Chapter 26
twenty-six
Jeremy
Jeremy Moore has a date tonight?” Jax flops down on my bed as I search through my dressers for something to wear. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Well, you won’t see the day if I can’t figure out what to fucking wear.”
“You’re nervous.”
“Of course, I am. I barely dated before my accident, now I’m going on my first date in years, while I’m stuck in this fucking chair and can’t even go pick up my date because I can’t drive.”
“Don’t let the chair bother you. I know it’s easier said than done, but obviously it doesn’t bother her.”
“I just want everything to be perfect. She deserves that.”
“And it will be. Let me help you find something to wear.” He rolls off my bed and onto his feet. “Where are you going?”
“That new Italian place down by the rec center. It’s supposed to be really good. I was lucky enough to get a reservation.”
“Fancy.”
“Do you think it’s too much?”
“I think it’s perfect.” Jax pats me on the back. “And this,” he grabs a nice burgundy button-down out of my closet, “and these,” then a pair of black jeans, “will be perfect for it. Dressy, but not too much.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Who’s driving you? I can if you need me to. I got nothing going on tonight.”
“Becca and Fletcher are giving me a ride. They have something they’re going to tonight that’s nearby, so it’ll work out.”
“Alright, well, if you need a ride home, let me know. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, Jax.”
“Have a good time tonight, Jere. You deserve it.”
You look beautiful.” My eyes widen as Tristyn walks up to me by the bench.
“Thank you. You clean up pretty nice yourself.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t come pick you up. Hopefully, the drive wasn’t too bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. I prefer to drive myself on first dates anyway.”
“So, you can easily sneak out?”
“Typically, yes, but I have a feeling that won’t be the case tonight.” Tristyn smiles, and my stomach fills with butterflies.
That’s never happened before. I’ve never seen a girl and felt all the flutters in my stomach. No one has ever piqued my interest like Tristyn.
We walk toward the entrance, and I adjust myself in my chair so I can open the door for her. I don’t have an idea of the next step to get myself in the building, but I sure as hell am not going to have her open her own door.
“Thank you.”
She walks in, and I rush around the door and follow her before the door closes on me.
We make it to the hostess stand.
“Hi, I have a reservation for two under Moore.”
The hostess smiles at me, then turns to the book information in front of her.
“Perfect, you can follow me this way.” She grabs two menus, and I motion for Tristyn to follow behind her first.
I haven’t been to a restaurant since all of this went down, and I never thought about having to squeeze through tables and chairs to get to our table.
“Excuse me, sorry.” I wheel behind a table, narrowly squeezing through. “Excuse me.” People move in their chairs or adjust to let me through.
I can feel the eyes on me as we head to our table.
They’re wondering what a girl like her is doing here with a guy like me.
I guess I can’t blame them.
“Is this table okay?”
It’s perfect. We have our own little corner of the dining room, which allows me enough space to move from my wheelchair into one of their dining chairs. Maybe it’ll help tonight feel more normal.
“It’s perfect, thank you,” Tristyn says.
The hostess sets down the menus, “Your server will be right with you.”
“Thank you.”
I pull out Tristyn’s chair, and as she begins to sit down, I push her chair in.
“Thank you, Jeremy.”
I wheel around to the other side, pull out my own chair, and adjust my body. My hands begin to shake when I notice the eyes on me. I squeeze my hands into fists before releasing them, hoping to shake out the nerves.
It doesn’t work.
They continue to shake. Honestly, they begin to shake faster, until—
“Hey,” Tristyn places her hand over mine, “we’re all good, okay. It’s just you and me. That’s all that matters here.”
She squeezes my hand, and I release a long breath.
“Just you and me.”
I close my eyes and then shift from my wheelchair into the dining chair, moving my wheelchair behind me, but at a reachable distance.
I grab the menu and study it carefully.
I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea. I haven’t been on an actual date… ever. I’ve hung out with girls, and I guess dated, but not like this. Not in this way.
And I have no idea what to talk about.
I glance at Tristyn over the top of my menu. She’s studying hers just as hard.
“What looks good?” I place my menu down on the table.
“Um, I don’t know.” She brushes her hair behind her ear. “This is really embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never been to a place this nice.”
“Oh,” I didn’t even think about it. She hates it. I don’t blame her. I thought it would be cool to try something new, but maybe I was wrong. “We can go somewhere else. We haven’t even gotten drinks yet, so—”
“No, I didn’t mean that.” She chuckles. “Are you sure this is okay? I can pay for my meal.”
“No.” I shake my head. “There’s no way I’m letting you pay for your meal. First, I asked you out. Second, you have another mouth to feed, and all I have is me. Get whatever you want. We can even get some food to go for Henry.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Tristyn fidgets with the bracelet on her wrist.
“Are your parents around?” I ask, and her gaze falls. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to, I just, the way you talk about you and Henry, I always felt that your parents were busy with work, but when you told me he was yours, I thought maybe—”
“Maybe they weren’t big fans of their teenage daughter getting pregnant?”
“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck. “Sorry, I don’t really do this, ever, and I realize that’s probably a stupid question for a first date.”
“No, don’t be sorry. Yeah, they aren’t around. I haven’t seen them since the night they found out I was pregnant. Vince and Henry are my family, the only family that matters.”
“What about Henry’s dad?”
“He’s in and out of Henry’s life, if you can even say that. He cares more about the power he has over our lives than he does about actually seeing Henry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop with that word.” She shakes her head. “You know, I’m really happy Henry has you. He really likes you; you know that?”
“Does he know you’re with me tonight?”
“He does.” She grins. “I don’t keep things from him.”
“I really like him, too,” I reply. “He’s a great kid. You’ve done an amazing job with him.”
“He is a great kid, but that’s all him. I’m very lucky.”
“That’s funny,” I reach across the table, placing my hand over Tristyn’s hand, “I was just thinking the same thing.”