Jacob's smile faltered.
“What's wrong?” I asked. “Is something wrong with seeing me in Silicon Valley?”
“I hate Silicon Valley. It's why I left.” He paused, carefully thinking before speaking. “I don't think I'll ever go back there. Not for a long time, at least.”
“Oh.” My heart sank a little. I rather liked the idea of Jacob and me working together out there, but the tone of his voice made it very clear that wasn't going to happen.
“But, I would happily meet you somewhere nearby,” he promised, reaching out for my hand. “Like San Francisco or Monterrey. Monterrey is beautiful.”
I did my best to smile. “I probably won't get it anyway,” I said trying to shrug off my disappointment.
“You're going to get something even better,” he promised. “I know it.”
Jacob paid the bill. He made sure that I wasn't even able to sneak a peek at it, even though I could do the math well enough. This meal probably cost more than my groceries for two weeks did, but I had definitely enjoyed it.
Together we walked hand in hand out the door to wait for his car to be valeted. The delivery of the bill had reintroduced my feelings of guilt, and I watched shamefully as Jacob slid his credit card int
o the leather folder. Again, I’d wanted to offer to pay, to contribute in some way, but he’d remained positive as he left the payment, almost as if he hardly even noticed the expense, and I didn’t want to change that by broaching the subject again.
As we stood outside the night air was humid but cool and soft, a nice change from the controlled climate inside the restaurant. Jacob dropped my hand and reached to wrap his arm around me. I loved the way his heat wrapped around me, and even though the night air was cool, I barely noticed.
I wanted anything but for the night to end. It had gone by way too fast. I didn’t even want to see his car pulled around again. Had it disappeared entirely and stranded us there at the restaurant, I wouldn’t have minded in the slightest.
The car pulled up. The valet beat Jacob to opening the door for me this time, but I still felt pampered. I reluctantly got into the car, sad that even a portion of our evening was coming to a close.
“You enjoy your dinner?” Jacob asked after a comfortable moment of silence as we drove.
“It was amazing,” I said and returned his smile. “I think that was the nicest place I’ve ever eaten.”
“I'm glad you liked it,” he replied. “I was afraid it might have been a little over the top.”
I smiled. “Maybe a little bit. don’t even know what to say because ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem like enough.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. “The pleasure was all mine.”
“Okay, I owe you then. My treat next time,” I said.
“That’s a great segue into my next point,” he said, flashing me a quick smile as he drove. “Because I was hoping there would be a next time.”
I was floating again, his words catching in my chest and bouncing around wildly, my body racing as fast as my heart.
“Then that makes two of us,” I said with a smile twice as big as my face.
“But this time,” he said, “I was also hoping I wouldn’t have to keep using Monster GO as an excuse.”
“I think we did okay without it,” I said and for the first time I was reminded that my phone was still in the car’s center compartment.
“Yeah, I think we survived,” he agreed.
The car slowed to a stop and I realized we were suddenly back at my parents' house. I hadn't even noticed how fast the time had gone, and for a moment, I mourned that we were here. I thought about asking Jacob to drive us around the block a few times, but he was already out of the car and opening my door.
He took my hand as we walked toward the front door. My parents had left the outer light on, but the house itself was completely dark.
“I’ve got another date in mind,” he said as we neared the door. He wrapped me in his arms and again I felt the soft silk of his shirt against my cheek.
“What’s that?” I said, my words muffled as I spoke into his chest and shoulder.
“It’s a surprise.”