anything, to say to him to keep the conversation going. It was so easy at the party, and now it felt as though I was scrambling to say anything to him. I saw him look out the window, a few cars whizzing by, and I almost felt the same awkwardness that reflected off his face. Both of us were at a loss for words, and that felt like a dangerous thing to have happen on our first time out together.
“I’m sorry this is awkward . I really don’t go out with a lot of girls, and I’m not sure what to do,” Tom said with a chuckle, as if he was embarrassed to admit it.
“No, don’t be sorry . I haven’t been out in years, and I’m just as much to blame.”
“How are you kids doing?” the waitress asked, startling me.
“We’re good, but could we get the check when you have a chance?” Tom asked.
I put my head down , feeling a little sad, for I almost felt as though my demeanor and the lack of talking was so bad that he couldn’t wait to get out of here.
“Don’t worry . I’m not ending this because of something you did. I just remembered that I have to take my dog out, so I should probably get you home before he pees all over my floor again.”
“You have a dog ? What kind?” I asked with a smile, as I was relieved I wasn’t some kind of guy repeller.
“Shetland Sheepdog . His name is Chop.”
“Aw, so cute . I don’t know many people around here with pets.”
“Yeah, I brought him from home . My parents got him for me when I was ten, which is why he is named Chop,” Tom said with a chuckle. “I thought it was so cool at the time, but now I’m starting to regret my cool choice.”
“Oh come now it isn’t that bad . Besides, a cool and tough name scares people.”
The waitress brought the check , took away our cups, and Tom laid out a ten dollar bill for her, which was generous considering the coffee was only three dollars total. My mom always told me that it was a great sign when a man tipped well and was kind to service people. It showed that he was a gentle man and appreciated hard work and dedication. I never really paid attention to her when she went on about it, but now I was starting to see what she meant.
“What direction do you live ? I’d like to walk you home,” Tom said as we walked out the front entrance.
“I’d like that . I don’t live too far from here, just off University Boulevard.”
“Almost sucks it’s not f arther away. I would’ve loved to be with you longer,” he said, almost knowing exactly what to tell me to make me swoon for him.
•••
“This is my place,” I said as we stopped in front of my apartment, which from what I could see looked empty. I guess Morgan either went home with that guy or was still there dancing away.
A few people passed us looking like they were going home, as they stumbled around with the backs of their dresses hiked up, showing everything underneath.
Tom and I walked up the steps and stopped in front of my door .
“I really had a good time tonight . I’m happy I decided to go out,” I said.
“Me , too. When will I see you again?” he asked.
“Well, we have class next week together.”
“Yeah, but I was hoping to see you before then,” Tom said, his voice changing and making me realize that he actually wanted to take me out.
My cheeks heated, not from him saying that to me, but from the realization that I was a complete idiot. I might as well have gotten that soda at the diner, for I knew I looked like a naïve and childish person.
“Oh, y eah, we could do that,” I said as my voice cracked.
“How about Sunday ? Maybe we could go out and do something? I could come pick you up, we could get dressed up, and see what happens from there?” Tom asked.
“That sounds perfect,” I said with a smile.
“I’ll be here Sunday at seven then,” he said before leaning in and kissing me softly, yet firmly, on the cheek.
I smiled, he smiled, and then he turned away and walked down the steps as I stood there floating
“I’m sorry this is awkward . I really don’t go out with a lot of girls, and I’m not sure what to do,” Tom said with a chuckle, as if he was embarrassed to admit it.
“No, don’t be sorry . I haven’t been out in years, and I’m just as much to blame.”
“How are you kids doing?” the waitress asked, startling me.
“We’re good, but could we get the check when you have a chance?” Tom asked.
I put my head down , feeling a little sad, for I almost felt as though my demeanor and the lack of talking was so bad that he couldn’t wait to get out of here.
“Don’t worry . I’m not ending this because of something you did. I just remembered that I have to take my dog out, so I should probably get you home before he pees all over my floor again.”
“You have a dog ? What kind?” I asked with a smile, as I was relieved I wasn’t some kind of guy repeller.
“Shetland Sheepdog . His name is Chop.”
“Aw, so cute . I don’t know many people around here with pets.”
“Yeah, I brought him from home . My parents got him for me when I was ten, which is why he is named Chop,” Tom said with a chuckle. “I thought it was so cool at the time, but now I’m starting to regret my cool choice.”
“Oh come now it isn’t that bad . Besides, a cool and tough name scares people.”
The waitress brought the check , took away our cups, and Tom laid out a ten dollar bill for her, which was generous considering the coffee was only three dollars total. My mom always told me that it was a great sign when a man tipped well and was kind to service people. It showed that he was a gentle man and appreciated hard work and dedication. I never really paid attention to her when she went on about it, but now I was starting to see what she meant.
“What direction do you live ? I’d like to walk you home,” Tom said as we walked out the front entrance.
“I’d like that . I don’t live too far from here, just off University Boulevard.”
“Almost sucks it’s not f arther away. I would’ve loved to be with you longer,” he said, almost knowing exactly what to tell me to make me swoon for him.
•••
“This is my place,” I said as we stopped in front of my apartment, which from what I could see looked empty. I guess Morgan either went home with that guy or was still there dancing away.
A few people passed us looking like they were going home, as they stumbled around with the backs of their dresses hiked up, showing everything underneath.
Tom and I walked up the steps and stopped in front of my door .
“I really had a good time tonight . I’m happy I decided to go out,” I said.
“Me , too. When will I see you again?” he asked.
“Well, we have class next week together.”
“Yeah, but I was hoping to see you before then,” Tom said, his voice changing and making me realize that he actually wanted to take me out.
My cheeks heated, not from him saying that to me, but from the realization that I was a complete idiot. I might as well have gotten that soda at the diner, for I knew I looked like a naïve and childish person.
“Oh, y eah, we could do that,” I said as my voice cracked.
“How about Sunday ? Maybe we could go out and do something? I could come pick you up, we could get dressed up, and see what happens from there?” Tom asked.
“That sounds perfect,” I said with a smile.
“I’ll be here Sunday at seven then,” he said before leaning in and kissing me softly, yet firmly, on the cheek.
I smiled, he smiled, and then he turned away and walked down the steps as I stood there floating
Similar Books
