Page 45 of The Lake House

“You’ll go out with me?”

She nods, still flashing me her gorgeous smile.

Now I’m the one smiling. “Oh, wow. That’s awesome!”

She giggles, covering her mouth with her free hand. The other one is still holding that bouquet. Maybe they’re not from some guy she’s going out with after all. Or maybe they are and she decided to start dating a bunch of us to see who she’s more compatible with.

Well, it doesn’t matter, because I know she’s going to love me. And when I pick her up for our date, I’ll be sure to bring her a bigger and better bouquet than the one she’s carrying now.

“Hey Dec, I’d really love to stay and talk with you some more, but I have to run. So I’ll see you…”

“Friday,” I respond before she has a chance to change her mind. I don’t think her statement was a setup to change our plans, but still. I’m not taking that chance. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” It’s so convenient that I know exactly where she’s staying.

She smiles again. “Friday night at eight.” She nods. “It’s a date. See you then, Declan.”

And on that note, she spins around and gets on her way.

I watch her, and before I know it, she turns around and waves at me. I wave back.

And as she disappears from sight, it takes me a few moments to come back down to Earth and hop into my car. I still can’t believe she said yes.

As I buckle my seat belt. My phone rings. It’s Cheryl. “Hey, Cherrie. I—”

“What the heck is taking you so long?!” she barks. “Hurry up! We’ve got to start the meatballs. My wonderful niece, for one, is starving.”

I smile and shake my head. “I’m on my way… be there in two minutes.”

I pull out of the parking spot and immediately think of Giuliana. A smile pulls on my lips. I know the perfect place to take her to on our first date this Friday.

ChapterSixteen

GIULIANA

I’m giggling to myself like a damn teenager when the boy she likes finally looks her way and smiles. Like it’s my first real crush.

Well, come to think of it, it is. Declan had been my first crush, albeit many years ago, but still.

I honestly can’t believe he asked me out again. I really thought he was done since I had already told him no before. But I’m glad he asked me again. And I jumped on that opportunity.

I shift the bouquet from my right arm to my left. Carnations had always been Grandma’s favorite and Grandpa would bring them to her every Sunday since they had first started going out. She told me long ago that he never missed a week. If the weather was bad, if he was sick, if money was tight… he always found a way to bring her at least one or two carnations, always blue or white, if not both. Today, I’m just keeping that tradition alive, but not just for her this time. For both of them.

I cross the street, and again, I smile to myself. It’s crazy to think how much my life has changed. Just a year ago, I was in a dark place, hating the world and pretty much everyone in it. Okay, not everyone, but still. I wasn’t happy and I don’t feel like I made a great contribution to anything while I felt the way I did. I guess that’s normal, right? I wasn’t myself and didn’t feel good about pretty much anything at all.

But now, a year later, and I feel like I’m on top of the world. I’m back to the place that I was the happiest growing up, I’m living my life the way I want to without having to worry about anyone else, and now, I’m about to go out on my first date ever with Declan Bell.

Damn, he looked so good in just a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt. Something so freaking casual makes him look like a damn model. Not like it takes him much to look that way, anyway. I’m sure he’d look just as good without any clothes on.

And then my mind wanders. Shit, I wasn’t trying to think of him naked, but now my mindiswandering. That was not at all what I was getting at. I just meant it wouldn’t matter what he’d have on, he’d look good in anything or nothing at all. And there I go again.

Change the subject, Giuliana, and quickly, before you have to run home and take care of business…

Hmm… Friday, first date... Yes, there we go.

Never in a million years had I ever thought we’d be going on a date. Hmm, I wonder where he’s taking me. He’s going to pick me up at eight o’clock this Friday night… what should I wear? How should I style my hair?

I need to ask Liv what she thinks…

Oh, Liv… she’s going to be thrilled when she finds out he asked me out again and I finally womaned up and said yes. I can’t wait to tell her.

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