Page 17 of Summer Message

I'm about to answer when the waitress brings us our burgers, fries, and drinks to us. We both thank her.

Oh yeah. She’s asking me on a second date. I’m suddenly thinking this could really turn into something great. I try to calm myself. I told her no pressure.

9

Kristina

When Matthew kissed me, my knees went weak and I didn’t ever want him to stop. He broke apart and I wanted to pull him back to me, but I noticed there were kids around us, and I better behave on the making out. I don't know if any of my students will be around here. We are only fifteen minutes from my new town.

Sitting down at the booth after we order our food, I watch Matthew talking to someone who wanted to talk football with him. He lights up talking about it. I stand there really looking him over. He's a very handsome guy. He doesn't look a lot like his pictures online. He's not as bulky, but fit. His hair is shaved in a fauxhawk haircut, but not styled that way. The scruff against my cheek was sending shivers through my body. I've always loved scruff on a guy. He comes back to the table with napkins.

I just blurted out the invitation to the BBQ. On the way out tonight, Mrs. Michaels stopped me to let me know about it. I guess there's at least one every week during the summer. It varies. I'm hoping that I don't get asked to everyone, as I'm going to be busy finishing my house. My parents helped me so much, but there's still a lot I need to do to add my touch to it.

Matthew smiles before starting to say something, but the waitress brings the food to us. We thank her and she walks away. I laugh awkwardly. Suddenly I'm nervous again. He hasn’t answered my question yet. Is he liking me as much as I’m liking him?

“I'd really like to go with you.” He finally answers and grabs my hand. “This has been a great date already. I'm having a lot of fun.”

“Me too. I'm kicking your ass in bowling, and the conversation is pretty damn good too.” I laugh.

Matthew rubs his thumb across my knuckles, so I stare into his hazel eyes.“My favorite part was the kiss. I wanted to do more of it.” He's honest.

“Mine too. I definitely want to do that more often, but not when so many kids are around,” I tell him.

“I agree. Save something for date two.” He takes a bit out of his cheeseburger. “Are you sure? Randi and Charlie aren't there to beat me up, are they?”

I laughed a little louder than I wanted to but shook my head no.“Nah. I feel like this is a good thing between us, so there’s no need for them to worry. Besides, the chief of police lives near me. They wouldn’t want to get busted.” I wink as I take a bite of burger. I take a drink of my Coke before blurting out something about coming back to my place for a movie.

Matthew stares at me, probably not sure if I'm being serious or not. “Do you want to leave now?” He slides out of the booth and holds his hand out to me.

“No. We still have another game to go, then we'll leave. Sit down.” I laugh. Someone's eager to get me alone. Oh My God. Are we having sex tonight? Crazy thoughts start going through my head, and I must've made a face.

“Hey, we're going to watch a movie. Nothing will happen unless we both want it to happen, okay?” Matthew reassures me.

I mean it's not like it's the 40’s or 50’s and we need to have our parents’ permission to date. No hugging, kissing, or anything like that until you're married. Men and women have been hanging out for years without having sex. I've done it a couple of times, but they turned out to be more interested in Randi than me. I shove those thoughts away and just enjoy our meal and the company.

As we finish eating dinner, Matthew randomly throws out a this or that to get my opinion on things. Probably to break the building tension. It relaxes me. Then he starts messing with my football team.

“Boy, don't make me beat you up in front of everyone. I promise come football season, my team is going to kick your team's ass.”

He laughs.“Do you want to put your money where your mouth is?” he challenges me.

“What do you have in mind?” I ask him as we stand to throw away our stuff and head back to our lane.

“I don't know. Why don't we think about it and decide together? We'll make the bet before preseason starts in August.” Matthew holds my hand as we walk around the food court section to the lanes.

“Sounds good to me.” I blush. Every time he has kissed me or touched me, I’ve blushed like a teenager. I'm going crazy around him. YetI'm completely at ease with him

The rest of the game is fun, but not as exciting as the thought of him being in my home alone with me. We end the game and decide to call it a night at the bowling lanes. We turn in our shoes. The rain has stopped, but now it’s muggy.

“So that you know, I don't have central air yet. He's coming tomorrow to start getting everything done. My house will be muggy, but I have a lot of fans and a couple of air conditioner,.” I tell him. “I just want you to know what you're walking into.”

“If you're cool with it then I'm good but,” he pulls me into him with his hands on my hips. “I'm not going to force myself to be there until you're comfortable.”

“I am comfortable. I'm nervous. The last relationship I had was almost three years ago, and it ended badly. But I want to spend time with you. Especially alone.” I lick my lips and take a deep breath. “I wouldn't put out right away and he got frustrated with me. He would constantly cheat on me, and then berate me for confronting him.”

“What a dickhead. I don't need sex to make me happy. As long as we’re honest, don't cheat, and you constantly tell me how great looking I am, then we’re good.”

I laugh and lever up on my toes to kiss him. He pushes my back up against the wall and digs his hands into my waist. The heat I feel at his touch is almost too much. I’ve never felt this way before. I need him. Now.

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