Chapter Six

Dylan

All day today I haven’t been able to knock the grin off of my face. Imagine changing bed pans with a huge smile plastered across your lips. Super hard to do but with thoughts of Dean and our upcoming date Saturday I can’t help it. Via text I informed Andrea about it as soon as I got to work and she invited herself over to my house later tonight. Now I can only hope Dean doesn’t come over again because I haven’t had the chance to tell her about our little sleepovers. As much as I love Dre she is known for blowing things out of proportion. If I’m not careful with how I present the news to her she’ll make this mole hill into Mount Everest.

“How’s your lunch going?” Reed asks breaking my train of thought.

I look up into those gorgeous baby blues of his and smile, gesturing to the seat across from me. “It’s better now that I have some company.”

He smiles that sneaky little grin of his in respinse and takes a seat.

I really like hanging out with Reed. He’s really easy going and work always flies by when we cover the same wing.

“So I was wondering,” he starts, “if you’d happen to like Justin Timberlake or Ben Affleck?”

My eyebrow shoots up in question but I play along, “Yes to JT, hell no to Affleck…why?”

He finishes the bit of sandwich he was scarfing down before he answers. “I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me to see Runner Runner tomorrow night. I can’t promise no Affleck but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of JT to make up for it.” He smirks at me mischievously and his eyes glimmer.

I don’t stop the giggle that escapes my mouth, “You don’t have to be so formal Reed. It’s not like we’re going to a ball it’s just the movies!”

I watch the blush creep up his neck and redden his pale cheeks. “Sorry, I just haven’t done this in a while.”

I cock my head to the side, “Done what?”

The redness spreads across his face and then it clicks, he’s asking me on a date.

I bite my lip at the corner and look away, not really knowing what to say. I don’t want to make things awkward and turn him down. What if rejecting him messes up our friendship? But I’m going on a date with Dean Saturday…does that make me a ho? Oh dear Lord where is Dre when you need her?

Instead of wallowing in the awkward silence, I decide to get up and put some distance between us.

“I have to go make my rounds but text me with the details later,” I say while I throw my trash away and rush out of the break room like it’s on fire. I need time to process. It’s not a date unless both parties agree that it is right? Right?

“Bitch what? Let me get this straight,” Dre says standing up from her seat on the edge of my bed, “Both Karter and Reed asked you out today, both of them are fine as hell, and Karter has been sleeping his sexy ass over EVERY night?”

I roll my eyes almost as dramatically as she’s acting. “Would you sit down? I did not say every night! But yes that seems to be the case. Although Reed and I never set in stone that tomorrow is a date.”

She waves her hand back and forth wafting Pinot Grigio scented air into my face. “Forget all of that! Clearly it’s a damned date D-Rose and you know it, for whatever reason you just don’t want to admit it out loud.”

The way Dre can see right through me bugs me out sometimes. The fact that she knows my innermost thoughts before I can even materialize them is freaky.

As much as I hate to admit it, I know tomorrow will be a date to Reed but I can’t honestly decide if it will be one for me. Although I think he’s fun and we get along well, I still don’t get butterflies in my stomach when I think of our date like I do when I think of Dean. When he touches me, there’s no spark but fireworks erupt on my skin from the slightest connection between Dean and I. I don’t want to feel guilty about going out with Reed so in my mind I won’t classify it as a date.

“Should I tell Dean?” I blurt, coming out of my zone.

“Who?” Dre asks, looking genuinely confused.

I giggle lightly, “Sorry. I forget only I call him that. Should I tell Karter about Reed?”

She finishes off her glass of wine and pours herself another, “Girl please. That would be the biggest shit storm. I wouldn’t say a word. Men do this shit all of the time, it’s not a big deal. Besides, it’s not like your virgin ass is giving up any goodies so everyone should be copacetic.”

I laugh so hard wine comes out of my nose. I slap her arm, “Shut the hell up Andrea!”

Last night was so much fun, even though I woke up with a slight headache this morning. I left Dre there with a note to lock up when she left and came to work on a mission. Even though I’ll have to see him tonight, I’ve been determined to stay away from Reed. Since we both get off at five today, he’s going to come get me at seven thirty for the eight o’clock showing. It’s almost time to leave work and I haven’t run into him yet, lady luck must be on my side today.

After a quick power nap I’m showered, dressed, and ready to go by seven twenty. The outfit Dre picked out is simple but still cute, a white collared sleeveless top with cherries all over it and a high waist flared leather skirt. I put on black gladiator sandals and lip balm before putting my hair up into a high ponytail leaving a couple of pieces to frame my face. I take a look at myself in the mirror and nod my head in approval, not too much and not too little.

I hear footsteps approaching the house and stop my assessment of myself. My hearing has been hypersensitive as hell lately. I walk over to the door and open it, almost getting my face knocked on by Reed.

He drops his arm to his side immediately and grins nervously.

“Well hello to you too,” I tease and step out to lock the door behind me.

He chuckles and mumbles an apology as we walk to his car, a Prius. I watch his backside as he walks ahead of me and can’t help but to admire the way his jeans fall slightly off of his hips. The black V-neck t-shirt he has on keeps clinging to his skin like it’s made of saran wrap, showing off his defined shoulders and back. I smile to myself imagining the view from the front and bite the corner of my lip in anticipation. After opening the door for me, he briskly walks over to his side, giving me the quick glimpse at his abs I was waiting for. The car ride is filled with aimless talk about nothing and I can tell that he’s nervous.

When we pull to a stop in the parking lot of the movie theatre I turn to him.

“Look Reed, I like you. You’re really fun to be around, just not tonight,” I tell him and watch his face drop. I quickly try to fix my mess. “Not like that! I mean you seem nervous and I just want you to relax. We’re both adults here and we’re just two adults hanging out together. No big deal right?”

