Page 24 of Making the Call
Christ, Leighton, get it together. Just man up and have a conversation, for crying out loud.It’s not like you’re a prepubescent asking a girl out for the first time.I will myself to come up with the words to tell her how I feel. But each time she dips and sways, my tongue gets tied, and I find myself at a loss for words.What the hell is wrong with me?
She plates the pancakes and pours more batter into the pan. She flits around my kitchen like she belongs here. As I watch her, I become more aware that this isn’t just a casual vacation hook-up. I don’t want to come on too strong, and I have no idea where this might lead, but I do know there’s no way I can leave tomorrow morning and not plan to see her again. As I watch her load up the last of the pancakes onto a plate, I know my time with her is limited today, and I hope when I bring up the conversation, she feels the same.
When she turns around, I’m caught staring. A blush quickly fills her features, and her beauty radiates. “What?” she asks defensively. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.” My words cause her face to pinken more. I’ve told her how beautiful she is several times since we’ve met, but for some reason, she’s shy at this moment.
“Oh,” she whispers. Then she seems to regain her confidence. “Well, breakfast is ready. Want to eat at the bar or at the table?”
“The bar’s fine with me,” I suggest as I pull a stool out for her to sit.
Dani sets into making her pancake with butter and powdered sugar, while I go to the fridge and pull out the maple syrup for myself. I’ve learned yesterday she doesn’t care for syrup, and I loved teasing her about it throughout the day.Who doesn’t like real maple syrup?
“Mmm…” she moans, making me think of our time in bed together. “These taste great.” She’d added fresh blueberries into the batter, and they smell delicious. I quickly cut off a bite and confirm.
“You’re right, these are delicious! I haven’t had real blueberry pancakes in forever,” I say as I finish chewing another large bite.
We eat for a few moments in silence. I watch her as she eats, and something in my chest squeezes. “I’ve had an amazing week with you, Dani.”
She stops chewing, and her eyes fly to mine. Her features are no longer casual as if a wall has formed between us.Shit! Did I say something wrong?She swallows her food, then states, “I have, too.” She opens her mouth to say more but instead, goes back to eating.Okay, that’s not what I was expecting.
My throat tightens, and a lump the size of a grapefruit forms. I take a drink of orange juice and when she still hasn’t looked at me, I clear my throat to get her attention. I’m met with wide, apprehensive blue eyes, causing my heart to nearly beat out of my chest.Have I been reading this wrong?
“I know we said we’d keep this casual…” I start, but I stop when I see her pull in her lower lip and chew on it.
“Okay…” she draws out into three syllables but doesn’t say more. It’s as if she’s waiting for me to continue and won’t allow herself to speak because she tucks that lower lip into her teeth again.
Jesus, Leighton. Get it together. You’ve asked a girl out before, why are you stalling now?I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the possibility of being shot down. “I know the timing is shit, and with the season starting, I have no idea how much time I’ll be on the island, but would you be willing to see me again… After today, that is…” God, am I fifteen? Why am I stuttering like a fool?
Dani’s mouth drops into a perfect O, giving me zero indication of her feelings.
Is she shocked? Happy? For fuck’s sake, say something already. It’s not like it’s that hard of a question to answer. I’m just about to say something when her eyes light up like the Fourth of July. She’s smiling but shakes her head no.
What. The actual. Fuck. I don’t think I could get a bigger mixed message than the one she’s sending me now.
“So… I’m not the only one who’s been feeling this?” she asks in a small voice.
“Christ, no,” I nearly burst out. “I have no idea what,” I point between the two of us, “thisis, but I have no intention of letting it go.” I reach out and caress her face as she leans into me with relief filling her features.
“Thank God,” she whispers nearly to herself. “I thought I was going crazy, if this was only in my head.”
For clarification, I force myself to ask, “So, you’re not opposed to seeing me again?”
I can’t help the goofy grin that forms on my face. Her expression says it all. “We are definitely on the same page. I absolutely want to see you again.”
Relief washes through me and tension I didn’t know I’d been holding onto, leaves my body immediately. I have no idea how I’m going to make this work, but I will make time to see Dani again.
