“Wow,” they both said in unison.
“I’ll add, wow, you both look amazing. I knew you would, but now I can see it for myself.”
“You look stunning,” James said.
“You clean up nicely as well.”
They stood staring at each other.
“I’m not going to wait up,” Aunt Betty said.
Eliza quickly hugged her aunt and left with James, who held his arm out for her.
“I booked us a table at the Italian place,” he said.
“It sounds perfect.” The Italian place had a name but she didn’t know what it was off the top of her head. She had only known it as the “Italian place” since her aunt called it that as well.
He walked her to his truck and held the door open for her. She slid inside, being careful of the dress. She waited. Her heart pounded as he climbed behind the wheel.
Neither of them spoke during the drive to the restaurant. There was parking around the back, and they walked together, hand-in-hand toward the door.
People milled around, and she caught sight of the shocked stares. “I think we’re going to be the talk of the town in no time.”
“I don’t care. Let’s give them something to talk about.”
Before she could guess his intention, he’d cupped her face and kissed her passionately. “Now they’ve got something to talk about.” He smiled at her before leading her through the door.
The scents of garlic, tomatoes, and herbs assailed her, making her stomach growl.
“I’m starving,” James said.
The maître d’ at the door showed them to their table, and James pushed him aside, not letting him help her into her chair.
They had a quiet table, just the two of them. The restaurant was full, and she saw a couple of men and women looking their way.
“We really do make quite a pair, don’t we?” she asked.
“Please don’t run away, but this is all I know. My brothers and I, we’re not known for making a big impression on the first date, or any date. This is the first time I’ve come to this restaurant. I did ask my parents. They said the food is good.”
“I’m the first date you’ve brought here?”
“Yes. You’re different, you’re special.”
“Oh,” she said, her cheeks warming.
“I’m sorry. It sounds like a corny pickup line, doesn’t it?”
“It’s fine. I kind of like it.”
“I … I don’t want to screw this up.”
“It’s fine, honestly. I don’t mind. You can be as corny as you’d like.”
They were handed the menus, and she let James order for them. They both had a glass of white wine, and when it came to the food, she ordered pasta with cream and cheese, and he ordered a steak.
They were alone again, and silence fell between them.
“You know, I always wanted to ask you on a date,” James said.
She looked at him. “You did?”
“I don’t know if you ever heard, but I wanted to ask you to prom.”
“Oh, yeah, I did hear that rumor. I figured it was just mean gossip, you know, when you didn’t ask me.”
“I wanted to,” he said, reaching across the table and taking her hand. “I kept trying to build up the courage to tell you I wanted to go on a date with you, but it was never the right time or you were always busy.”
“You never asked me and I didn’t go.”
“No, please tell me you didn’t go because I didn’t ask you.”
“I wasn’t going to go to the prom on my own, James. That seemed too sad for me. I did have offers, you know. A couple of guys, but I thought you were going to ask me and I rather liked the idea of you asking me.”
“I’m a bastard. I was too much of a coward.”
“I find that hard to believe. How could you be a coward? You are one of the strongest people I know.”
“Doesn’t mean that I wasn’t afraid of you saying no. Would you have said no?”
She shook her head. “I would’ve said yes. I know a lot of girls were jealous.”
“I knew you were special, even back then. You were different. You didn’t blush when you were around me, or treat me like I was someone special.”
She chuckled. “I barely knew you. You were one of the most popular guys in school. You had a reputation even then. You were never mean to me, though. To be honest, I didn’t even think you knew I existed.”
“I knew you existed, and I loved to watch you. Not in a stalker way.”
“How then?”
“I’d watch you during gym. Studying in the library. You liked to go there a lot. In the cafeteria. I loved how you didn’t even seem to care if no one sat with you. You were perfectly content with your books and some food.”
She laughed. “I didn’t have many friends.”
“You had a lot of friends, you just kept to yourself.”
“I don’t know. For a long time, I always felt like the odd one out. I was the only person who lived with their aunt. When I’d make friends, everyone would ask what happened to my parents, and I got tired of the same story or people looking at me with pity.”
“I know the story. I don’t pity you.”
“You don’t?”
“No, I know you love your aunt. She’s one of the most important people in the world to you.”
“She really is. It was her who encouraged me to try college. I know I did well in school, but it was hard. You know? Nothing came easy to me. It’s why I did a lot of studying and I was always in a study group.”
“You dropped out of college, right?”
“Yes. It was a really hard decision as well. I worked my ass off to get a scholarship. My aunt and I spent hours poring over plans and ideas, and I finally told her I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know if I was ever going to make it because it was just too hard. I wasn’t happy. She knew I wasn’t happy. I dropped out. Got jobs. I gained experience because she still wanted me to live my life. I still wasn’t happy.”
“You were gone for a long time.”
She looked at him and licked her lips. “I, er, I tried to find her.”
“Her?” he asked.
“My mom. I haven’t told anyone about this, not even Aunt Betty. I tried to find my mom in the city, and I was successful.” She took a breath and couldn’t believe she was baring her soul on a first date.
Chapter Six
James knew this was a big deal.
Their food came and stopped Eliza from saying anything while the waiter placed their plates down.
Eliza smiled up at the man, and then they were alone again.
“I shouldn’t say anything. It’s not really suitable for first-date material.”
“Fuck whatever rules are in place that tell us where we can and can’t talk. I don’t want to hear it. Talk to me.”
She blew out a breath. “Okay, fine. But if you think this is too much, let me know.”
“Nothing is too much.”
She pushed some hair out of her face, and he loved the blonde locks. She’d curled them and he wanted them spread out across his pillow as he fucked her again. He wanted them sliding down his body as she kissed her way to his dick.