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A beautiful story of love and friendship.
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Chapter 4
Why is today taking forever? Chloe asked herself, eager to get out of work and to her date that night with Chris. She hadn’t heard from him since Tuesday, which made her feel anxious. She hoped he hadn’t changed his mind and that he’d be at the restaurant at seven as planned.
What if he stands me up? No, don’t think like that!
Eventually, the clock moved to five and Chloe headed toward the office door, her bag swung over her shoulder, the article safely tucked inside.
“Bye,” she said to Eve, who was also finishing up for the day.
“Oh, Chloe. I’m glad I’m running into you now. You looked so serious all day. Is something eating at you?”
Chloe stopped in front of Eve’s desk. “Yes, but nothing bad. I’m excited—well, nervous. I have a date tonight.”
Eve clapped her hands and patted Chloe’s arm. They started walking toward the front door. “Well now, that is exciting! How did you meet?”
“I interviewed him for an article I’m writing on the Galorston school district. I went to the high school on Monday to get some details and quotes.”
Eve smiled, her eyebrows raising. “And he asked you out then?”
“Oh, not then—he sent me an email later. It seemed like he was interested while I was there, though. And I guess he was.” She shrugged and grinned.
“Oh, sweetie,” said Eve, giving her a quick hug, “I hope you have a great time tonight. Give me a thumbs-up when you walk by my desk tomorrow morning so I know it was as good as I expect it will be.”
“All right, I will. You have a good night!”
Eve winked and turned to walk toward the parking lot. “Good night then! See you tomorrow!”
Chloe found Gaby waiting for her near the curb. Hopping in, Chloe greeted her. “Hey, how was your day?”
Gaby waved. “My day was fine. But the bigger question is, how was yours? Did it take forever to pass?”
“My God, yes! Longer than forever!”
“When’s the date again?”
“Seven!”
Gaby glanced at the car clock. “Well, I’ll have you home super quick. What are you wearing?”
“I think the pink dress I picked up last Saturday.” She had a lot of time to consider her options today and liked the sound of that one.
“Good choice. Pink looks great on you. Perfect for tonight.”
Chloe smiled but said little the rest of the trip home.
After the girls pulled up to their house, Gaby shut off the car and turned to Chloe. “Are you just nervous or is something wrong?”
Chloe sighed. “I don’t know. I really do like Chris and I know it is time for me to get out there. It just seems like I am leaving a comfy space by going out tonight and that’s a little scary.”
“Of course, it is! Leaving your comfort zone is never easy.” Gaby put a hand on her arm. “I really do think everything will be fine. Jess and I will be here for you every step of the way, as much as you need. Hell, we’ll even follow you there for backup.”
Chloe snorted then let out a deep sigh and rested her head against the dashboard. “Argh. Why is change so hard?”
“Girl, you can do this.” Gaby waved her along. “Come on, let’s go get you ready. Want me to do that cute updo that looks so great on you?”
Chloe nodded. “Sure, thanks, but I’ll run up and change first.”
When they got inside, Chloe turned to her friend. “You’re right. Tonight will be fun. Thanks for the pep talk. Come up in ten minutes!”
~~~~~
A few minutes before seven, Chris walked into The Charcoal Pit and chose a tall table in the bar area as his lookout until Chloe arrived. He thought back to their first meeting, wondering if she’d come through the door of this place looking flushed and windswept as she had that day. He smiled at the memory.
Over the past few days, he’d thought several times about emailing her, but he didn’t want to seem too pushy. He’d get to know her better tonight and judge from there what type of relationship she was looking for.
Relationship. The word seemed more exciting now, thinking about her.
He stared at the entrance, and as if on cue, there she was, walking his way. She looked better than windblown. Wearing a pink dress and tall heels, the outfit showed off her long legs and accented her figure. Her hair was piled on top of her head, drawing his eyes to her elegant neck and face.
He stood up as she approached the table and surprised her by bypassing the hand she extended and leaned in for a brief hug instead. “It’s good to see you, Chloe. You look great.” He hoped he didn’t blow it just now by hugging her.
Her eyes swept over him. “You too, Chris. Thanks for inviting me.”
Chris gestured toward the opposite chair. “Do you want to sit here, or would you like to get a table for dinner?”
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Chris noticed her earrings sparkled and glinted in the light. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to get some food. I didn’t get a chance to eat anything in between work and coming here.”
Chris nodded. “Definitely,” he said, finding the courage to put his hand on the small of her back and guide her to the host desk. He sighed in relief when she didn’t tell him to stop.
“A table for two, please.”
