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Bill stared at me with a stoic expression at first, and then he started laughing. “Oh. Shit. You’re being serious.”
All I could do was shake my head at both of them as they continued to rib me. After Bill left, I sat in the chair behind the front desk and looked at Ryder.
“I think she’s gonna like it,” I said, but I didn’t know if I was trying to convince myself or Ryder. Now I was worried I picked the wrong place to take Flora.
“No, man,” Ryder said before pushing off the wall and walking toward his station to get things set up for his next appointment. “She won’t even notice the place, because she’s going to be hanging out with you.”
I narrowed my eyes at Ryder. “You’re such an ass,” I replied, but there was no heat in my words.
He held up both hands and shook his head. “I’m being serious, man. You’re a stand-up guy, and she’s going to enjoy herself no matter where you take her. Hell, you could take her to one of those fast-food chains, and she would be in seventh heaven.” Ryder looked at me, and at my expression, he repeated, “I’m being serious, Malkolm.”
I looked away, because damn, I was a little embarrassed by the confidence Ryder was suddenly giving me. But the longer I thought about it, the more I hoped he was right.
I hoped I hadn’t screwed up this first date right out of the gate, because I wanted this to work with Flora.
I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything else in my life.
5
Flora
Porky’s.
That was the actual name of the restaurant Malkolm wanted to meet at. Well, he offered to pick me up, but I figured for the first date I should at least attempt to act like I wasn’t desperate for him, so I just said I’d meet him here.
Porky’s was just right out of Sweetheart, kind of located in the middle of nowhere, the building situated with open fields surrounding it. But it was still close enough to town that I didn’t feel anxious about driving out here. But the truth was, I would’ve gone anywhere Malkolm wanted to. I was just excited and deliriously happy to have found some kind of connection with someone.
And that’s what it is, isn’t it? A connection, one that went deeper than just on the surface. It was one that had me questioning everything else in the best possible way.
It’s one that tells me waiting to be with someone emotionally invested had been the best idea of my life.
I exhaled slowly as I sat in the driver seat of my car, staring at the neon pink sign that slowly flashed OPEN. There was a pig wearing a bib right beside that, a neon outline around it in brilliant orange. The pig had a fork in one hoof and a knife in the other—which didn’t make sense, because how was it holding it with no opposable thumb?
I shook my head as my mind wandered, something that happened when I was nervous.
Porky's was a barbecue place, one that had signs all over the windows in bold declarations that it was VOTED #1 BEST BBQ IN THE STATE THREE YEARS IN A ROW!
I looked back at that neon pig that wore a big grin on its face. Was it cannibalism if he was getting ready to eat pork?
I grabbed my phone and looked down at the screen, unsure if I should send Malkolm a text letting him know I was here. But before I could wonder about it too long, a truck pulled into the parking lot, the headlights flashing through my windshield and blinding me momentarily.
The large pick-up ended up in the spot right beside my car, and I could see Malkolm sitting in the driver seat. He already had his focus on me, the corner of his mouth kicked up. I felt tingles moving along my body at that small grin and curled my hand around my phone hard enough I was actually worried I might snap the thing.
Was it normal or natural to have this intense of a reaction toward someone, and arousal that had me scatterbrained? Was this desire I felt simply because I didn’t know any better, simply because I’d never experienced it before? Or maybe I should stop questioning everything and just enjoy what was happening and embrace it.
Resolving myself to go with the latter, I gave him a smile back and lifted my hand in an undoubtedly awkward wave. We climbed out at the same time, and I could see a scowl on his face as he looked at my door.
I followed his gaze and then looked back at him. “What? Is something wrong?”
He shook his head slowly and said, “I should’ve opened the door for you. It would’ve been the gentlemanly thing to do.”
