woman only grunts before walking away. I refuse to look back and find out if Pepper saw all that. Refuse.
I set my skates down on the bench Allie picked and pull my button-up shirt off to let it dry out. My t-shirt will have to do. Allie starts squealing with delight next to me.
“What is it?” I ask , chuckling.
“You GLOW!” she gushes. I glance downward to find that my white t-shirt is indeed glowing in the black lights. Awesome. Just awesome. I haven’t felt this ridiculous in years.
Allie holds my hand as she easily leads me around the roller rink. I’m not so great on skates and I feel like I’ve been clutching the rail or wall for most of the evening. I also feel like the biggest fool. If Pepper is watching me right now there is no chance for my manhood. None. I’m done for.
Allie tugs my hand , sending me full bore into the middle of the rink. I’m going to hit someone. I just know it. I’m going to take out a small child at this clip. Allie laughs as I flail and appears in front of me with her hands out to slow me down. I clutch her shoulders for dear life and let her lead me.
“I think I need a break !” I shout over the music to Allie who is pretty much dragging me along at this point.
“Ok ay. Will you get me a soda?” she asks, unaware of my embarrassment.
“Sure.”
“Get it from Pepper,” she teases, making googly eyes at me.
“Uh …” I let out, trying to focus on staying upright.
“She’s pretty. I remember thinking she's nice , too. You should talk to her,” Allie prompts. Sometimes I really wish the kid wasn’t as smart as she was.
“What do you remember?” I ask , trying not fall on my ass.
“She got a big Magnolia tree. It was when you and Mom were taking different days at the shop, so, like, a while ago. Mom worked, I talked to her. She was nice but sad. She was really sad,” she chatters.
“About what?”
“I dunno. I didn't ask.”
I release her hand as we near a break in the wall for my exit and clutch the railing for dear life .
“Kay ,” I manage to say as I perilously make my exit and find a bench. I remove the roller skates with a sigh and rub my feet. Grown men were not made for this. We just weren’t. A smile creeps over my face as I watch Allie whiz around the rink a couple times, bopping to the music and practicing something called “Shooting The Duck,” whatever the hell that is.
Pepper looks lost in her book as I approach the counter. A few strands of her hair have fallen out from her bun and hang perfectly around her face as she reads. Her long legs are crossed at the knee and the kindle rests atop one. Even hunched over like she is , she’s different. She licks her lips as she taps the screen, turning the page, and I stifle the groan that wants to come out of my mouth. She’s got to have something very wrong with her. I never seem to be attracted to nice, boring chicks.
“Hey.”
She looks up, startled from her reading.
“Good book?” I hedge .
“Uh, yes ,” she replies with a blush. A blush? Really?
“What is it?” I ask .
“What’s what?”
“The book?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing …” she returns quickly, a small blush creeping up her neck. Hot. Why is everything she does so attractive? I must be really hard up. Maybe I’ll call Kylie later.
“Ah, I see . Mommy porn,” I retort.
“What?” she squawks , making me chuckle. She closes the case and sets the Kindle aside.
“I need two Sprites please, and a phone number ,” I order, feeling slightly cocky.
“Coming right up.” She smiles before shuffling around to grab cups. When she returns with two full sodas complete with lids and straws, she blinds me with a radiant smile.
“ Whose number would you like?” she asks while ringing me up.
“Yours ,” I say. Damn, wasn’t that clear?
“I don’t give mine out ,” she deadpans.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t date, so why would I give my number out?” Pepper is nothing but resistant. What am I
I set my skates down on the bench Allie picked and pull my button-up shirt off to let it dry out. My t-shirt will have to do. Allie starts squealing with delight next to me.
“What is it?” I ask , chuckling.
“You GLOW!” she gushes. I glance downward to find that my white t-shirt is indeed glowing in the black lights. Awesome. Just awesome. I haven’t felt this ridiculous in years.
Allie holds my hand as she easily leads me around the roller rink. I’m not so great on skates and I feel like I’ve been clutching the rail or wall for most of the evening. I also feel like the biggest fool. If Pepper is watching me right now there is no chance for my manhood. None. I’m done for.
Allie tugs my hand , sending me full bore into the middle of the rink. I’m going to hit someone. I just know it. I’m going to take out a small child at this clip. Allie laughs as I flail and appears in front of me with her hands out to slow me down. I clutch her shoulders for dear life and let her lead me.
“I think I need a break !” I shout over the music to Allie who is pretty much dragging me along at this point.
“Ok ay. Will you get me a soda?” she asks, unaware of my embarrassment.
“Sure.”
“Get it from Pepper,” she teases, making googly eyes at me.
“Uh …” I let out, trying to focus on staying upright.
“She’s pretty. I remember thinking she's nice , too. You should talk to her,” Allie prompts. Sometimes I really wish the kid wasn’t as smart as she was.
“What do you remember?” I ask , trying not fall on my ass.
“She got a big Magnolia tree. It was when you and Mom were taking different days at the shop, so, like, a while ago. Mom worked, I talked to her. She was nice but sad. She was really sad,” she chatters.
“About what?”
“I dunno. I didn't ask.”
I release her hand as we near a break in the wall for my exit and clutch the railing for dear life .
“Kay ,” I manage to say as I perilously make my exit and find a bench. I remove the roller skates with a sigh and rub my feet. Grown men were not made for this. We just weren’t. A smile creeps over my face as I watch Allie whiz around the rink a couple times, bopping to the music and practicing something called “Shooting The Duck,” whatever the hell that is.
Pepper looks lost in her book as I approach the counter. A few strands of her hair have fallen out from her bun and hang perfectly around her face as she reads. Her long legs are crossed at the knee and the kindle rests atop one. Even hunched over like she is , she’s different. She licks her lips as she taps the screen, turning the page, and I stifle the groan that wants to come out of my mouth. She’s got to have something very wrong with her. I never seem to be attracted to nice, boring chicks.
“Hey.”
She looks up, startled from her reading.
“Good book?” I hedge .
“Uh, yes ,” she replies with a blush. A blush? Really?
“What is it?” I ask .
“What’s what?”
“The book?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing …” she returns quickly, a small blush creeping up her neck. Hot. Why is everything she does so attractive? I must be really hard up. Maybe I’ll call Kylie later.
“Ah, I see . Mommy porn,” I retort.
“What?” she squawks , making me chuckle. She closes the case and sets the Kindle aside.
“I need two Sprites please, and a phone number ,” I order, feeling slightly cocky.
“Coming right up.” She smiles before shuffling around to grab cups. When she returns with two full sodas complete with lids and straws, she blinds me with a radiant smile.
“ Whose number would you like?” she asks while ringing me up.
“Yours ,” I say. Damn, wasn’t that clear?
“I don’t give mine out ,” she deadpans.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t date, so why would I give my number out?” Pepper is nothing but resistant. What am I
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