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He said he would be here at six, which is only fifteen minutes away. The way mom keeps looking outside the window is making my nerves even more shot.
“I’m just going to wait outside, mom. I’ll see you when I get back.”
She starts to protest, but I grab my purse and open the door.
“Love you mom, bye.” I give her a side hug before closing the door and sitting on the swing on the front porch. I know mom is disappointed that she won’t get to talk to Harvey, but it’s better this way.
He pulls into the driveway a few moments later and I rush up to meet the car in case mom had ideas of coming outside to send us off.
I open the passenger door and he gives me a brief wave as I sit down.
When I see him dressed in a well-fitted charcoal gray suit jacket, dark jeans, and light blue button-down dress shirt, I want to melt. I almost forget I’m supposed to be mad at him.
It doesn’t help that his blue shirt makes his blue eyes pop and that the first few buttons are undone, making me want to undo the rest.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I move my hands nervously down my black cocktail dress and try to catch my breath.
“Are you still mad at me?”
His voice is sincere but has a touch of humor in it, and I can’t help but smile back.
“Mad about what?” I ask, playing dumb.
He snorts. “Oh, I see. You are going to make me apologize again, huh?” He leans back and turns to face me, his eyes peering intently into mine.
He continues, “I am sorry for what I said at the bar the other night. It was tasteless and disrespectful, and I wasn’t thinking when I said it. I hurt your feelings and I don’t want to ever do that again. Do you forgive me,sweetheart?”
Even though he says the last word jokingly, it still sends shivers down my spine.
But I act nonchalant as I say, “I suppose so.”
He smiles as he pulls out of the driveway. Classic rock is playing again in the background, but it’s on a low volume.
As we drive out of the neighborhood, he says, “I have to admit. You had me worried for a while. I thought maybe you were ditching me.”
I lean back and laugh. “I’m not going to lie. It did cross my mind, but a promise is a promise. I wouldn’t leave you hanging,babe.”
He looks over for a moment and we both laugh, and in that moment, I find myself wishing I was going on a real date with him.
Before I know it, he is pulling into La Cucina Elegante, which is a fine dining Italian restaurant I’ve always wanted to try.
Excited, I hop out of the car as soon as he parks. He has to jog to catch up to me.
“Someone’s hungry,” he jokes as he opens the door to let me in.
The dim lighting that greets us feels romantic and all the tables are covered in white tablecloths with a flickering candle in the center.
My stomach growls as I breathe in the scents of Italian herbs, garlic, simmering tomato sauces, and fresh-baked bread.
With a smile, the hostess welcomes us, “Buona sera, please follow me.”
We follow her to a private table for two in the back corner. As we sit, the hostess gives us a pair of menus.
“If you have any questions, please let Mateo know,” she says and nods to our waiter.
Mateo smiles and asks us what we’d like to drink.
