Chapter 5
five
. . .
I’m losing my damn mind. I’ve showered and shaved my legs because I’m wearing a dress.
I went with the dark green one that hits a few inches above my knees with a modest neckline and cap sleeves.
I added loose waves to my hair, put on some light makeup and I’m fully dressed now.
I even put heels on. My dad knocks lightly on my door;I know it's him by the two quick taps followed by a pause then the third knock.
“Come in, Dad.” I try to smile at him, but I’m afraid it comes off more like a grimace.
“Hey Lainey girl. How you doin’? Ready for your date?” He has his hands in his pockets, leaning in the doorway, seemingly afraid to come in because he no doubt heard me throwing things around twenty minutes ago when I was trying on everything I own.
“I’m nervous, Dad. I’ve never felt nervous for a date before.” My palms are sweaty already.
Oh God, this is going to be a disaster!
“Oh, sweetheart. That’s normal. Are you nervous because you don’t really want to go or because you really like him?”
It should be weird to talk to my dad and not my mom about this, right? But it’s not. He’s just so cool about this stuff, but still a protective father through and through.
“I really like him, Dad. He’s so nice to me, and I’ve never liked a boy this way before.
I just like being around him, he makes me feel safe and important and I’m not worried he won’t like me anymore.
I know he likes me because he told me. And I believe him.
And we’re friends, you know? We talk about everything.
It’s just that… is seven minutes each way in the car and a few weeks of serving tables side by side really enough time to know if there might be something special between us?
” Dad just watches me pace around the room, processing my feelings out loud as I do.
“I think I’m nervous because… I don’t know…
I just hope we keep liking each other after tonight.
” I’m biting my lip, wondering if I’ve said too much when my dad’s grin takes over his whole face.
“Lainey girl, that’s exactly the right kind of nervous to be.
And if he’s being honest with you, just be honest with him.
You can’t go wrong if you just keep communicating with each other.
Okay?” He walks over and gives me one of his very best bear hugs.
I’m entirely wrapped up in him as he kisses the top of my head.
The doorbell rings and he slowly pulls away. “Let’s go say hi to your date.”
When we get downstairs, my mom has already opened the door, and she’s making small-talk with Andy.
My dad walks over and they share a handshake.
Andy looks downright illegal in his dark blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie.
He doesn’t really seem to notice me and just gives me a quick nod as he continues to exchange pleasantries with my parents.
“Sir. How’re you doing tonight?” Andy’s voice is surprisingly even for someone greeting my 6’3” father. Though I suppose they have met before, and maybe Andy isn’t nervous at all. Maybe this is no big deal to him because he goes on dates all the time.
That must be why he didn’t seem to have any reaction to seeing me in a dress. In fact, he’s hardly looked at me. But I can't take my eyes off of him. Andy in his Betty's uniform? Adorable. Andy in a well-fitted T-shirt and jeans? Mouthwatering. Andy in a suit? Practically X-rated.
I don’t hear the conversation the three of them are having.
I’m too caught up watching Andy’s lips move.
When he finally looks at me, appearing to have asked a question, I snap out of it.
I think he asked me if I’m ready. He tucks my hand into the crook of his elbow and guides me out the door.
I wave to my parents and we’re on our way.
Once the front door is closed, just as we step off the front porch, Andy leans down and whispers in my ear. “Lainey, you look—you are stunning.” I guess he noticed after all.
Smiling, I look up at him and say, “Thank you. You look—you are very handsome, Andy.” A blush creeps up my neck to my cheeks, and the only thing that makes me feel better about it is Andy’s matching rosy cheeks.
He helps me into my seat then fixes the collar of his shirt as he walks around the truck, mumbling something to himself.
When he gets in the driver’s seat, he’s seemingly back to his old self, but I still feel butterflies in my stomach. When he turns on the car, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” is coming through the speakers.
“You’re a Taylor fan?” I look over at him, amazed and smiling because he just keeps surprising me.
