Page 30 of Waiting to Love You

Chapter 9

Seth

As luck would have it, I get everything done with time to spare. As I pull into a spot near Just the Drip, I notice Bristol standing in front of another store a few doors down. I turn off my car and wait for her to notice me, but her attention is focused elsewhere.

“I guess she’s just as nervous as I am,” I mumble to myself as my eyes wander down her body. Instead of letting her hair hang loosely around her shoulders, it’s pulled back, with a few stray pieces framing her face. She’s changed out of the clothes she had on when I saw her earlier, swapping her outfit for a knee-length forest green dress that hugs all her curves.

Bristol blows a stray piece of hair out of her face before checking her watch a second time. I’d love nothing more than to continue to watch her, cataloging every part of this moment in my mind, but something tells me she won’t wait much longer.

“Time to put us both out of our misery,” I say to myself before climbing out of my car and jogging toward her. “Am I late?”

Bristol jumps slightly, her hand coming to her chest. “No.”

I smile, running the back of my fingers across the apple of her cheek. Her eyes close slightly, her cheek relaxing against my touch as she sighs softly. “I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“It’s fine,” Bristol responds, her eyes flying open as she takes a step back, putting some space between us.

“You ready for our date?”

“This isn’t a date.”

I smirk as I step closer to her. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” she whispers, her body leaning towards mine slightly. “This is just two old friends having dinner together.”

“Whatever you say, darlin’.” My hand slides down her arm before threading my fingers through hers and planting a kiss on her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Oh, this? Nothing special, just a dress I had hanging in my closet.” Bristol turns from side to side, as if she has no idea what that outfit is doing to me. “Did you have somewhere in mind for dinner? Crawdaddy’s shouldn’t be too busy this time of night.”

“This is the first time I’m seeing you in over a year; the last place I want to take you for dinner is Crawdaddy’s,” I turn on my heels and pull her toward my car. “I wanted to have you all to myself, so I figured I could make you dinner.”

Bristol’s breath hitches slightly as she nods in response. “Sounds like fun.”

She follows closely behind me as I lead her toward the passenger side door, holding it open for her.

“Your chariot awaits, milady.”

She giggles softly as she steps into the cab. I quickly close the door behind her before jogging over to the driver’s side of the truck, getting in, and pulling out of the spot. The cab fills with uncomfortable silence as I search for something safe to talk about. I doubt laying my heart on the line the second we’re alone together is acceptable first-date behavior.

“How have you been?” I ask, hoping that’s a safe topic to discuss.

“Busy,” she responds as she turns slightly in my direction. “My yoga studio is finally doing well enough that I can hire some employees. My friend, Audrey—you met her this morning—and her daughter, Love, moved here a few months ago to help.”

“That’s great, but I hope you take time for yourself every once in a while,” I tell her.

“I have Audrey, and that has been a tremendous help. But she has Love, and now Jade and Connor. I know she’d have a fit if she heard me say this, but I wish I could give her more time to spend with them.”

“Why’s that?”

“Connor and Audrey haven’t been together for long. The first few months of a relationship are important. The last thing she should be doing is spending all her time teaching classes at the studio. I give her as much time off as I can, without working myself to the bone.”

I reach over and grasp her hand. “I understand that. I guess you’re in luck now that you have me to take care of you.”

Bristol pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and shifts her attention back out the window. Noticing her discomfort, I change the subject. “It must be hard starting a business from scratch.”

“Not so much hard as time-consuming, but it could be worse. Everyone was willing to lend a helping hand when I got started. It also helps that I’m the only yoga studio in town.”

“Does that mean you’re still single?” I ask as I turn onto my street, hoping she hasn’t moved on to someone else in my absence.

---