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She was in the restroom,brushing her hair and nervously primping for a few moments, feeling so anxious that John had asked her to grab dinner tonight after the wedding.
They were supposed to be going as friends, just a chance to talk more without the music, people bumping into each other, and interrupting every few minutes. The longer the reception went on, the rowdier everyone was getting.
Jace and Karen had just left for their brief honeymoon that they’d planned. Emily was the one who’d hung the ‘Just Married’sign on the back of the plane at Flyboys – having quickly taken a photo of it so that way the memory was there for everyone to see when she shared the pictures via email.
Cracking open the bathroom door, she was about to walk out when she heard John and Jana talking nearby.
Emily froze, listening.
“… I appreciate that and right now I’m kinda just looking to expand my very small group of friends. I’m like the world’s worst boyfriend material and truly a bore… so I’m hoping that she and I can become friends, so when she’s sick of me? I’m not left in a lurch wondering what just happened.”
John was speaking in a hushed voice, making her wonder if she wasn’t supposed to be hearing any of this discussion.
“I think I might take that advice to heart, too,” Jana said quietly.
“What? Befriending someone so you don’t get hurt?”
“Yes. It’s kinda scary sometimes, isn’t it?”
Emily held her breath, curious what John would say to Jana’s question that was softly spoken. John said he was the ‘world’s worst boyfriend’– what exactly did that mean? What would prompt someone to say that to someone they’d just met in person for the first time?
Was he playing the field, trying to talk to both of them? She knew he’d invited Jana to coffee tomorrow, but a part of her jumped at the chance to go to dinner with him like a fool.
Maybe she should back out, feigning illness or fatigue?
“Yeah, it really is…”
Ouch,she thought, feeling each word painfully like a blow to the heart.You stupid fool… what made you think someone like John would be interested in you?
Blinking quickly, she took several deep breaths and tried to calm herself before she walked out into the hallway, hoping she would be able to act normal in front of them.
Opening the doorway quickly, she stepped out confidently and smiled, before faltering. Only John was there now, leaning against the wall and messing with the top button of his uniform shirt at the collar.
“What are you in the mood for?” he said easily, smiling at her. “I have a rental car with me. Shall I drive?”
“Honestly, I’m tired and think…”
“You don’t want to go?” he interrupted, looking confused and a little hurt. “I was hoping to get to know you a little better and talk.”
It was that slightly hurt look in his beautiful green eyes that made her want to kick herself.
“Let’s just not stay out too late,” she offered gingerly, trying not to look like a scared liar in the meantime.
“Perfect,” he grinned – and held out his arm to her.
Emily nodded, and gingerly slipped her arm around his elbow as they started towards the front door of the now almost-empty church.
“You never said what you would like to have for dinner,” John reminded her gently, smiling at her. “I figured you would be the best guide as for where to go since I’m not from around here. I mean, I passed a McDonald’s on the way here, but we are dressed a little nice for that.”
She smiled shyly, realizing he was teasing her.
“McDonald’s is fine.”
“Em,” he began, coming to a stop and looking at her. “We are not going to a McDonald’s for our first meal together – and not with you looking like that. Let’s go someplace nice.”
Her heart slammed in her chest seeing the way he looked at her and realizing that this was all so crazy – and she was making way too much out of this. John would be gone in a day or two, she would be back to her normal self, and all of this would be a passing dream of fancy…
“Anywhere?”