“No, but you are,” he says this as he takes my hand and brings it to his lips. They leave the softest kiss on the backs of my fingers. I feel breathless already and he hasn’t even kissed my lips yet.
He’s playing this song because he remembered when I mentioned in passing to a customer last week that I’d enjoyed the latest Taylor Swift album.
“You really pay attention to everything, don’t you?” My hand is still in his, on the center console, and he’s drawing circles on my knuckles with his thumb.
“I pay attention to you, Lainey.” And then the dimple is there and I have to fight the urge to reach out and touch it. Kiss it. Lick it.
Say whaaaaaaat?!? I’ve never licked a person before. Where did that come from?
“Ummm. So… where are we going?” I ask as I rub my palm on my dress.
Am I sweaty? Ugh.
“Not too far. Just to Bay Harbor.” He’s so calm that it actually aggravates me more. It’s like I’m the only one affected by even the thought of tonight. And, I keep thinking about how he said he wants to kiss me. God, I hope he actually does.
The drive is about 20 minutes, we spend it listening to Taylor Swift, which isn’t helping my lovey dovey feelings for Andy at all. I am very affected by music, and by the time “You Belong with Me” comes on I feel like I might explode.
We finally arrive at the restaurant and I’m snapped out of my dimple-licking fantasies by the jingling keys as Andy shuts the truck off.
The place right on the water and the sun is slowly setting.
Dinner is perfect. Andy and I talk about our favorite customers from the past week, books we’ve read, favorite movies, music.
It’s all very typical first date conversation.
He still doesn’t share too much about his family or his friends, so I don’t press him on it.
I share my plans with him to take a semester off and go study abroad before claiming my major at NYU in a year or two, and he seems genuinely excited for me.
After dinner, we walk down the street to the theater.
There’s a production of Romeo and Juliet.
Andy holds my hand the entire first act and during the second he puts his arm around the back of my seat, that thumb working overtime on drawing circles on the back of my neck.
I have goosebumps all over. I can’t wait for this play to end, so Andy can kiss me again.
I'm so restless I'm afraid he can feel the jitteriness of my limbs and how I'm having a hard time taking full breaths.
Finally, the play ends. It's lovely and beautiful, of course, I just can't focus on anything but him and the overwhelming need for him to touch me more. We walk back to his truck hand-in-hand. “One more stop,” he says, looking over at me with a shy smile on his gorgeous face. “It’ll be quick. It just might be a little too far to walk in heels.” We get into the truck and drive five blocks down the street.
His thoughtfulness about my footwear sends that funny feeling back to the center of my stomach.
He pulls up to a cafe with one large sign reading ‘Gelato’ and another flashing the word ‘OPEN,’ which is surprising considering it’s 9:45 pm. He jogs around the truck to help me down, smiling as he bites his lower lip.
My heart is beating so fast, knowing he’s about to help me down from his truck since I almost landed on my face last time, thanks to these heels.
He opens my door and when he puts both hands around my waist, I put my arms around his neck and just before my feet touch the ground, I push myself right up against him. Getting out of his truck is now a full contact sport. Our bodies are touching everywhere.
I hear him let out a sharp breath. His eyes are closed and when he opens them, my gaze meets his. I lift my chin and part my lips. “Lainey…” and hearing him whisper my nickname does me in. I reach up and brush our lips together. “Lainey…” he whispers again.
I let out a slow breath before working up the nerve to say “Andy, please kiss m-“
His lips are all over mine, soft and sweet.
He nips at my bottom lip and I instinctively open up for him letting my tongue brush against his.
My hands are in his hair now and his are on my hips, my waist, my back.
His touch is soft but firm and everywhere he touches feels like warm, dripping honey.
I never want to stop kissing him. Never want to not have his hands on me.
Our kiss becomes more intense, and I need to catch my breath.
He seems to sense it and briefly breaks from kissing my lips to nip at my jaw and my neck.
When he licks my earlobe I let out an embarrassingly loud gasp/moan combination.
