Page 45 of Hot Four Teacher
“Thanks, Leah. I owe you one.” I take a couple of deep breaths before walking out of the bedroom.
I open the door to see Dane standing there. He wears a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of dark blue jeans. I’m sorry, but it should be illegal to look that good.
“Hi,” I say in probably the most awkward fashion.
“Hey.” He smiles. “Sorry. I know I’m a little early. I guess I was nervous.”
Leah was right.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks.
As ready as I’ll ever be.
***
I’m thankful our ride to the restaurant is a quick one. My stomach does somersaults with all my nerves. With my hands crossed in my lap, I nervously pick at my nails.
And believe me when I say that Dane is not the problem here. He is making pleasant small talk and is being an absolute delight. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here like I’m in pain.
“You look beautiful,” he tells me.
“Thank you,” I reply. “So do you. I mean, you look handsome, not beautiful. And sexy. You look sexy.”
Michelle, if you have even a speck of intelligence, you will stop talking right now.
I snap my mouth shut. I’m almost too scared to look at him.
Almost.
When I do manage to look over, I see a smirk playing on his lips.
“What?” I can’t help but ask.
“You think I’m sexy?”
A genuine laugh escapes me. “Shut up.”
“For the record, I think you’re sexy too.”
Now, I’m the one smirking. “Even naked?”
Part of me asks to keep the banter going. And part of me asks because I want to know.
He moves his eyes from the road to me for a moment. “Especiallynaked.”
Just as we are finishing this conversation, we pull into the restaurant. He puts his pick-up truck in park and shuts off the engine. We sit in silence for a moment before he’s the one to break it.
“Are you okay, Michelle?”
I nod. “Just nervous.”
“I’m nervous too. But I think we are both putting too much pressure on this. We’re just having some fun.”
He has a point. This date doesn’t have to be a huge deal. It isn’t like this is the storyline of a rom-com. I highly doubt it’s going to be some epic love story. But maybe it will at least give me enough confidence to put myself out there.
“You’re right,” I tell him. “And I’ve been excited about this date all week. I have just always hated the first date awkwardness. Once we are over that hump, I think things will be better.”
“I get what you’re saying. I have an idea.” He lifts up the center console, now leaving nothing in the seat between us.
