Chapter Six
Joshua
Once Hazel slides into her seat, I move into the bench across from her. Soft instrumental music and quiet chatter fills the restaurant. I chose this place not only because she mentioned never eating sushi out but because the ambience is relaxing.
We accept our menus, and I search for sushi Hazel and I can share. “What sort of sushi have you eaten?”
“California rolls.”
Taking her in, I smirk. “That’s it?”
Hazel shrugs, and her attention returns to the menu.
“Are you willing to try something different?”
“I won’t eat anything absolutely raw. Otherwise I’m willing to give it a shot.”
I nod and search the menu. “We can order a variety, and you can pick and choose what you like, then I’ll eat the ones you don’t. What do you think?”
She lowers the menu, and her lips pucker in thought. “Do you like all of them?”
“No, but we won’t stray too far for your first time. Baby steps?”
When the waitress returns, we put in our drink and sushi orders at the same time. Leaning my forearms on the table, I curse it for separating us. Her energy draws me in, but I don’t want to scare her on our first date. Things have gone smoothly thus far, considering how many hours I work and the fact our schedules don’t always line up.
“Did Annie like her gift?” Hazel asks.
I grin at the name and chuckle. “My sister sent me a video of her opening the box, and Annie squealed. It was awesome. I think I enjoyed seeing her freaking out more than she enjoyed opening her gift.”
Hazel laughs, a deep throaty one straight from her belly. A sparkle of delight shines in her eyes, and I’m scrambling to think of other ways to keep it there. She’s fucking gorgeous. I like that she wears minimal makeup. She could go without it to be honest. Then there’s the way her hair frames her oval face.
“That’s awesome,” she says, and her expression causes me to pause.
“What?”
“Well? Are you going to show me, or do I have to imagine it?”
I laugh and search my phone. When I find the video, I slide the phone toward her. I’ve seen Annie’s reaction hundreds of times now, but it doesn’t get old. Watching Hazel cover her mouth, her eyes darting to mine and back down, I know I’m in trouble.
She presses play two more times before handing the phone back. “Oh my God, Joshua! She’s wonderful. No wonder your smitten.”
“Do you want kids?” I blurt and inwardly cringe at the heavy topic.
She becomes serious, and a ton of bricks weigh on my chest. “I’ve never been one who was overeager to jump on the baby train—” Hazel fiddles with her fingers and looks at me. “One day, maybe, but I’m not in a rush. I have to admit though, Annie seems like the kind of kid who makes my ovaries ache,” she says, her lips tipping at the sides.
The pressure lifts, and I smile. I understand her words wholeheartedly. Before that whirlwind blew into my life via my sister, kids had been the farthest thing from my mind. If I manage to score a good woman, kids are definitely on the table for me.
“What about you?” she asks, her voice low and timid.
“Yes. Without a doubt, when I meet the right woman, I’ll want to start a family, but not right away. I’d like to enjoy our time, just the two of us, but one day… I’d like to be a father.”
“You’ve never mentioned your dad…”
“I was a baby when he died. The only things I know are what my mother told me. He loved us and was a hard worker.”
Hazel studies me and I wonder what she sees. A sad man? An unfeeling man? An asshole? “I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”
I shrug. “It’s hard to grieve for someone you never knew. I’m glad he was good to Mom and they loved each other very much. You can still see the pain of losing him in her eyes. Mom was both Mom and Dad, and she did her best. My grandparents were very helpful and always there growing up. It all worked out in the end.”
