A voice interrupts me from my reverie. Hearing the deep Southern drawl feels like a punch in the gut: it hits me hard, leaves me breathless. I am undoubtedly succumbing to fancying someone, Claire style.
“You in there?”
I smile weakly at Kevin. “Sorry…off in a dream world.”
“I’d ask if they were sweet dreams, but it sounds too corny. So…how are you enjoying Florida?”
I am glad that he doesn’t inquire into my dreams: humiliation would undoubtedly have ensued. Seconds later he coughs quietly, and I realise I have been too busy taking in every detail of his face to answer his question. My face flushes (sometime soon I’m going to get through half a minute near him without blushing like a complete moron): I haven’t been spared embarrassment. “Uhh…it’s nice. I like it here. Especially the weather. Can I ask you something?” Yeah, go Kel. That sounded good. Not.
“Sure.”
“Did Claire railroad you into inviting us here? You don’t need to cover up for her, I know what she’s like.”
“She asked me what I was doing tonight, and I mentioned that I was having the guys over for a barbecue. Then she pointed out that you guys were doing nothing tonight…she didn’t exactly ‘railroad’ me into it.”
“Yes she did. I’m sorry if we are imposing; we can head back to Tampa if we are in the way,” I offer, with what I hope is an apologetic smile.
Kevin shakes his head earnestly. “You aren’t imposing; it’s nice to have someone closer to my age around.”
I feign mock surprise: “You mean little Nicky isn’t stimulating company!?”
“Comics are only an interesting point of discussion for about three minutes,” he says wryly, pursing his lips in distaste. “I think the kid has a crush on Wonder Woman, for God’s sakes!”
I laugh at that, and as my defences slip a little more, Kevin takes the opportunity to lean in closer. His scent is intoxicating. I’d always had a weak spot for Lynx Ocean deodorant, but American cologne apparently has an even more incapacitating affect on me. “Actually, now that we are alone, I just wanted…” He trails off as he watches me look around the room, breaking into a slight smile as he realises I hadn’t yet noticed the others had left. “They’ve gone outside to eat…food’s ready.”
“Oh,” I say stupidly. I hope he doesn’t work out that the reason I hadn’t noticed that the others had evacuated the sitting room was that I was concentrating so intently on him. I think I am out of luck: the glint in his eyes suggests he has already guessed this. I hope I’m not blushing again. “Anyway…”
“Anyway…this is probably going to sound a bit forward, bearing in mind we have only just met. I don’t normally go for this kind of thing with complete strangers, I want you to know that.” I wait impatiently for him to get to the point. “So the thing is…I just wanted to ask if you’d come out to dinner with me tomorrow night. I know a really good restaurant in Tampa, so I could pick you up from your place…”
I think back to my earlier thoughts. It would be against my principles to go out with someone I hardly knew. I’m supposed to be friends first.
Claire is probably right: I should loosen up. “What’s your favourite colour?”
“Blue. Why?”
What I am considering doing is totally against my better judgement. “Author?”
“Well, I like ‘Interview With The Vampire’ by Anne Rice. Why?”
There are the potential risks of boredom/incompatibility/rejection. “Greatest fear?”
“I don’t really have one. Why?”
Get an answer for this next question and my previously stated criteria for dating a guy are fulfilled. “Most hated food?”
“Umm…mayonnaise. WHY?”
No option…I have to jump into the unknown now. I grin sheepishly at
Kevin. “Pick me up at seven?”
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