Last date, right?
I let out a deep breath.
Yes
Ok. I’ll plan it.
I almost leapt off the couch. “London, what is going on?” Nina looked at me suspiciously.
“Beau. He agreed to the final date.”
“Oh…he wants some London time.” She started making obnoxious kissing sounds. “That hand-holding definitely wasn’t enough for him.”
“Very funny, Nina. It doesn’t matter why, does it? We’re going on a date.” I smiled at my friend.
“Not just any date—the you’re-gonna-get-some date. You know he loo-ooves you. I saw him at the vineyard. That boy is smitten; he’s just too stubborn to admit it.”
“I hope you’re right, Nina. I hope you’re right.”
Date Ten: Sweet Dream Suite
It was the Carolina Inn. As in the most popular, most Carolina place to stay in Chapel Hill and somehow Beau had snagged a suite for us for the night. I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. He knew everyone and no matter where we went, people were happy to help him. That was because they had to see what I saw.
I looked down at the shiny patent leather Carolina blue five-inch heels I was wearing. My grandmother often purchased presents for my brothers and I on a whim. One of those whim gifts was on my feet now. They had been in a box in the back of my closet for a year. Tonight they were making their debut. It was nice to throw in a touch of blue with my little black dress.
The Carolina Inn was like many places on campus; I had walked right past it and never stopped to enjoy it. I crossed the parking lot and walked in through the main lobby for the first time. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t Beau standing in the lobby dressed in a dark charcoal suit.
He was holding a single stem red rose between his fingers. “Wow. You look—” He stammered. I smiled.
“Thanks. You look pretty good too.” I eyed him from head to toe. If I had known he could look like that in a suit, I would have concocted some kind of fancy Love Match date where suit wearing was a requirement a long time ago.
He held out his arm at almost a ninety-degree angle for me to loop my arm under. I wrapped myself around it tightly. “This way. We have dinner reservations that start now.” He glanced at his watch.
We entered the dining room and I steadied myself on Beau’s arm. It was incredible. The satin embroidered chairs, the candlelight, the orchids perfectly placed everywhere, and the music. I couldn’t imagine a more romantic dinner even if the Love Match crew had been in town. I felt like I was walking through a movie.
Beau shuttled me to the hostess station where the blond hostess led us to our table. He wasn’t kidding about the reservations. Taking in our surroundings, I imagined tardiness was not something the dining room was accustomed to accommodating.
I felt like I was in a trance. Beau ordered a bottle of something I hadn’t heard of and ordered an appetizer before I could read through the menu. He seemed nervous.
“I probably should have let you order the wine.”
“Why? Because of my parents? That doesn’t make me a wine expert.”
“You definitely know a lot more about it than I do. I would be happy with a beer, but I don’t think they even have beer here.” Beau glanced over his shoulder, taking note of the tuxedo-donned men doling out directions to the servers.
Our waitress returned to the table with a bottle and began the ritual of presenting the wine to Beau. I stifled a giggle as he pretended to approve the selection. Ceremoniously, she handed him a glass to swirl. I thought I saw him mutter, “Swirl, sip, savor,” to himself before tasting the red liquid. He nodded at her.
I too
k the glass of the freshly poured wine and held it up. “Should we toast?”
I expected Beau to squash the idea, but he held his glass toward mine. “To making it count.” He smiled.
“Oh, you’re going the classic, throwback route?” I giggled before tapping my glass to his.
“Something like that.” He sipped the wine.
Beau ordered a steak, and I selected grilled chicken with a fancy cheese I couldn’t pronounce. I wanted to savor every bite and every second of this meal. Things were suddenly feeling different.