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He smirks, his eyebrows lifting as if I’d said something amusing. “Sorry to tell you this, but it’s going to take a lot more than that to get rid of me.” He lifts my hand to his lips, placing a light kiss on my knuckles before releasing it. “Can I walk you to your door?”
I nod, and he smiles as he turns the truck off and hurriedly hops out. Earlier when we arrived at the banquet, he was upset that I hadn’t waited for him to open my door. So, I stay put this time, fighting back my laughter as he jogs to the passenger side of the truck. He pulls my door open as I unbuckle my seat belt, holding out his hand for me. My stomach flutters as I take it, annoyed with how much I love all his chivalry.
We walk to my door, hand in hand, my head swimming from the whiplash of emotions I’ve experienced in the past hour. The end of this date could have played out very differently, I even thought for a moment it would, but Spencer has proven yet again what a great guy he is.
If I could only figure out what the hell he’s doing with me.
He lets go of my hand as we come to a stop in front of my door, and I’m trembling as I dig for my keys in my purse. “Do you want to come inside?”
He shakes his head. “You and I both know that could be dangerous. I want to do all of this right with you.”
“Always the boy scout,” I mock, rolling my eyes to feign annoyance.
He reaches out, placing his hand on my jawline. My abdomen quivers with need as his fiery eyes meet mine, his thumb running over my bottom lip. “Not always.”
He leans in slowly, and it’s the best kind of torture waiting for his lips to collide with mine, my pulse racing faster with each second that passes. My eyes close as his mouth makes a soft land on mine, and I let out a moan of satisfaction. The kiss is light and chaste, unlike any other kiss we’ve shared, his tongue tangling with mine only briefly. Still, it’s by far my favorite.
He breaks the kiss, resting his forehead on mine, and I take several deep breaths before meeting his gaze again.
“So, how about that second date?” he asks, his eyebrows raising in question as he lifts his head.
I smirk, knowing that he’d purposely asked me after the kiss.
Spencer
There’s a goofy grin on my face as I watch Lori, her eyes practically glowing with excitement as she looks around the large space. We’ve only been dating for a month, but I started falling for her over a year ago. And I’m totally and completely smitten with this woman.
“I can’t believe I’m at the Ryman Auditorium,” Lori says.
The Ryman Auditorium isn’t your typical music venue. It’s the music venue, once known as the Grand Ole Opry House, the place where so many music legends have played. Simply being here is an experience all its own. The wooden pew seating and stained-glass windows add to the majestic feel of the Ryman, but it’s the history that surrounds you that makes this place so special.
My dad brought me here for the first time when I was only eight years old. He told me that it was a music lover’s rite of passage. He was gone a year later, but our night at the Opry is one of my favorite memories of him. So, when Lori told me she’d never been here, I knew I wanted to be the one to bring her—to be the one to share the magic with her.
“What I can’t believe is that this is your first time here. You’ve lived right outside of Nashville your entire life, how is it possible that you’ve never been here?”
She brings her gaze to me, a mischievous smile on her face as she shrugs. “I don’t know. When I was in high school, I went to shows all the time. But as you know, I changed after graduation. Things like seeing my favorite bands live seemed unimportant.” I nod in understanding, though I can’t say I do.
Lori went through something I could never relate to. I’m no stranger to life altering heartbreak, but the traumatic experiences in my life drew me closer to music. It was a way for me to still feel connected with my dad.
“I did get to see Jimmy Eat World live once before though,” she says. “At Exit/In. I think I was sixteen. Something tells me this will be completely different.” She waves her hands, offering up the space as her explanation.
“What was sixteen-year-old Lori like?”
Lori tries to hold her smile in place, but there’s a sadness that darkens her eyes. “Naïve, innocent, unburdened.”
I put my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close then kissing her temple. “Naïve and innocent are overrated, but I think we can get you back to unburdened. What do you say?”
She cocks an eyebrow. “We?” I nod, and she chews on her bottom lip as she regards me thoughtfully. “I think I’d like that.”
* * *
After the concert, Lori is all smiles, and I’m feeling like the king of the world. My heart swells in my chest as I watch her flip through the IHOP menu, babbling about how the lead singer looks the same as he had years ago. If I’m being honest, my gaze was on her more than it was Jimmy Eat World tonight. She looked so beautiful, singing and swaying to the music, it was hard to keep my eyes off her.
When her gaze lifts to meet mine, color fills her cheeks. “I haven’t done this whole late night, fourth meal thing in a long time. Do you already know what you want?”
I scratch at the hair on my jaw, nodding my head. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
It’s been a year of self-reflection, something I owe to Lori. At least in part. Meeting her forced me to question everything I thought I knew about love and how it should be. Now, there’s no doubt in my mind. I know exactly what I want. Lori.