They ended up at a table on the second floor. Chris pulled out Chloe’s chair and then sat down next to her. He hoped that was okay. Again, she didn’t say anything, so he took that as a good sign.
The hostess handed each a menu and listed off the specials, then left them to their server.
Next to Chris, Chloe wasn’t sure she could eat after all. She had been hungry on the drive here, but now butterflies warred inside her stomach and she didn’t feel so hungry anymore. Chris’s hug left her mind racing and his touch on her back sent tingles through her body. Food was the last thing on her mind. Still, she glanced through the menu to find something small to pick at.
While Chris studied the menu, he asked, “Would you like an appetizer first?”
“That would be nice. What do you like here? I haven’t tried any of their starters. I’m sure it’s all delicious, though.”
Chloe met Chris’s eyes, and she instantly blushed. She’d forgotten how blue they were. He smiled, and Chloe thought of a celebrity again. Please pinch me! she thought. How is this happening to me?
“It is. I’ve been here a few times and I’ve yet to have anything bad. Pick whatever you’d like,” Chris said, his eyes twinkling.
Chloe stared at the table, a light smile on her lips. She tried swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat and murmured, “Okay.” Relax, Chloe. You’ve got this. You can do this. She gripped the menu tighter, her eyes flickering over its contents as the server appeared.
“What can I get you?” the server asked.
“Um,” began Chloe. “I’ll have the chicken tortilla soup to start.”
“Great! You know what you’d like to drink?”
“A half glass of white wine, please.”
The server then turned to Chris, who ordered his appetizer and drink.
Chloe hoped her nervousness wasn’t showing. If only she could get it together, she might be able to pull this off.
Chris turned his attention to Chloe once the server left and asked, “How was your day? Were you busy?”
Taking a breath to steady herself, she said, “No, not too bad. I haven’t had too many new stories this week. My boss, Lou, knows I have several in progress and wants me to close them out. My coworker Mya caught some of the busy, exciting ones instead.”
“What kind of stories are exciting around here?”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled. “Things like crime or accidents. Those tend to get a lot of attention. We must turn those articles around quickly, which is why we get busy with them. This week has been quiet for me. I’ve spent most days at my desk writing and finalizing the articles I am working on.”
“Are you allowed to talk about the articles you’re writing? Or will I have to wait until they come out?”
This made Chloe smile. “They aren’t classified.”
Chris gazed at Chloe. Her shoulders had dropped, and her eyes seemed more focused rather than darting around the room whenever she spoke. She grabbed his attention with everything she did, especially the more she bit her lower lip. God, it was driving him crazy. What is it about this woman?
He focused on her words as she spoke, trying to distract his mind.
“Would you like to see the article on the school while we wait, or you could take it with you?”
“Is waiting until tomorrow is okay? I don’t want you to miss a deadline.”
“Oh no, that’s okay. I don’t have a strict deadline on this.”
“Great. I’ll have a look at it tomorrow morning then and let you know.”
“Perfect. I’ll give it to you when we head out,” Chloe said. She studied her fingers then, searching for more to say. What! Don’t look down! Talk to him! Remember, you liked talking to him? Talk! When she raised her eyes, she noticed him watching her. Heat warmed her cheeks.
He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. Chloe looked away again.
Is this it? We have nothing to say after a few minutes? Chloe sighed. She’d felt such a connection that first day. Why is it so tough now?
Chris started, “I have to admit. I’m nervous around you.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. He feels the same way? “Really? Why?”
“Because I’m trying to make a great impression on you.”
Chloe was surprised at his admission. “I’m very nervous,” she said. “I don’t go out on many dates.”
“What? A woman as beautiful as you? I’m surprised you’re not turning men down left and right.”
Chloe laughed. “Hardly but thank you. That’s a very nice compliment.”
“It’s the truth. I was very happy when you agreed to meet me tonight.”
Chloe felt her cheeks get warmer. “I hoped you would ask.”
Chris grinned. “Is there anything I can do to ease your nervousness?”
“You are already doing it. Just talking makes a difference,” Chloe said as she sipped on the wine delivered to their table. It soothed her dry throat.
“Okay, good. I want you to be yourself. I really enjoyed talking with you on Monday. Let’s recreate the ease we felt then. Okay?”
Chloe nodded. “Yes. So, tell me a bit about you.”
Chris leaned back in his chair. “As I mentioned on Monday, I’m from a place about an hour west of here. My parents are still there. But my sister and brother have both moved. My sister Briana lives up in Kansas City with her husband and one kid. My brother lives here in Galorston and is my roommate. We get along well. You know, we keep our slobbish ways to a minimum.” He winked. “It works out pretty well.”
