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“Great! See you in about…,” he looked down at his watch, “two hours and thirty-six minutes! It’s a date!”
I pushed my way out through the double doors of the front entrance and could barely catch my breath. What the hell was I doing? Did he really just saydate? Ugh! I mean, he’s cute and all, for a shy guy, but I’m with Dawson. Was I really just about to bail on him for another dude?
Suddenly, my phone rang, and I jumped up with a mini heart attack.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, babe! We still on for later? I can’t wait to have my lucky charm with me as I crush this!” It was Dawson.
“Hey, don’t hate me, but I was wondering if I could skip. I think I ate something bad during lunch, and now I’m not feeling too great. I think I might just go home and go straight to bed.”
“Shucks, well, that blows. I was really counting on you to be there!”
“I’m sorry, babe. Next time, I promise to be there for you. I’ll even wear a mini skirt and carry pom poms.”
“I’d take you in a mini skirt any day, sweet cheeks. And I don’t mean your face.” I didn’t need to see it. He was clearly giving me his signature wink. “How about I come over after and see how you’re feeling? Maybe cheer you up?”
“I’d like that. But just remember to come over after seven. That’s when my mom leaves for work.”
“Aw, she doesn’t wanna stay for the fun?”
“Dawson!”
“I’m just messin’ with you. Seven it is. I love you, babe.”
“I love you, Dawson.” And as I hung up, I twitched my face. I’d been saying “I love you” to him for months, but it never seemed to get any easier the more I did it.
CHAPTER FOUR
I
met up with Ross at Kazoo’s. It’s a little further away from the city than I would’ve liked, but I couldn’t risk Dawson finding out that I’d ditched him for another guy. Turned out, we both liked pistachio ice cream drizzled with a hefty serving of caramel sauce. I could’ve sworn to my grave that I was the only one who liked that combination.
“So, tell me, Amber, why’d you move to Miami? I mean, it’s so different from Green Bank!” Ross mumbled in between spoonfuls to his mouth.
I shrugged. “My parents just wanted a change, I guess. My dad got a job offer that he said he couldn’t turn down, but I know he’d been eyeing Miami for quite some time now, and this was just the perfect excuse to make that jump.”
“But… but you don’t fit in!”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I fit in just fine!”
“Amber, look around you.”
I quickly glanced around. All the girls walking around outside were dressed like they had just come from the beach, and all the guys looked like they forgot to do this week’s laundry. I guess Ross was right. I didn’t exactly fit in with my purple cardigan.
Then I shook my head. “What’s with the interrogation, anyway? I could ask you the same thing! It’s not like you belong here anymore than I do!”
“That’s the point. I don’t! That’s why I was so ecstatic when I found out that you’re just like me. I was about ready to hop on the next bus out of town before I met you today.” Ross shot me a bashful grin, a grin that said, “I know I’m not the best grape in the bunch, but please be nice to me.”
And I couldn’t help but release a light giggle. He wasn’t Dawson, confident and brooding, but Ross was sweet, and I could really see us becoming great friends.
***
HOURS WENT BY, AND I didn’t notice how late it was getting outside until Kazoo’s started smelling like detergent.
“Ah, shit! What time is it?” I glanced down at my watch. Just ten minutes before seven. Fuck. “I… I have to go.” I quickly stuttered to Ross and grabbed my things, throwing down a ten-dollar bill for my ice cream before running toward the door.
“Wait!” he shouted after me. I stopped. I shouldn’t have, but I did. “When can we hang out again? I had such a great time with you.”
