

It’s been two full weeks since Brad called me his girlfriend. I haven’t seen him since. Granted, that hasn’t been his fault. He’s been working and studying for the bar and the weather has been complete garbage. This winter has been especially hard and for the last week, the area has been covered in snow. If you’ve ever driven in Ohio snow then you know it can get dangerous very quickly if you aren’t careful. His hometown is full of tight turns and hills. That’s the last place you want to drive if you don’t have four-wheel drive, and even though I’ve upgraded to a new car it does not, in fact, have all-wheel drive.

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