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She laughs. “That definitely counts.”
“That’s what I told Piper. Anyway, Archer and Ryder were responsible for all the twinkle lights you see, and Maverick and Merrick were in charge of music and movie selection.”
“Music and movies. Nice.” She takes a few steps toward our little backyard oasis and turns to look at me. “I can’t believe that you did all of this. You got your brothers and my best friend involved. This is… I don’t really know what to say, Orrin.”
“Say that you want to stay and have dinner with me. Say that you’ll curl up on that makeshift bed and watch a movie with me.”
“This was a lot of work.”
“We’re only ever going to have one first date, Jade,” I remind her again.
“Do you work this hard for all of your first dates?” she asks.
“No.” I’m quick to shut that shit down. “No, you are the one and only that I’ve put this kind of effort into.”
“Sounds like you’re getting more resourceful in your old age,” she teases.
No longer able to stand the distance between us, my feet carry me until I’m standing right in front of her. So close that the toes of our shoes are touching. Resting my hand against her cheek, I wait for her to look at me. “I’d like to think it's me knowing what I want. Whether or not that has anything to do with my age, I’m not sure. I do know that it has everything to do with you. I’ve never done this for anyone else because I didn’t want to. Not until you.”
“Thank you for doing all of this. For bringing me here. Best first date ever,” she whispers. Peering at me under long lashes. She grins, telling me whatever else is coming my way is to lighten the heavy I just put on our mood. “I don’t know. Thirty-two is pretty ancient,” she teases.
“Just because you’re still in your twenties, Miss I’m Twenty-Seven, doesn’t mean I’m ancient in my thirties.”
She places her hand on my chest, and I cover it with my own, holding it there. “I was just messing with you.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “I know you were. Now, come on. You can pick the music while I feed you.” Holding her hand, I lead her to the thick layer of blankets and mounds of pillows that Rushton set up. I don’t know where he found them all. More than likely I’m going to spend this week delivering items back to my parents and my brothers, but it’s all worth it. The night has barely started, and I already know I’ll have zero regrets.
“After you.” I motion for her to take a seat. She drops to her knees and gets comfortable with me sitting next to her. Reaching into the smaller cooler, I pull out the sandwiches, the bag of salt and vinegar chips that are her favorite, and the bowl of mixed fresh fruit.
“I think I need to have a talk with my best friend,” she says when she sees all her favorites.
“I didn’t ask anything personal, and I didn’t want to ask this, but I wanted tonight to be fun for you. I didn’t want you to be starving to death.”
“I would hardly starve to death, but I appreciate all of this. No one has ever done something like this for me before.”
“Because they're idiots, but I can’t say that I’m upset about it. I like to be at the top of my game.”
“Well, you’re doing a great job so far.”
“Thank you, my lady,” I say in my best refined voice, making her laugh. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I pull up my music app and hand it to her. “Here, I can listen to anything. Pick your favorite.”
“I have so many,” she says, taking the phone from my outstretched hand. “What’s your favorite genre?”
“Honestly, I like almost all genres of music. I’m not much of a jazz fan or heavy metal, but the rest of it, I guess you could say I have an eclectic taste in music.”
“I bet I can stump you,” she challenges me.
“You think so?” I ask, easing back on the pillows holding my weight on my elbows.
“I know so.”
“Let’s do it.” I nod toward my phone that she’s holding in her hand.
“Hmm.” She thinks while she taps at the screen, and a slow, steady smile pulls at her lips. “Okay. Doesn’t matter if you know the artist or the name of the song, but you have to know the lyrics.”
“Damn, sweetheart, that’s going to be easy as hell.”
She shrugs. “Don’t be so sure.” She taps at the screen, and music begins to flow from the speaker. I recognize the song immediately.
“‘Try Missing You.’ Jon Langston.” I grin because I know I’m right.
“All right.” She nods in approval. “Too easy. Let me try again.”
