Page 18 of Love's a Glitch
“Thanks,” he said in an amused tone. “Insanity is actually one of my best qualities.”
A chuckle slipped out, and I lodged my spoon in my ice cream. “Do you think you could help me? With being more adventurous? What’s something you’d recommend for a newbie? In case I didn’t imply it heavy enough, you’d have to be willing to come along, otherwise I’ll for sure chicken out.”
Silence again. I realized what I was asking, in a roundabout way. To meet up. It would involve developing our relationship into something beyond phone buddies, but did he honestly want to just chat and never do anything more?
“Not to brag,” Luke said, “but I’m an excellent instructor. I’ve taught scuba diving, surfing, led mountain hiking and biking excursions, and I used to work at a ropes course up north. Which is where I’d probably suggest starting. I’ve been meaning to go take a spin on the courses anyway.”
“That sounds perfect.” The ocean and I were cool. It could nip at my toes and, other than that, I left it be. No thanks on coming nose to nose with a creature that could swim circles around my doggie-paddle flailing. “There are safety nets, right? I’m not ready for freestyle.”
“Yep. Harnesses, too, and they require helmets. You’ll want to wear comfy clothes you can easily move in.”
Whoa. This was actually happening. Not only was I agreeing to walk across rope bridges high in the air—high enough a helmet was required—but I was also going to be meeting up with the guy who’d been on my mind more often than not.
“Okay. So, you and I are going on an adventure.” More of my sadness cracked and peeled away. “Just like hobbits. I’m not sure myLord of the Ringsreference sufficiently increases my cool factor, but who’d call that boring, right?”
“Someone who’s dead wrong, that’s who. I’m way too tall to be a hobbit, though. I’m going to be your guide, so I guess that makes me Gandalf?” The way his voice pitched up made me think he wasn’t sure he wanted the title, which meant I was so going to run with it.
“Hot. Please tell me you’ve got a big staff.”
“Wow. We went from meeting up to getting personal about the size of my staff real fast.”
“No, I…” The back of my neck and cheeks blazed as I scrambled to defuse the bomb that’d already gone off. “Isodidn’t mean it like that. I meant…” I dropped my head in my hand, glad for the coolness holding the ice cream had provided. “I’m not nearly smooth or bold or brave enough to…” I snickered. “I honestly meant wood—damn it.”
Luke’s laugh vibrated through me, awakening every cell in my body. Admittedly, I was now thinking about a certain part of his anatomy, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. But I could also wait to see. Not that I’d start by ogling his…anyway.
“Well, now I have to dig my own grave,” I said. “I think after this conversation, it should be plenty deep.”
“Guess I’ll just use my giant staff to help lift you out.”
We both laughed, and the last stress of the day melted away.
Shuffling sounded over the line, and had I not already put my foot in my mouth, I might as if he was settling in on a couch, chair, or bed. Dealer’s choice meant I was going to pick bed, and since spring was about to give way to summer and it was getting roasty toasty outside, he’d likely not bother with a shirt.
There. That’s a nice visual.
“My weekdays are pretty hectic,” the shirtless hottie said, “and I’m assuming your weekends are booked for thrift shopping through your exes, so when are we going to do this thing?”
Tonight. Tomorrow. Any damn time you want, you can take me.At least my filter engaged before that slipped out. “I’ve got plans on Friday and Sunday, but I’m free on Saturday.”
“That works for me. And hey, sorry if that thrift shopping joke came out too harsh. I didn’t mean it that way.”
I gnawed at a hangnail, telling myself to get clippers before I ripped it and ended up with a painful strip of exposed, raw skin. “No big deal. It’s not like I’ve wondered if redating people is one of those misguided ideas of mine destined to crash and burn. But not trying pretty much guarantees failure, and I’m not quite ready to admit defeat.”
“I haven’t been on a date in about a year, and I’m not a relationship guy, so who am I to judge?”
Happiness slowly leaked from me, like a balloon with a tiny hole. I longed to plug it up with the fact that nothing had changed, and he’d already insinuated as much, but disappointment still pushed it out, faster and faster. If anything, Luke just proved why I shouldn’t let go of someone who was searching for a real connection. “So, what’s Saturday look like for you?”
“How’s four o’clock?”
Way too far away, especially with my anticipation growing leaps and bounds by the second. “Sounds like the perfect hour for an adventure. See you then.”
9
Ellie
One last check in the reflection of my rearview mirror, and a quick swipe of lip gloss, and I pushed out of my car. I tugged my shorts into place on my thighs, and then smoothed the bottom of my tank top.
My nerves performed jumping jacks in my gut, making me regret that donut I’d eaten on the drive over. I was about to meet Luke. In the flesh.
