“Janice is a ball buster, but I guess after being a nurse for thirty years, she’s earned that right. She must have seen something good in you if you got her to give you my name.”
“I’m pretty sure she just got tired of me asking every time I came in. I’d like to take you out tonight, are you free?”
When she doesn’t say anything, her friend elbows her in the side. Summer glares at her, and her friend glares right back. These two must be a riot together.
Summer turns back to me. “I’m free tonight,” she says blushing. Fuck, the blush starts high on her chest, the chest I am trying so hard not to stare at.
“Pick you up at eight?”
“Sure. I live at the Seascape on North Forest Beach Drive. Apartment, 3306.”
“Babe, I’ve got a good memory, but there is no way I will remember all of that. Can I give you my number, and you can text it to me?”
She laughs. “Right, sorry. Hold on, I’ll grab my phone, one sec.”
When she goes to get her phone, Tori turns to me. “Don’t be an asshole to her. She might seem like she has a hard shell, but that girl is all gooey on the inside. Don’t let her down.”
“I’m new around here, so you don’t know me, but that is the last thing I’d ever do. If on the off chance, this doesn’t work out between us, and I doubt it won’t, I’d never hurt her purposely.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.”
Summer walks back up and looks between us. “Everything ok?”
“Yes.” We answer in unison.
Summer rolls her eyes and doesn’t look convinced. “Right. I’m ready for your number.”
I rattle it off then tell her to call me so I have hers too and she does. When she goes to walk away, I call out to her. “Summer! Don’t forget to text me that address when you get a chance.”
She smiles, shyly, and nods. “See you tonight, Drake.”
“Can’t wait,” I say, walking backward towards my friends.
“Wait, what should I wear?” she calls out.
“Something to dance in,” I shout as I make it to my friends. I keep watch over her. As much as I want to talk to her, find out everything there is to know, what makes this beautiful woman tick, I give her space. The girls are there for another hour until they pack up their stuff and leave. When Summer sneaks a look at me as she’s going, I wink at her, and she waves quickly then looks away.
I spend the rest of the day at the beach, watching my buddies get rejected left and right from the girls they try to pick up. I can’t help laughing at the rejections.
After leaving the beach, I make reservations for a late dinner at Le Mark, a hot new restaurant on Main Street. After dinner, I plan to take her to Cirque, a night club down the block. It’s always packed, but it has an exciting atmosphere. I’ve been there a few times with my friends, and while it’s not my typical scene, I’d love to bring Summer there and dance with her.
While I’ve never been nervous before a date before, tonight is different. I’m not surprised to be feeling this way, everything about Summer is different. At precisely eight, I knock on her door, ready to finally have her to myself. When she opens the door, my mouth drops open for a second. The skin tight black dress leaves nothing to my imagination. It flares out from her knees in a slight flare.
“You look beautiful, Summer,” I finally say.
“Do I?” she asks, giving me a little spin.
“You do,” I reply.
“Thank you.”
“Shall we?” I hold my arm out to her. She links her arm with mine before closing and locking her front door.
In the car, we make small talk, getting to know each other. She is an only child, just as I am. She talks fast when she’s nervous, that I can tell right away. When we pull up to the restaurant, a valet comes over to the driver’s side and lets me out. I walk around the car and open the passenger door, helping her out.
“This seems really fancy,” she says.
“It probably is. I’ve never been here before,” I say, smiling at her. She doesn’t let go of my hand as we walk into the restaurant.
“Welcome to Le Mark. What name is your reservation under?”
“Winston,” I say. The hostess looks down at the list on her podium.
“Excellent. Right this way,” she says, leading us to a small table for two. Once we’re seated, she hands us our menus. “Nicolai will be your waiter this evening. Take a look at the menu, and he’ll let you know tonight’s specials.”
“Thank you,” Summer says, opening the menu. The hostess moves away from the table.