13. Adelaide
ADELAIDE
After getting my ass reamed out by Sophia I went home to think about this drink date with Vance. I would enjoy myself and see where the night went. That was my final decision. If it was one drink, then so be it. If it was a full on dinner, then so be it. I’m being easy and breezy. No big deal.
Time to convince myself of that.
Standing in front of my closet Saturday evening was nerve racking. I had three dresses hanging in front of me. Ranging from conservative to slutty. He just said he’d pick me up and what time. I responded with my address.
I liked the idea of someone making the decisions in theory, but I hated not having control over the situation. I checked the time and I had half an hour. It was go-time. I picked up the black dress, you can’t go wrong with a black dress, right?
I did a final spin in the mirror, black dress, red pumps, red lipstick, black rimmed glasses and my hair up in a ponytail. I was dressed to kill no matter what this evening brought.
My text alert got my attention from the red clutch in my hand. He must be here. I walked down to the entryway and let him in. “Holy shit.” I motioned for him to come in. He locked eyes with me. “Holy shit.”
I managed an awkward laugh. I knew my success was intimidating. This wasn’t a secret to me.
“I’m so sorry.” He looked embarrassed. “I just didn’t expect this.”
“Really, I’m used to it.” No I wasn’t. I never had people over. Tyson and I needed to switch places. My house was much more to scale than his tiny town house, condo thing. Dollhouse basically.
“You're living like a queen here. This is amazing.” Vance cleared his throat. “Also, you look fantastic, your majesty.” He bowed and I blushed more.
“That isn’t sticking. I don’t know what Tyson told you but I’m not into pet names.”
“He told me enough to get you riled up.” He put his hand out.
“C’mon m’lady. I can’t wait to take you out.
He’s been a bear since Friday, so I had to be creative.
Driving the long way here from the gym and making sure I wasn’t being tailed.
” That had to be a feat since I lived down the road from the gym.
“Thank you for that.” I didn’t figure Tyson for the type but the picture he painted was pretty funny.
“Anything m’lady.”
“Alright…” I swatted his chest. “Addy is fine. Please.”
“Nice. I got a name before he got one. One for Vance.” I pinned him with a glare. “Is that supposed to deter me?”
“Yes.” Being shorter than him didn’t allow me much room for being intimidating.
“Fucking adorable.” He pulled me to his side. “I think you should drive, your car is better than mine.”
“I hate driving. I only drive to the office and back. Get ready to drive the queen around.” I winked.
“I thought…” He was the one glaring, playfully though. “Oh, I like you. You minx.”
“I do like that.” I tapped my chin. “You could keep that.”
“Noted.” He opened the door for me and I got in. He acted like this car was junk but it was a luxury car, although I know nothing about cars.
Once Vance got in, he pulled away, squealing the tires out of the driveway. “Easy there pal. I might talk you out of a ticket in this dress but I don’t want to try that out.”
“I’m guessing you could get any man to do anything for you in that dress.” He squeezed my thigh playfully. Oh, these men know their way around a woman. I was a sucker for a thigh squeeze or ass graze.
“Where are we going?”
“You might hate this, if you do tell me now and I’ll change the plan.” He paused, clearing his throat. “There is a fantastic burger and steak place about an hour from here.”
“An hour?” I asked, keeping him on his toes.
Watching him squirm was fun. “Yes. Is that too much? I needed to get out of town. Away from Ty.”
Fucking sold. “Perfect. Also, hopefully I won’t be recognized.”
“Honestly though, are you really that well known?” It was a good question. I wasn’t known for being a successful business woman though. It was something else I wasn’t about to tell him or Tyson. My ex was ruthless, making sure that my name was seen in the worst light.
I didn’t say any of this to Vance, of course. I just said, “I am. Shouldn’t be, but I am.”
“Oh, care to elaborate or leave it?”
Who was this guy? Not the player I pegged him for. “Leave it. It’s something that would be cleared up with a simple Google search.”
“I won’t be doing that. If you don’t want me to know, then I’ll wait for you to tell me.” That was that. He dropped it. In his words, holy shit. “I’m going to speak, seeing as I know the basics about you.”
“Go for it. I spend all day, all week really, talking.”
“Cool.” I enjoyed listening to Vance. He was actually really cool and down to earth.
“Ty and I met when I applied for the gym to manage it. He didn’t want to be there as much and it really took off around that time.
The gym was super swamped. That guy, he’s so genuine.
Ty might be ten feet tall but he’s a big teddy bear.
” Vance let out a loud laugh. “It sounds like I’m here as a spy, I swear I’m not.
I just really look up to him. He saved my life in a way.
I didn’t have a direction when I applied there and now I do.
I’m training for my retirement fight, the fight where I get famous then retire happy and infamous. ”
“It’s really all good. I’m not worried.” I put my hand over his, that was still on my knee and I didn’t actually mind. “I get it. When you work with the same person day in and out, you don’t have much conversation other than that person. It would be the same if roles were reversed.”
“Cool.” He glanced at me then back at the road. We’d gotten off the highway now and he turned into a gravel lot.
“Is this where you murder me for running out on Tyson?” I looked around and there wasn’t much out here but an older, but large bar.
“No. I’m not going to murder you, but I had to get creative.
So, I went back to my roots. I grew up around this area and this is my dad’s bar.
Well, it was. He sold it, but still works as a bartender.
” Vance sounded humble talking about his dad’s bar.
His roots were honest and that made me like him more.
“A man after my own heart. Burger and fries. Beer. Ugh.” I clutched my chest. “This is a dream come true. A queen getting to commerce with the common folk.” I looked back at Vance and he rolled his eyes.
“I can take you home, your majesty.” He matched my eye roll.
“I’m sorry. I’m sarcastic when I’m nervous.” That wasn’t something I wanted to admit, buuttt…here I was. “I’ll reign it in.” I winked.
“Ohhh. I see what you did there.” He shook his head. “C’mon. Are you too good to open your own door?”
“Absolutely. I also require you to carry me. This gravel will surely make me twist my ankle.” I wiggled my heeled feet.
“Yeahhh. Sorry about that.” He walked around and opened the door. “Next time I’ll give you more of a heads up.”