Love Nouveau

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Authors: B.L. Berry
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to the punch. “I know what you’re thinking. What if I need an exit strategy?” He grins boldly. “I can promise you Ivy whose last name I don’t know, you won’t need an escape. And if you’re having a truly horrible time with me, you can borrow my phone to call your roommate to come and save you.”
    It’s impossible to not smile … and not be slightly annoyed. I’m an independent gal and having something like this out of my control makes me a little uneasy. Plus, this bolder side of Phoenix is a little surprising.
    “Phillips. My last name is Phillips,” I say, slowly forcing the words from my mind to my tongue to my lips.
    “Well, Ivy Phillips, like I said before, I hate it when people spend more time on their phone than with the person they’re with. It’s my biggest pet peeve.”
    Phoenix walks to the center of the room, tears off a piece of packing paper and writes something down. As he leans over the table, I can’t help but admire how striking he looks in his loose fitted jeans and well loved, faded cranberry T-shirt. When I notice he’s wearing black Chucks, I suppress a laugh. We match.
    “There,” he says, handing the slip of paper to Rachel. “In case of an emergency, you’ve got my number. But unless someone’s dead, please don’t call.”
    Well, then!
    He turns back toward me and winks. He actually winks! Where did the shy guy who couldn’t approach me without the help of his friend go? That guy had my insides tied up and twisted. This Phoenix has me hot and bothered. Not that I’m complaining because I certainly like his more confident side.
    He extends his elbow and I slip my arm through it. As we walk out the door, I look over my shoulder and see Rachel standing there bug-eyed. She mouths, “Oh…My…God…” and I blow her a kiss, trying to contain my excitement.
    I’m guided out of the apartment and he opens the car door for me. Charming. That’s the word that comes to mind. He’s charming and so old school. But I keep my guard up ever so slightly. I learned long ago that the charming guys are usually the most dangerous.
    Besides, we’re just out for one night of fun, nothing more. Tomorrow we will both go to our respective corners of the country and carry on with our lives. So really, what’s the point of letting my guard down and allowing myself to enjoy this evening for more than it’s worth? Or better yet, why shouldn’t I let my guard down for one night knowing this isn’t going to go anywhere after this date?
    “So where are we eating?” I ask once we’re both settled into the car.
    Phoenix smiles as he reaches over to turn down the stereo. The Airborne Toxic Event softly serenades us with an acoustic rendition of Sometime Around Midnight .
    Focusing his eyes back on the road, my question goes unanswered.
    “You told me we were having dinner.”
    He nods. “Just dinner.”
    “Just dinner.” I affirm.
    “And maybe more,” he throws in casually, “but that’ll depend on you.”
    If this is this his way of coming onto me, he seriously needs some new material.
    Phoenix looks across the front seat and smiles at me again. He is very tight lipped about this evening’s plans, and the anticipation he’s building has a strange effect on me. I feel like I’m thirteen years old again and crushing on the popular boy who is a few grades ahead of me.
    I can handle a little mystery, can’t I?
    The drive doesn’t take us long as he pulls onto campus and parks in a staff parking lot behind one of the science buildings. He holds up a single finger, indicating he wants me to stay put. I’m confused as to why we’re on campus, but I decide to go with it rather than say something and ruin whatever plan he’s concocted.
    Phoenix runs around to the back of the car and pulls something out of the trunk before coming to the passenger side and opening the door for me, his boyish grin melting my heart. As he pulls me to my feet, I notice a picnic basket.
    “I thought you

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