My grip tightens on his shoulders and I’m immediately hot and tingly all over.
I arch my body into his trying to get even closer. Somehow I need more.
“Lainey,” he whispers a third time. He brushes his nose against mine, our hearts beating together, a million miles a minute.
One more gentle kiss on my lips, then one on the tip of my nose.
“Andy?” I close my eyes and wait for his response.
“Yes, my sweet girl.” I swoon. I melt. I disintegrate into the atmosphere, nothing but sparkly bits of glitter floating in the spring air.
“I’m out of breath. You’ve left me breathless. Are you happy now?”
I feel his shoulders shake as a deep chuckle escapes him and my heart does about seventeen backflips at the sound.
“You have no idea how happy I am right now. No idea.”
I open my eyes and see that his are now closed. Our foreheads come together. The way he’s smiling, it’s as if literal joy is written all over his face.
“I want to kiss you again. I don’t ever want to stop.” My admission feels immediately raw and embarrassing. I can’t believe I said those words out loud.
“Me too, Lainey. Me too. But first, let’s get some gelato, okay?” He places both of his hands on my cheeks. I nod and when he lets my face go, I reach out to hold his hand, pulling him towards the cafe doors.
“Wait.” He’s quiet, looking down at the ground when he says “I just… I just need a minute.” I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from smiling or giggling. It feels pretty good to know he was as affected by that kiss as I was.
Once we’re inside, he never takes his hand off of me. Not even as we eat gelato side by side. His hand always finds its way into mine, onto my shoulder, and even, just once, on my bare knee.
When he drives me home, we sit back in that comfortable silence. Both stealing glances at one another. Both smiling like idiots. He might not be much of a talker, but he’s just so easy to be around.
By 11:00 he’s pulling into my driveway and I’m dreading the fact this night is about to end. Andy helps me out of the car again, but I don’t dare repeat my body skimming tricks now. Not when my parents could be watching.
He holds my hand as we walk silently to the front door.
“Thank you for tonight, Andy. I’ll never forget it. Did…did you have a good time?” As soon as I ask the question, I feel like an idiot. Like a child. But he smiles that dimple-popping smile and everything feels right.
“Yeah, Lainey. I had the best time. But I hope you know I want that second date. And then a third. Remember?” He’s facing me as he brings my hand up to his face and kisses my knuckles.
My voice cracks and my eyelids flutter as I respond.
“You can have them all.” And when those words leave my lips his smile takes over his whole face.
He leans down and kisses me with that same softness as the first time and whispers over my lips, “You’re so much more than I ever could have dreamed of, my sweet girl. ”
I feel myself melt all over again. My sweet girl. How does one swoon? Does it require fainting of any kind? Because I might be there soon.
“Did you mean what you said?” He looks at me with a furrow in his brows now.
“I always mean what I say, but what specifically are you asking about?” I find it hard not to stare at his mouth or lick my lips so I can taste him there again.
“When you said I can have all the dates. The second and third...” He looks worried. Almost a little sad.
I straighten and place my fingers on his jaw. “Of course I did.”
And at once the furrow is gone. His eyes soften and a crooked smile appears on his face. “Good.” He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll come pick you up Monday afternoon for your shift.”
“You will? But you don’t have to do that anymore and we don’t work the same —“
“Lainey. I want to. I want to see you and be near you. Plus, if your dad really is so busy, I’d like to at least take this away from him. Let me help.” He seals his statement with a deadly brush of his thumb over my bottom lip.
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.” I can’t think of anything else to say.
He smiles and shakes his head as his eyes roam over every inch of my face. “I’ll see you soon, sweet girl.” He kisses my hand again and walks backwards, away from me.
I smile and say, “I’ll see you in my dreams.” And again, that big smile, dimple included, appears on his face, and I swear I see his eyes twinkle.
I smile the entire way to my room. I smile as I brush my teeth, put my pjs on and pull the sheets over me. I’m pretty sure I smile all night as I dream of Andy’s lips on my hands, my neck, my lips…