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They all said goodbye and I love yous, and then the call ended. In the silence that followed, Rhomi ran over the conversation with them again and then shook her head. When she’d had a chance to go out of state to college on a partial scholarship, they’d been so discouraging that she’d declined the opportunity. This was just one more time when her parents had a plan for how her life should go, and when she made a different choice, they balked.
She didn’t have to live her life for them, though, and she wasn’t going to. She was going to do what she wanted, and what she wanted to do was go out on a date with Mercer and start her new job tomorrow.
Heading to the bathroom, she turned on the hot water and pushed the parental conversation out of her mind, her attention fully on the night ahead.
What would happen once she and Mercer were alone?
* * *
She’d just picked up the hairspray for one more spray when there was a knock at the front door. Her stomach did that funny flip again, and she set the can on the counter, took one last look at herself in the mirror hanging on the back of the bathroom door, and headed toward the front of the apartment.
When she opened the door, Mercer stood on the porch, wearing slacks and a button-down with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He held a bouquet of peach-colored roses, which he handed to her.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she swore she saw his eyes change color again, from beautiful hazel to striking amber. But just as quickly as she saw the change, his eyes were back to hazel.
Her eyes were playing tricks on her, she was sure. People’s eyes didn’t spontaneously change color.
His lips were warm against her cheek, and she was tempted to turn into him and kiss him for real, but he pulled back. “Come on in for a sec, and I’ll put these in water. They’re beautiful, thank you so much.”
“Of course,” he said. She put the roses in water and set the vase on the kitchen table, then returned to the foyer.
She took his offered hand as he led her from the apartment, stopping long enough to lock the front door. He opened the passenger door of a black SUV and she climbed in, peeking at him as he strode with purpose in front of the vehicle before getting behind the wheel.
“What did you think of the restaurant? I hope you like German food,” he said, turning on the engine.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever had anything aside from sauerkraut and the occasional sausage, but I’m pretty easy to please with food.”
He gave her a sweet smile. “They have the most amazing schnitzel, which are noodles with a brown sauce on them and served with fried pork cutlets. Everything’s good there, though.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“I missed you today,” he said, as he drove away from her home. “If you don’t think it’s weird for me to say it.”
“Why would it be weird? I missed you too.”
“You did?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” she said. “It’s only been a few hours, but it feels like forever. I’m actually glad you said something, because I was worried it would come across as too clingy or too fast.”
He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Not remotely. I was a little worried too, about saying that; I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I’m definitely not.”
“Good. So after dinner, we’ll go back to the park and I’ll show you the apartment that’s available. It’s furnished.”
“That’s amazing. My furniture is all stuff I got from thrift stores, so I’ll probably donate it.”
The drive to the restaurant took about twenty minutes. They were seated right away in a small booth overlooking the street. They both ordered the pork and schnitzel, with a cucumber salad to share, and then, when the waiter was gone, they stared across the table at each other.
“Rhomi,” he said, his voice low, which sent a shiver down her spine.
Damn, she loved how he said her name, like it was all smooth and silky on his tongue.
“Mercer.”
He smiled, a dimple appearing in one cheek.
