Page 17 of So Wrong, It's Wright
Me:Can’t keep a good girl down.
Tahlia:never!
Me:I have to get back to work, but it was great connecting again, and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Tahlia:me too. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Me:Thanks. And before I go, I wanted to say sorry for leaving the way I did last weekend. How about I take you to dinner while I’m in town?
Tahlia:nothing to apologize for, but I’d love to have dinner with you.
Me:Great. We’ll go out after the christening.
Tahlia:Can’t wait :-D
My chest seems to puff to about twice its size as I power down my cell and slide it into my pocket. Tahlia and I have a date. Arealdate. And I’m ridiculously excited. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to me that often.
“What’s got you grinning like a Cheshire cat?” Janeece asks, catching me as I swipe my ID card to get into the lab.
“Oh, um, just a funny meme,” I say, not wanting to share when what’s happening between Tahlia and me feels incredibly special and private.
“Memes!” she declares as she walks through the door I’m holding open. “You know, my boy, Kramer, has a wicked sense of humor. Why, he showed me one the other day where an ape was dancing in a paddling pool like that girl in Flashdance. Hilarious, it was. I’ll have to show it to you.”
“I’d like that,” I say, actually meaning it, because nothing in this world can wipe the smile off my face today. I could listen to her talk about her kid for hours and still be happy by the end. So, bring it on. Tell me it all. Because I have a date with the hottest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.
ASH
Straining on my final push-up, I bring my knees up to my chest then get off the floor, moving into squats like this is somehow going to make me look better before I see Tahlia today. It’s a losing battle, I know. No matter what I do or how often, I'm always going to buy my clothes in the big man section, but the rhythmic movement is relaxing me. Something I severely need when I'm a nervous wreck since the christening is in less than two hours.
Similar to the last time, I flew into New York last night after work. The first thing I wanted to do was go straight to Tahlia, but I came to the hotel instead—even though she was willing to wait up for me, gorgeous girl—but I do have the whole weekend in the city before I fly back late Sunday night. It's not a lot of time, but it's something. And it will give Tahlia and I the chance to see if this attraction between us is more than an infatuation created by the romantic veil that descends around weddings. We all know there’s something about them compounds our loneliness, so I want to make sure she is one hundred percent into me because I definitely know I'm into her. How could I not be?
Finishing my squats, I let out a heavy sigh, my mind replayingeverythingI really enjoy about Tahlia. Then I head into the shower and beat off twice so I don’t embarrass myself the moment I set eyes on her.
After that, my mind is clear and I’m ready to make my best second impression.
* * *
"Oh,hey there Mr. tall, blond and handsome," Darren says when I arrive outside the church for Bradley's christening. There are close to fifty people milling about, so I'm guessing it's not time to go inside yet. I slide my hands in my pockets and nod in greeting, trying not to make it obvious that I’m scanning the gathering for Tahlia’s red hair.
"Ready to become godparents?" I ask, shifting my gaze to Theo as he pulls uncomfortably at his tie.
"The godparent part is great. But I hate these fucking monkey suits we have to keep wearing to these things. Why can't we all start christening kids during a backyard barbecue by splashing them in the pool? It’d work the same if the priest was there, right?"
I can't help but laugh. The man has a point. "If you ask me, that sounds like a hell of a lot more fun," I say, gesturing to my own movement-limiting suit. I swear if I shake someone’s hand too vigorously, I’ll tear the back out of it.
"Say, Ash. Can’t help but notice you look a little nervous there," Darren points out, quirking a single brow. "Something we should know?”
“Nope. Nothing to be nervous about,” I say, doing my best impression of a nonchalant person. The tapping of my fingers against my thigh might be giving me away, though.
Theo doesn’t even try to hide his smile. "Tahlia is inside with Ruby.” That just makes my fingers tap faster as I stare longingly at the main entrance. “I guess you two really hit it off at the wedding, huh? I’d apologize for sending her into the wrong room. But I think it probably worked out for you." He claps me on the arm, and my face goes bright red. I’ve never been the type to discuss bedroom activities outside it.
"Wouldn't know what you're talking about," I say as I rub the back of my neck and wonder when it got so hot.
"So, you're not here looking for round two?" Darren teases, sharing a look of silent communication with Theo as I shake my head, hoping for a cool breeze to come my way.
"Not at all.” I gulp. “I wouldn’t. I mean, I'm not the kind of guy to be presumptuous. And I live so far away. Tahlia and I are probably friends at most. She’s a sweet—"
"Hey, Tahlia!" Theo says a little too enthusiastically, cutting me off as he looks over my shoulder. I wince and pray real hard for Ant man’s superpower so I can shrink myself down and disappear. But that doesn’t work out, so I turn around and find Tahlia looking gorgeous in a dusty pink dress with her auburn hair hanging loose over her shoulders.
