Chapter 20
Ivy
I think he may have hypnotized me. He looked at me like he was either trying to stare into my soul or take control of my mind and force my mouth to form the word yes. He didn’t though. There was no force. Only an earnest request delivered with such hope in his eyes that my only option was to agree.
“Can I take you to lunch?” Alex asks, a look of disbelief on his face, like he’s still afraid I’ll say no. Or he can’t believe I agreed to his ridiculous idea.
It would be a lie to say I'm not worried. His display of affection almost left me once again ready to have eight black-haired, half-English babies. I’ve got to put in some kind of protection, or I won’t stand a chance.
“Hang on. I think there needs to be some kind of rules. For our protection.” He sits back a bit, loosening his grip on my shoulders, but not letting go of my hand.
“Ok. Name them.”
“We can’t be touching like this too often. I know actual dating would involve this sort of stuff often, but I think there is a fine line over into confusion. I think keeping touches to a minimum would help us stay on the right side of the line.”
I don’t miss the hint of disappointment on his face. “That makes sense. Okay.”
“And no kissing.”
“Hmm … can we come back to that?”
I laugh. “No.”
“What if we just say … no kissing on the lips?”
“What, so you can kiss me on the neck? I don’t think so.”
“It would be good.”
“I’m sure it would. Thus, the need to say no.”
“I think I know a kiss that will be alright.” He jumps to his feet and holds out his hand to me, a huge smile on his face. I place my hand in his and stand. He kisses the back of my hand. “How was that?”
“I think that’s in the safe zone. In moderation,” I add.
“Good. Any other rules?”
“No.”
“Then how about lunch?”
“Yes, boyfriend. Take me to lunch.”
A hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop was not where I expected Alex to take me for our first “date.” And I’m pleasantly surprised. It reminds me of my restaurant with the exposed brick and similar seating. Similar seating to what was there, anyway.
I order a BLT after the woman behind the counter assures me the bacon will be crispy. I can promise you’ll never find soggy bacon in my restaurant. Or in my mouth.
I watch as Alex approaches the counter. He had put on a ball cap, and never really looked up at her, keeping his eyes on the menu on the counter.
She looked at him curiously, but recognition never lit her eyes.
I’m glad I don’t have to go to places and hide.
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself social, but I would miss the opportunities to smile or be kind to someone.
I walk toward the tables as he’s paying. “Hey, Brad!” I call, just in case. “Do you want to sit by the window?”
He turns and looks at me with laughter in his eyes. “Sure, Betty, whatever you want.”
He gets to the table and hands me a wrapped cookie he secretly bought me.
“I didn’t even see these up there,” I say, already unwrapping it and taking a bite.
“Dessert first?”
“I just wanted to taste it. You wanna try?” I hand the cookie to him and watch as he takes a bite and has an underwhelmed reaction. It wasn’t great. “So what is it that you do, Brad?”
He laughs, setting the cookie down between us. “I’m a librarian during the day and at night I’m a bouncer at a nightclub.”
“Wow. What a range you’ve got there. Do you see a lot of your library patrons at the nightclub?”
“There’s surprisingly little overlap.” Alex laughs. “What about you, Betty?”
“I’m a stay-at-home mom to forty cats.” I grin. “And, unrelated, how much do you earn from your two jobs?”
He bursts out laughing, and I worry as heads turn in our direction.
“Keep it down. People are looking.”
He shakes his head, smiling, and, man, he has a nice smile.
“So, you said you had somewhere special to take me. What is it about this place?”
“My grandfather brought me here every Saturday for lunch.” He shrugs. “Well, most Saturdays, anyway. He always bought me bubble gum at the counter. But he made me wait until after I’d eaten.” He eyes the cookie, and I laugh, wishing they’d had bubblegum at the counter instead.
“That reminds me of my grandfather. He didn’t live nearby, but every time he came to town, he took Val and me to eat at one of like three or four places, and each of them sold York Peppermint Patties at the checkout. He always got us each one. I smile every time I see one of those at a check-out.”
He smiled and nodded. “Same with bubblegum. It makes me wonder about what restaurant candy I’ll buy for my grandkids one day.”
Good gosh, we can’t be talking about his black-haired grandkids. So I change the subject.
“You know, I’ve never been able to blow a bubble with bubble gum.”
“I could teach you,” he offers with a glint in his eyes.
“No way. We will not be doing that.” I laugh.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
I shake my head, and the movement reminds me of how crazy my hair is today. I run my hands down it, trying to nonchalantly achieve some sort of calm.
“I love your hair. It’s your showstopper, I think. It draws people in, then when you look closely at everything else, nothing disappoints.”
Pretend boyfriend. Pretend boyfriend. Pretend boyfriend.