Page 10 of Summer Waves

“Makes two of us,” I sighed and then laughed. Giovanni looked at me and smiled.

“So, do I get the honors of taking you out on a date?” he asked with a hopeful look.

“I don’t know what your schedule is like, but my employees have kicked me out of my shop for the entire weekend. So I’m free tomorrow or Sunday.”

Tabitha and Ricardo had nagged me for days on end about me taking a few days off. They text me day and night. Put sticky notes on my laptop, and on my car. They were determined to get me to take me time. I had a feeling Jacob had been a part of this the whole time.

“I’m also off this weekend,” Giovanni said with an eyebrow raised. We both looked towards the kitchen and then back at each other.

“That boy,” I laughed. “I’m really–”

“Relax, Bethany,” Giovanni smiled. “How does tomorrow sound? You can choose the place and time.”

“Oh, I’ll let you decide. I make decisions all day so I’m all for someone else making a decision for me,” I admitted.

“I know how that goes,” he groaned. “Being an owner is a lot of work.”

“Agree a thousand percent and then some.”

“Would you be okay with me picking you up? We can drive around and figure out where to go together. That way it’s a joint decision,” he grinned.

“That’s one way to do it,” I smiled. “Guess it’s a date then.”

“Your brother’s boss,” I groaned out loud as I continued to pace back and forth, in my apartment.

I had been trying to give myself reasons to back out of the date. My nerves were sky high, and my stomach was in knots. Why had I agreed to this? I hadn’t been on a date since… hell, dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I didn’t know how to date; even if it wasonedate.

Giovanni had left the table shortly after us arranging the date. Jacob had blown up my phone when his shift ended. One of the waiters had overheard the date and ran to the back to tell Jacob, so of course, he had to call me to verify. I had felt so ashamed to even answer his question, I had hit ignore on his calls.

Finally, Jacob texted me:Chicken shit. LOL I’m happy for you.Shortly after that, he messaged me:Told you, you guys would hit it off. You owe me.

Ding dong!

The sound of my doorbell ringing startled me and jerked me from my thoughts of last night. The knots in my stomach tightened. My chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it and my knees turned toJell-O. I braced myself on the front door and took slow, deep breaths.

“Coming,” I managed to say.

One last deep breath, I stood tall, straightened out my tank top, and checked myself over in the full-length mirror by my door. Other than my cheeks being pink, I looked somewhat decent. I unlocked the door and opened it.

Giovanni stood there wearing a red polo shirt, khaki shorts, and blackNikesneakers. He smiled when he saw me.

“You look beautiful,” Giovanni whispered.

“Thank you,” I replied softly.

He moved his hands from behind his back and held out a bouquet of beautiful flowers. They were my favorite flower in a variety of colors.

“How’d you know I love lilies?” I grinned.

“Someone sang like a bird and told me all your favorite things,” he smiled bashfully. “I hope it’s okay that I brought flowers.”

“They’re beautiful,” I smiled and took the flowers from him. Instantly, I brought the flowers to my nose and inhaled. They smelled wonderful. “And they smell good.”

Giovanni let out a heavy breath. I looked at him and he laughed.

“I’ve been on pins and needles since I picked them out at the florist. I was worried that your brother lied to me just to humiliate me,” he rolled his eyes and then chuckled.

“That is something he would do,” I laughed. “But he’s trying to suck up to me right now so his intel is good… for now.”

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