The week passes byfairly quickly. I gave my students the day off on Friday so they could work on their assigned research paper, and decided I needed a much-deserved vacation day. I had texted Nikki to ask if she wanted to grab dinner with me, and she’d replied with an enthusiastic yes.
Which is exactly how I found myself sitting across from Nikki with a flickering candle between us at a nice restaurant in Queen Anne.
Nikki is beautiful. She has thick black hair that stops at her collarbones, hazel eyes, and dark, flawless skin. She has a cute gap between her front teeth that makes her smile incredibly endearing.
She’s told me she’s thirty-four, an ER nurse, and that she loves the outdoors, which is one of the reasons why she moved to Seattle. She paddleboards and hikes in the summer and snowboards in the winter.
Her life sounds somewhat exhausting.
She’s wearing high-waisted dress pants that flare at the bottom, black heels, and a flattering blouse. She looks sweet, mature, and very put together. All good things, and yet, I find myself missing long golden legs showcased by short skirts.
I shake my head and try to give Nikki my full attention.
“So maybe you’d like to go sometime?” She beams at me, making me immediately feel guilty for not giving her the proper attention she deserves.
“I’m sorry,” I say, an embarrassed flush creeping up my cheeks. “I missed that last part.”
Her smile falters slightly, but she quickly hides her disappointment. “I was just asking if maybe you’d like to join me for paddleboarding sometime?”
“I’ve never been before, but I’ll always try anything once.” I smile at her.
She giggles. “I’ll make sure to plan a day for us before the good weather’s gone.”
“Sounds great.” I nod.
The rest of dinner continues with polite conversation, and though she leans forward and places a hand over mine, I find myself looking at the clock and wondering when I can end the date without being seen as rude.
After I pay, I help her put on her jacket, hold the door for her on her way out of the restaurant, and walk her to her car, all while searching for a good exit line. She turns to me and flips her hair over her shoulder, showing off a long, elegant neck. The wind blows a stray strand of hair into her eyes, and she quickly pushes it behind her ear, and I’m hit with the sad feeling of wishing it were blonde hair.
“So, do you?—”
“I think I’m—” we both say at the same time.
“Sorry.” I gesture to her as she blushes. “Ladies first.”
“Do you want to go somewhere to get a drink?” she offers. “I can drive.”
I give her a forced smile, and I can see the exact moment when she realizes I’m shooting her down. Her grin falls, and her eyes lose some of their shimmer. “I’m actually exhausted from work this week and was thinking I’d head home to bed,” I reply lamely.
“Of course.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “We can still try and plan some time for paddleboarding?” she asks hopefully.
“Yeah, sounds great.” I nod as I wave and turn toward the other side of the parking garage to make my way out of here.
“Bye, Asher!” she calls after me.
“It was nice to meet you, Nikki,” I respond over my shoulder without fully looking back at her.
It’s best not to give her too much hope as far as a second date goes. I haven’t been into random hookups since I hit thirty and didn’t feel like dragging anything out when I can already tell there’s no spark there. I can’t help but think of how it felt when my fingers brushed Summer’s, or the joyous feeling I get when she smiles at me.
Nope, don’t go there.
Though I had no desire to continue this lackluster date, I will admit that Nikki’s idea of grabbing a drink is appealing. A thought made even more enticing knowing that Summer might be at The Pour House.
It’s not like I’ll talk to her. It’s my favorite bar; no rule says I can’t be in the same public space as students.
With my mind made up, I shove my keys into the ignition and head toward Ballard.
I can grade some papers, read my novel, or give my sister a call. I haven’t spoken to her in a while. The point is, one drink can’t hurt.
