"I'm actually close to there," he said. "So how about this? I'll pick you up in about fifteen minutes and take you somewhere cool and then get you back to the beach tonight for dinner."
"Dinner?"
Yeah, dinner.Seriously, she was a nervous wreck and sounded like it too.
And a whole day with Fletcher? This was going to be a bad idea. It had been nice to see him last night for that brief moment, but a whole day seemed a little much. Not that she wouldn't love to spend a day with Fletcher -- she wanted that very much. But she wondered how long Fletcher would hang out with her before he realized his mistake and that she hadn't suddenly become this amazing confident sexy woman now that she was the U.S. Cupcake Frosting Champion.
"So here's what I'm thinking," Fletcher said. "Text me the name of your hotel and then put on some clothes you have for the warm weather and shoes you can walk in and I'll be there soon."
"Uh, OK."
There was a pause on the other end of the line and she wasn't really sure what was going on there. Maybe he realized what he had offered and wanted to take it back now or he suddenly remembered this was Samantha and not one of those high school cheerleaders he dated (and he dated five of them, not that Samantha was keeping track back then).
"Hey, Samantha."
His voice was a little less confident now, and she worried he was about to take it all back. She was sure he was going to.
"Yeah?"
She tried to say it in that light, flippant tone that hid the fact she was really freaking out.
"I'm excited to see you. I'll be there soon."
And then he hung up. He hung up! Didn't wait for her to say goodbye or "Hey, nevermind, I have plans with.... a book or whatever." And she was going to have to talk to him all day? Like that?
And then her phone beeped with a text.
Hotel?Fletcher asked.
She sent him the name of the hotel.Hold on, I have to find the address.
Her phone immediately beeped again.I know exactly where you are. See you in ten minutes!
Samantha practically leaped off the bed and started scrambling in her suitcase. She had thrown on a t-shirt and shorts that she planned to put on over her swimsuit and now she was supposed to wear... what?
She stood up and took a deep breath. OK, what did she bring that was in this hotel room that she could actually put on her body? Her eyes landed on a cute little black sundress with green leaves she had packed that she wore yesterday when she wandered around Santa Monica for brunch with her friends before they had to go to the show. It would have to do.
Fletcher told her to wear comfortable shoes so she figured her red Chucks would work with the green leaves on her sundress. Or maybe not. But it was too late to over think it now.
Make-up was on the counter. She figured this was a casual fun day so no need to go crazy. Something light and breezy even though she did not feel light and breezy right now.
Little belt bag with some things stuffed inside like her phone, key card, cash, and some lipstick. She would need her sunglasses for Los Angeles.
She took a look in the mirror and had to give herself credit for pulling this whole thing together so quickly.
Her phone beeped in her bag and she pulled it out to find another text from Fletcher.
Be there in two minutes, he told her.
I'll meet you out front
Yes, out front. Great idea. Better than inviting him back to her hotel room for... well, definitely not for that. He didn't like her like that.
Samantha gave herself one more quick check in the mirror and then quickly headed out the door and down the elevator.
As soon as she got to the lobby, she could see Fletcher through the glass front doors of the hotel. He was leaning against a navy blue Land Rover in a casual way that made his black t-shirt and gray shorts look extra delicious. He was wearing black sunglasses so she couldn't see his eyes, but she could tell when he spotted her by the way his whole face lit up with a huge smile. At least that's what she was going to tell herself.
"Well, hello, U.S. Cupcake Frosting Champion," he said when she walked out the door.