Chloe giggled. “What does he do for a job?”
“He’s a civil engineer. Todd designs roadways, bridges—that sort of thing. He’s good at it. It’s cool to drive on his work when he’s done and know that it was his design that made it a good, safe road.”
Chloe leaned forward. “Has he built anything around here that I would know?”
“His most recent project was the new bridge on I-695 where I-40 runs under.”
“Neat! I’ve seen that bridge and it is impressive. Very cool.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
The server brought the appetizers and took their meal orders.
“What about you? Do you live in the city? Have roommates?” he asked.
Chloe smiled and seemed to relax even more at this question. “Yes, I have two roommates. The three of us became friends in the first year of college. Jess builds code for an IT firm here in Galorston. Gaby is my other roommate. She works at St. Mary’s Hospital. She also teaches fitness classes and dance classes. Jess and I both go to Gaby’s Saturday morning class. She teaches it more like a fitness class, so you don’t have to be too skilled.”
“Interesting! Did you take dance classes when you were younger?”
Chloe shook her head. “Oh no, not until I met Gaby. I had a boring childhood. I spent a lot of time with my nose in a book. I was a regular at the library.” She laughed. “I guess that isn’t something I should admit, should I? Basically, tell you I’m a complete geek.”
“You’re talking to a school principal. I also read a lot and spent a lot of time in the library studying.”
Chloe didn’t think there was one geeky thing about him. If anything, she would’ve pegged him as a former varsity athlete with his strong body and chiseled face. He was a very handsome man. Chloe could look at him all day.
She was smiling now. “So, how do you spend your time out of work, besides with a book?”
A wide smile formed on Chris’s face. “I play some basketball and baseball for fun. Todd and I are on a few different teams. In the winter we don’t play as much, but we do head to the gym a few nights a week. On the weekends, I do typical stuff around the house—cooking and cleaning. I go for runs in the morning before it gets too hot. And we go out sometimes to grab drinks.”
Chloe smirked. “Wait, go back. You cook? I’m going to need to hear more about that.”
Chris clutched his heart in mock hurt. “What? A man can cook!”
“Oh, I know they can. I just have never met one in person!”
“Really? Well, I’ve been on my own a long time now and I’d have either starved or got fat off fast food if I didn’t cook for myself. It was something my mom made sure I knew how to do before I left for college. She also made sure I knew how to do my own laundry. She wasn’t allowing me to come home on weekends with it all for her to do!”
“Sounds like you have a good mom. Do you still see her often?”
“I do see her pretty often. She either comes to see us or has us come home. How about you?”
Chloe hesitated. “I haven’t stayed in touch with my parents much—long story.” She shook her head then smiled. “I am close to Gaby’s mom. We’re all planning to go see her over Labor Day weekend. She lives in Harmony. Have you heard of it?”
“Yeah, I have. It is the next town over from Riverbend, where I grew up. I didn’t go there much other than when we faced them during football games.”
Chloe nodded.
The rest of the conversation revolved around college stories, favorite sports teams, best coffee shops for book lovers, and more work talk. Through it all, Chloe couldn’t believe how lucky she was sitting across from such an incredible man.
~~~~~
On her way home, Chloe thought about her date with Chris. Not a complete failure, she admitted. She hated that the nerves never did go away completely, but at least she’d managed to make a bit of conversation. He even laughed! Her favorite part was when he said he was just as nervous as she was.
When they had walked out of the restaurant, he had put his hand on her back again. She had no idea why, but that made her shudder each time he did it. Geeze, who was she kidding? His look alone could do that to her. He had walked her out to her car and gave her his number. He asked her to text him when she got home so he knew she had made it safely.
At her car, he leaned in and gave her a hug. “I’d really like to take you out again, Chloe. Let me know, okay?”
She responded almost instantly, her heart swelling, “Thank you for tonight. I’d like that.”
At this, he had squeezed her in another hug and then released her. He smiled at her. “I’ll talk to you later. Drive safe.”
Twenty minutes later, Chloe pulled in front of the townhouse. She sat there, smiling and hugging herself. You did it, Chloe. You went on a date! And it was fun.
Before she walked inside, she texted Chris.
Chloe: Thank you again for dinner tonight. I had a really nice time.
Chris: It was a great dinner. Thank you for coming out.
Chloe: Talk to you tomorrow.
Chris: I’ll call after I read the article.
Chloe headed up the front walk, but before she reached the porch steps, the door opened. Out popped her best friends’ enthusiastic faces. “So?” they asked.
Chloe smiled. “It was amazing. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”
~~~~~
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