I laugh again, louder this time, in a way I probably haven’t laughed in years. “How about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow would be lovely.”
“Have you asked Liam and Blake about actually working on their farm?” I ask.
He tilts his head to the side. “No. I don’t really need money. I just like being there.”
“I know, Princess.” I shake my head. “I just meant, if you would like to have a little more structure, you’d probably be really good at helping them run the store, or really anything with the customers.”
“Huh. I should ask about that. Great idea, John.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. It’s so sweet and so Chad.
“After you help me with my house, of course,” I tease with a wink that has him smiling even bigger.
“Alright, Sir, teach me everything you know about tiling.”
Why the hellam I nervous right now?
It’s just dinner with Chad. I have no reason to be nervous around Chad of all people; he would be thrilled if we did literally anything and I called it a date. Sure, I haven’t been on a date in a decade, but it’s just eating at a restaurant together.
Maybe it’s the fact Chad insisted on going home so he could “get ready” like it’s fucking prom or something, but it’s making it feel like a bigger deal than it needs to. I knock on his door, and he throws it open, already beaming, and his smile does settle some of my nerves.
“Holy fucking shit, John!” he practically yells. “You brought me flowers?”
My cheeks heat, and I would regret that decision if he didn’t look so fucking happy about it. So I hold them out. “Thought they’d make you smile.”
“I love them so much! Thank you, let me go throw them in some water.” He disappears inside for a minute, and when he returns, he gives me an obnoxious once-over. “You look amazing, by the way. I can’t believe you dressed up for me, like holy shit, you look so hot.”
I glance down at my clothes that I did spend slightly longer than usual picking out. “It’s just a black button-up shirt and black jeans.”
“Yeah, and like I said, you look really good,” he insists. “My sexy tattooed biker baddie.”
I shake my head, step in closer, and put my hands on his hips to pull him in for a quick kiss. “You look great as always, Princess.” He’s wearing a loose button-up short-sleeved shirt and linen pants that look casual, but knowing him, probably cost a fortune.
“Thanks.” He smiles again and takes my hand to tug me toward my truck. “And thanks for picking me up. I know I only left your house a couple of hours ago, but this makes it feel so official and special.”
I chew on my lip as I open the door for him. “Just don’t get your hopes up too much; there are only so many options for a date here.”
“I know, I know. I’m just excited that you’re finally calling it a date,” he teases.
“Finally,” I say in the same light tone as I start my truck and head to town.
“So, will this date go late? What time do you have to go over to the farm tomorrow to help Liam set up for the music festival?”
I shrug. “It can go as late as you want. I took tomorrow off, so whenever we get up I guess. I promised I’d help finalize the stage set up and check all the electrical for the string lights and band equipment.”
“I can’t wait to see it!”
I nod. “It should be a cool event. Leave it to Blake to plan a whole festival because he couldn’t let anyone actually hear the word no when he picked his wedding band. You’re going tomorrow too, right?”
“Yup! We’re marking off where each of the food trucks will go and helping any of the vendors that wanted to set up booths a day early!” Chad spends some time telling me about all the vendors, and even though Liam has already told me about most of them, hearing Chad explain things is always more interesting with how enthusiastic he is, so I don’t stop him.
After a few minutes, we pull up to the same restaurant we came to when Chad first moved here and wanted to surprise me. It’s strange to think about how much has changed between us since then. I was so worried about people in town asking questions, about drawing attention to us, but looking back, I’m not really sure why. Who gives a shit what other people think? Notme, and I want to be here with Chad. I want people to see us together. I’m lucky he wants to be here with me too.
When we walk inside the restaurant, Chad looks like a kid on Christmas morning as I ask Marianne for a table for two.
“Will you order for me again?” Chad asks as soon as we sit down, not bothering to open his menu.
I smirk. “Do you want me to order for you?”
