Page 9 of Giddy-Up
Adate.She was goingon a date.Tonight.With the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.Who thought she was beautiful.And sexy.And wanted to kiss her and take her to bed.
Lord, have mercy.
She was in over her head.Way over it.For many reasons, but the biggest being that she’d never actually been on a date before.Ever.Then there was the whole stupid stomach ache thing she’d get whenever she was near Wade Evans.
And crippling anxiety.
Oh, yes.How could she forget?Dating required talking.Having actual conversations.Well, it was a good thing she had a few hours to practice.And she was going to practice on Bella, who she was currently waiting to arrive at Molly’s diner.
Riley continued to fiddle with the straw in her soda.She’d arrived early, like always and chosen a booth in the very far corner of the room.She preferred having her back to a wall, she didn’t know why, but she’d put all her money on it being another fun quirk of her anxious mind.
“Hey!”A holler from across the diner had Riley lifting her head.It was Bella, waving enthusiastically at her, totally oblivious to all the other diners staring.
I wish I was that confident.
Bella was stunning, so Riley wasn’t surprised her looks came complete with confidence.It was just hard not to be envious.
“I’m not late, am I?”Bella slid into the red leather booth opposite her.
“No.Um.I was early.I’m always early.”
Riley was treated to an easy smile.“Good.Have you ordered yet?”
“Oh, uh.No, I-I was waiting for you.”
As Bella began to ponder the menu out loud, Riley observed.Taking notes.Everything about the woman was so effortless.Her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders wasn’t styled, nor was it messy.But it looked so good.Like she just woke up with hair like that.She didn’t have much make up on either, just a touch of mascara and some pink gloss on her lips.Yet, she could still pass for model material.And don’t get her started on Bella’s clothes, how could jeans and a shirt look so damn fashionable?Life was so unfair.It took hours for Riley to just resemble a human.
Once they were done ordering, Riley decided there was no use dwelling on looks.There wasn’t much she could do in a few hours anyway.
And he’s already said that he thinks you’re beautiful...and sexy.
She was still a little dubious about that.He could just be lying.To get her into bed.Men did that.A lot.
Like you care if he’s lying?
Okay, so maybe she didn’t care all that much.Not after the goosebumps he’d administered yesterday.She’d already decided she wanted him.Whether he was a liar or not.She was going to do something for herself for once.That was the point of coming to a new town in the first place.She was finally putting herself first.That meant going after what she wanted.And what she wanted was Wade Evans.
Maybe you should learn how to string a sentence together first—before you get ahead of yourself?
Yes.She should do that.It was time to practice the art of conversation.
As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, Riley announced, “I-I have a date tonight.With Wade.”
Bella’s perfectly manicured eyebrows shot up.“Okay.Wow.Getting straight down to it then?”
What does that mean?
It didn’t matter.What mattered was that she practiced.Possibly get some advice.Or at least some useful information she could use to help her.
“How many girlfriends has Wade Evans had?”
For the first time, Bella looked perplexed.“Oh.Well.I’m not entirely sure.”
“Would you say it was a lot?More than five?”
Bella let out a short laugh.“Sorry honey, I’ve no idea.Maybe this is something you should be asking him?Also, really, does it matter?I mean, he’s single now, right?Whoever he was with before, it didn’t work out, so it shouldn’t matter.”
She was right.It shouldn’t matter.But Riley’s grand total of zero was mocking her.She felt like she needed to know what she was up against.Information was power.
