My Bestie's Dad
“Oh my god, the twist at the end, when it’s Bill who’s been the hero this whole time because Bob is actually the killer, oh my god, I can’t believe it!”
I agree, clasping her hand.
“It’s a hell of a twist.” The food comes out and I tell her, “Go ahead and drink the shake. I’ll start on the fries.”
She smiles and sips. I love watching her eyes flutter back in her head with pleasure. “You have to try this, like right now. It’s so good.”
“Okay,” I take a sip and understand her reaction. “Wow, that is amazing.” She nods and drinks more while I take a huge bite of my burger. By the time I look, the shake glass is empty. I quirk an eyebrow at her.
“Would you like another one?”
She looks down and blushes, “I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I drank the whole thing!”
“No worries. I’m glad you like it so much.”
“We should order another for you.” She begins to look for the server. “Oh my god, I’m such a pig.”
But I shake my head. “Nah, I’m full anyway.”
“If it makes you feel any better, that is the best chocolate shake I have ever had in my life! It was totally worth it.”
“Good,” I smile. “I like seeing you happy, sweetheart, and it’s great that all it takes is a chocolate shake. From now on, I know how to get my way with you.”
She giggles and then yawns.
“Sleepy honey?”
She smiles.
“A little.”
I take her hand.
“Then let’s get going. I have an appointment with my trainer in the morning, so maybe we should head out?”
“Sounds good,” she smiles and yawns. “I guess I am pretty tired. It’s been a long week at the insurance agency.”
We drive back to her place and in the car, I ask her about her job.
“Are you interested in insurance, Jane? I know you’ve been at that outfit a couple years now.”
She shakes her head and smiles.
“God, no, there could be nothing less interesting. It’s just that I couldn’t find a job after I graduated, and this receptionist position was open, so I took it. I thought I’d find something new after a year or six months, but look at me now. It’s been almost four years and I’m still there.”
I nod, thinking.
“That’s okay, sweetheart. Sometimes it can take a while to find your direction in life. What do you think you want to do?”
She shakes her head.
“I really don’t know, Brent,” she says in a soft voice. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it, but nothing really jumps out at me.”
“Not horror movie actress?” I ask playfully.
She giggles.
“No, I don’t think so. I’m even thinking about going back to school because I’m so lost, but more school also sounds terrible. It would just be a waste of money.”
I nod at that.
“Yeah, I agree. Well, everything will come in its own good time,” I rumble. “Don’t stress out about it.” Jane smiles at me from inside the car, and we lapse into a comfortable silence. I like being with her, and the minutes seem to fly by in no time. Finally, we’re at her apartment complex, and I walk her to her door. “Thank you for such a fun night, honey.”
She smiles sassily at me.
“What are you thanking me for? You drove, you paid for everything, and all I had to do is show up.”
I lean close and say, “That’s all you’ll ever have to do.” I tuck an errant brown curl behind her ear, and tell her, “You just show up and somehow, you make every moment amazing.” I take her in my arms and kiss her hard then. I’ve wanted to do this all night, but restrained myself because I wanted to make this a real date, with laughter and conversation.
But it seems that Jane wants it too. She presses herself to me and strokes my back we kiss. It takes all of my restraint to follow through on my plan.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I had the best night.”
She smiles suggestively, and my heart races as I harden. “Not yet, you haven’t.” She opens her door and waits for me to follow her in.
I shake my head. “Thank you, but no. I’m going to go home and get a good night of sleep, sweetheart. Thanks again for tonight.”
Jane’s brow furrows. “Did I do something wrong?”
I pause carefully.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re brushing me off.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then why don’t you want to come in?”
I take a breath and smile. “Jane, I don’t want to sound crass, but if I come in, what do you think will happen?”
She smiles knowingly.
“I think you know what happens. I want it to happen, in fact.”
“Exactly. But the thing is, honey, I want to get to know you. The real you. I don’t want this just to be some fly-by-night random hook-up. My priorities are shifting.”