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“Maybe dinner isn’t such a great idea after all.” In fact, maybe none of this had been such a great idea. I didn’t have time to go out on a date with anyone anyway. I needed to study. Keep my grades up. “Look, I need to get going. My roommate should be home any minute.”
“Olivia, wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I swear. Please, don’t hang up.”
His entreaty gave me pause. I really wanted to hang up, but I was torn. He’d been on my mind all day. My insides were all fluttery over him. But I also needed to be cautious. I didn’t need to nurse a broken heart. Something told me if anyone could do it, it would be Gareth.
“Please, Olivia.”
It was the final plea that sealed my decision.
“Okay,” I breathed out.
“Will you still have dinner with me on Saturday?”
“Yes.” I only hoped I didn’t regret it. The lock on the door made a sound. Jackie was back. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Have a good night.”
The hall light behind her outlined her silhouette. She turned on the overhead light inside the dorm room, and I blinked.
“You too.” I tapped the end button at the same time she shut the door.
“Why are you sitting in the dark?” She slung off her messenger bag and tossed it haphazardly on top of her workspace. Her side eyed glare spoke volumes. I knew she thought I was weird, but I didn’t care. There was something peaceful about lying here in the quiet while talking to Gareth. I could imagine we were in the same room together, lying side by side in the bed, whispering to each other in the night air. Just the two of us. I would never tell Jackie that though.
“I was getting a migraine and the dark helped it.” It was an excuse I’d used more than once in more than one foster home I’d lived in growing up. Most of the families I lived with thought it was weird. It was fine by me whatever they thought. They’d have thought it even more weird if I’d told them I sat in the dark imagining it was someone who loved me beside me in the intimate quiet.
“Well, it’s creepy.” Jackie griped while she grabbed her pajamas and disappeared into the bathroom to change.
I just shrugged her off. We weren’t friends, and neither of us pretended to be. We merely tolerated the other. I could suck it up for one year. Then, I was going to find a nice small, one-bedroom apartment off campus somewhere to live. Jackie would go her way and I’d go mine and in the end, we’d both be happier.
Knowing I needed to get up early for class tomorrow, I climbed back in bed, turned on my side facing the wall, and closed my eyes. My mind drifted back to Gareth and our first date. Would he kiss me after? I couldn’t invite him up to my room. Jackie would freak out. Plus, that would be another awkward reminder of my freshman status.
The toilet flushed and then there was the sound of running water. She came out of the bathroom, shut off the overhead light, and crawled into her own bed. Soon, the soft rumble of her snores filled the room. I shut them out and instead turned my mind’s eye back to Gareth. Even with slight tension between us at the end, I was still looking forward to having dinner with him. I only hoped that things returned back to how they were earlier on the phone.
Soon, I began to drift off, and I hoped my dreams would be filled with Gareth.
Chapter 4
Gareth
Work had been a bitch.My online graduate classes weren’t any better. I don’t know what I’d been thinking signing up for my Master’s. Promise of more money, I guess. Maybe because of my dad a little. He expected a lot out of me, and I didn’t want to disappoint him any more than I already had. Especially since he was paying my tuition.
I had counted the seconds until I got off work, and I could go have dinner at the diner. Olivia worked tonight, and we’d hardly had any chance to talk over the last few days. She was in class when I worked, and she worked when I was off.
At a few minutes after seven I walked through the door of the diner, the overhead bell signaling my arrival. My eyes scanned the place, looking for Olivia, but I didn’t see her, so I waited until she came out so I knew what section she was working. I’d hoped she had a table open. It wasn’t too busy, so the chances were good.
I didn’t have to wait long. Within a few minutes of my arrival, she stepped through the swinging doors separating the kitchen from the dining area carrying a tray full of food. I waved to get her attention. Olivia’s gaze caught mine and she smiled. I observed her delivering the food to a table, and I made my way in that direction. She set the last plate in front of the last customer and turned almost colliding with me. I grasped her waist to keep her from toppling over.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were right behind me.”
“No, it was my fault.”
We stood there for several seconds while I still held her. I loved the flush that spread across her cheeks. She lowered her gaze shyly, and I loved it even more. It sent a rush through me.
“You can let me go now.”
Idly, my thumb caressed her waist. Her nipples pebbled beneath the bra she wore, and I smiled with satisfaction.
“Maybe I like holding you.”
