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“Ma, what do you need me to do?” I asked as crossed the room.

“Where are you taking Meg on your first date?” She answered my question with one of her own.

“I’m not sure yet.” I put my arm around her shoulders and laughed. “Any suggestions?”

I knew she’d ask me about Meg, but I hadn’t expected her to do it in front of everyone. I might have tried to play it cool or deny it but it was useless. She didn’t need her mad intuition skills when I’d been acting like a lovesick teenager all night.

“I know you’ll pick the perfect place.” She stood on her toes and gave me a motherly peck.

It felt a little weird having my mom encourage me to date Meg while my dad discouraged me from doing the same. I hoped it wouldn’t be an issue. The last thing I wanted was them arguing about it.

She handed me a box. “Go on, help AJ pack up the decorations. We’ll talk later.”

I made my way to the table AJ was dropping decorations onto and started putting them in the box. I intentionally avoided making eye contact with him.

AJ pushed me in the shoulder with his foot. “Can I assume from your stupid grin you grew a pair and asked her out?”

I shook my head in mock exasperation. “Yes. Happy now?”

“Yup.” AJ climbed down the ladder and put his hand on my shoulder. “Sorry I brought up Ana. It didn’t occur to me Jamie might not know what happened.”

“No worries, he knows a little. I was too embarrassed to share the ugly details when it happened, and then it faded as I focused on adjusting to civilian life and working at SSI.”

“So I guess this means I need a new wingman.” AJ teased me as he closed up a box. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

Chapter 22

Meg

My brain was on overdrive the entire twenty-two minute drive home.

A date. We have a date next Saturday.I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t date my boss’s son.Oh my god, I can’t believe I almost kissed him. I never wanted to kiss anyone as much as I wanted to kiss him. It’s a good thing we got interrupted, even if it scared the hell out of me. He was so close, and he smelled so good, and I couldn’t think about anything but his lips. Those stupid lips and his stupid grin. I bet he’s a great kisser.We have a date, and I don’t have anything to wear. I need a dress.And shoes, I can’t wear sneakers with a dress.

Was I really going to do this, go on a date with Mary’s son? Would she be mad? Should I really be doing this when I know I might have to pack up and run away again? Should I cancel? I should probably cancel.

But I didn’t. I could have done it at any point in the last week, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.So here I am,waiting for Jack, who’ll be here any minute to pick me up.

On Monday, Jack had stopped by Grannie’s to tell me he’d pick me up at six for our six-thirty reservations at Hank’s Steakhouse. He said I should dress in layers because after dinner he was taking me to a concert in the park. It sounded like the perfect first date.

On Tuesday, Mary had told me I won the SIG. I couldn't believe my luck. In my excitement, I hugged Mary. Luckily, she didn't mind and hugged me back. I had texted Jack as soon as I got home to tell him and ask if he wanted to go with me to pick it up on Thursday. I didn’t tell him I was nervous about going to the gun store alone.

Jack sent a congratulations gif, and an apology. He couldn’t go on Thursday because he’d still be working in Dallas. “I’d love to take you Sunday, unless you can’t wait that long.” I told him I could wait, I wasn’t in a hurry. It was probably obvious I wanted him to go with me.Why couldn’t I tell him the truth? I’m nervous and I want his help.

Because you don’t feel comfortable asking for help. You don’t trust people. Because people can’t let you down if you do it all yourself. But Jack was different. I trusted Jack to keep his word.

Except for a few text messages while he was on stakeout, we hadn’t seen or talked to each other since he told me his plans for our date.

Nothing in my closet was date worthy, so I went shopping. I found a cute boutique consignment shop with reasonable prices and a perfect, gorgeous emerald green, knee length dress in my size. My black pumps were new, I didn’t like buying used shoes. The only necklace I owned, a Celtic knot heart pendant with an emerald teardrop dangling at the bottom, accented the dress perfectly. I sent a thank you prayer to my grandmother. It was the last gift she’d given me before she died.

I grabbed a thin black embroidered scarf from my closet, thinking it would be enough if it cooled off. I hung it near the door so I could grab it on my way out.

After several failed attempts at a sophisticated up do, I left my hair down. I rarely had a reason to do anything fancier than a ponytail or a messy bun, so I wasn’t very good at doing my hair. My make-up was simple: smokey eyeliner, mascara, and my favorite pink tinted lip gloss.

I jumped when I heard the knock on my door. Five-fifty-four. Of course, he was a few minutes early. I chuckled at the thought, like I knew him so well. “It’s Jack.” A thousand humming bird wings fluttered in my stomach. I was as nervous as I was excited. I liked him, and he seemed to like me. But I’d been wrong before. Guys acted like they were interested in me, but what they really wanted was a free coffee, to copy my homework, or have a one-night stand.

I was a nervous wreck all week, alternating between excitement and fear whenever I thought about tonight. Even as I was shopping for my dress, I thought about canceling. I hemmed and hawed until it was too late.So here I am.I smoothed down my skirt as I stepped up to my door, wondering if I was making a huge mistake.

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