Something flashes on his face quick like lightning. “Don’t be a bully, Blue. Don’t be like me.”
He tightens his grip on my jaw once more before letting me go and moving away.
Just then, a couple of maintenance guys come into view. They barely pay Zach and me any attention as they walk in another direction.
Deflating, I grab hold of the cart and get out of there.
It feels like the prom.
Tonight’s date with Ryan.
I’m wearing my dark blue dress with white polka dots and pockets. It’s strapless and hugs my body tightly before ending mid-thigh. It’s a kind of dress that I always have to push myself to wear because I think my curves are super visible.
But whatever. I’m wearing it and I have paired it with borrowed blue sandals from Tina.
I told Ryan that I’d meet him right outside the restaurant he picked for us. He was bummed that he wouldn’t get to drive me over but I’m saving that conversation for another time. Fourth or fifth date, maybe.
And now, I’m waiting in front of the restaurant like I was waiting for Neal at prom.
Actually, I don’t think this is like prom at all. Ryan would never cancel on me like Neal did.
In fact, we’ve been trying to find time to go out for the past few days. But Ryan’s been super busy and I’ve been working night shifts a lot, along with the day shifts; there’s a new party coming in for a tour of the towers and the grounds, and Mrs. S was going ballistic.
Although that doesn’t mean that we don’t see each other every day or steal some time to talk between jobs.
He’s just so sweet. Exactly like I imagined. Kind and caring. We haven’t had a kiss yet – I guess we’re waiting for the official date – but he’s kissed my cheek. He has run his finger down my cheek as well. Both of those things were nice and warm, typical of him.
Sometimes though, he looks at me with pity, which bugs me. But I guess, after my meltdown in the kitchen with Ashley, I can’t really blame him. I bet his pity will go away after a while. Everyone else’s will too.
For now, I’m kind of excited. It’s been a long time since I was on a date. I’m excited to get to know him, see him smile, have him touch me. Kiss me.
Besides, Tina, as always, was right. My parents would definitely have approved.
Right on time, Ryan pulls up at the curb and gets out of the car. I smile at him but then, my smile vanishes when I see a pained look on his face.
He approaches me and pulls me to the side, away from the entrance of the restaurant, where we can’t be overheard by the patrons going in and out.
“What’s up?” I ask, feeling apprehensive.
He grimaces. “I hate to do this but I’m going to have to take a rain check.”
“Oh.”
He rubs his hand up and down my arm. “I was already in my car, ready to drive over when I got called into work. So I thought I should tell you.”
Ryan’s distress is obvious, and it makes me feel a little better. He isn’t abandoning me like my first boyfriend. He has a genuine reason.
“It sucks. But I get it. I mean, we’ve been so busy with everything for the last few days, so.” I shrug.
Ryan gives me a penetrating look that makes me blush. “It sucks, yeah.”
“You could’ve called, you know.” I mock-punch his shoulder. “You didn’t have to come all the way here just to tell me that.”
Smiling, he does what he’s been doing often: he thumbs my cheek, softly and smoothly.
“I wanted to see you,” he says. “You look beautiful.”
Blushing even more, I say, “Thank you.”
Then I check him out with lowered lashes. He dressed up for the date, too. He has a black suit jacket on and a sage green shirt. “You look nice too.”
His eyes heat up. “Next time, I promise that we’ll go. No one will ruin it for us. Not even Mr. Prince.”
What?
“I thought, uh, that Mr. Prince was out of town. When did he come back?”
He left the next day after Zach’s welcome party on a business trip or something. If he was back, we would’ve heard about it.
Ryan chuckles. “I tend to forget that we have two Mr. Princes now. I’m talking about the other one. The new one. Zachariah. Zach. Whatever they’re calling him. He said he had a short-notice meeting.”
“Zach. They call him Zach,” I tell him mechanically, as the earlier warmth in my chest slowly goes away.
Ever since I had my chat with Tina and Zach cornered me in the hallway a few days ago, I’ve maintained my distance.
Every morning on my way to work I see him working out by the pool, shirtless. I feel his stare across the expanse of ground that separates us but I make it a point to never stare back. I make it a point to not see how his muscles ripple and how sun spotlights every drop of sweat that he sheds.