He dries his hands on his jeans and breathes out through his nose nodding, “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry I’m being such a spaz.”

I giggle and playfully push his shoulder before getting out of the car. I didn’t miss the way his body stiffened when I touched him, but I’m going to pretend I did.

“I apologize on behalf of Justin and Ben for that movie sucking so much ass,” Reed jokes as we walk out of the theatre together.

I laugh louder than I intended, only making us both laugh harder.

“It wasn’t that bad,” I defend as he opens my door for me, ever the gentleman.

“Puh-lease!” he complains, backing out of the space, “I’ve seen better plots on Sesame Street.”

Laughter fills the car and I realize how great of a time I’m having tonight. Hanging out with Reed is like hanging out with a girlfriend. A very sexy smoldering girlfriend but a girlfriend none the less.

“I’m starving. Do you want to stop and get food?” I’m about to tell him I’m not sure until my stomach growls so loud it echoes through the car. Embarrassed doesn’t even cover how I feel.

He laughs, slapping the steering wheel, “I’ll take that as a yes!”

We pull up in front of IHOP and basically run to the door. The fact that he remembered I love breakfast foods isn’t lost on me, even though I’m not the biggest fan of everything here. We’re immediately seated since it’s basically empty aside from a few elderly couples.

“Hello, my name is Rachel and I’ll be your server tonight can I start yall off with some drinks?”

I look up at our waitress and immediately my mood goes down a peg. Her eyes are almost the same shade of green as Dean and it makes me wonder where he is and what he’s doing right now while I’m on a semi-date with another guy.

“I’ll take a Sprite,” Reed says, flashing her a smile that has her dimples popping out.

I can’t front and act as if seeing him smile makes me smile and lifts my spirits back up.

“And for you ma’am?” she asks, a blush still prominent on her cheeks.

“I’ll have the same,” I tell her with a knowing grin. I know better than anyone Reed can have that effect on you the first time you see him.

Stuffed to the brim with food and conversation, we make our way out of the restaurant an hour later. I find myself not wanting to go home. I can’t decide if it’s because I’m having such a great time with Reed or if it’s that I haven’t been out in so long. For sanity sake, I’ll believe it’s the latter.

He pulls into the driveway behind my car and to my surprise walks me to my door. I have to slow my pace to walk beside him and it comes to my attention that he doesn’t want the night to end either. As much as I try to stop it a little thrill goes through me at that revelation.

Once we get to the steps I stop and sit down on the top of them patting the seat next to me.

He grins and drops down beside me, “I get the feeling you don’t want the night to end Ms. Trevino.”

I roll my eyes even though he probably can’t see me in the dark.

“Don’t flatter yourself Summers, it’s just been a while since I’ve done something other than work,” I retort with a laugh.

He waves his hand dismissively and playfully nudges me with his body. The playful side of me wants to nudge him back but something in me won’t allow it.

These conflicting feelings are getting worse the more time I spend with him. If Dean didn’t have this odd hold on me, I could definitely see myself falling for Reed. He’s literally everything I want in a guy. I look at his silhouette in the moonlight and notice his raven black hair and straight nose, leading down to his slightly full lips. His body is wonderful with hard lines and definition and he smells fantastic. Lately my overactive sense of smell has been driving me insane but around him, I can’t bring myself to mind. Not only is he physically attractive, his personality is so great. He’s very easy going and laid back, nothing seems to stress him, unless you count semi-dates with his co-worker.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he says sarcastically with that mischievous grin of his.

I don’t hold back this time and nudge him, embarrassed that he caught me staring.

“I stare at you too sometimes.” He said it under his breath, but I heard him anyway. He didn’t intend for me to, he turned his head away and covered his mouth when he said it.

I’m about to reply when I hear a rustling in the bushes beside my porch. That noise has me shooting up from my seat like a bullet. I do not play with rodents or critters.

“What is it?” Reed asks and I can tell he’s afraid I heard what he said. His eyes are frantic and searching my face.

I point a finger to the bushes behind him to put him at ease, “You didn’t hear that?”

He frowns, “Hear wha-” The rustling sounds off again, making me fly up onto the porch and to my door.

The next thing I hear is Reed’s laughter. “You are really scared of whatever’s over there huh? Dear God, you leaped to the door!”

I flip him the bird and start to unlock my door as he trots up the stairs behind me.

Turning my back to the door our eyes meet and he smiles lightly before pulling a piece of hair behind my ear.

“I had a fantastic time tonight Ms. Trevino and this little incident was the icing on an already delicious cake.”

I roll my eyes, fully aware that he can see the gesture from the light escaping through my door. I lean closer to him and I see the glimmer in his eyes, “That’s very descriptive for a movie and IHOP.”

He challenges me and steps closer, leaving half a foot of distance between our faces, “Just wait and see how descriptive I get on our next date.”

I’m about to respond something sassy when that damn rustling in the bushes interrupts me. I jump into my house and behind the door, only peeking out to swat at a laughing Reed.

“Good night Mr. Summers! You asshole!”

He laughs louder and shakes his head as he walks down the stairs toward his car.

I close the door behind me quickly and wait to hear his car leave my driveway. Once it does I lock up and shower before heading to bed. I check my text messages and find none which saddens me slightly. I haven’t heard from Dean all day and he still hasn’t given me any details on our date for tomorrow. After plugging my phone in I think back to that moment Reed and I had on the porch. He looked almost as if he was going to kiss me. Would I have let him? I hear an almost audible “NO!” sound off in my head and bulge my eyes at the intensity of my conscience. Then I remember a line from the movie that makes me snort, “That voice in the back of your head is not your conscience. It's fear. Good luck.” I roll my eyes at my own lame sense of humor and drift off to sleep.

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A/N

So here’s another chapter, it’s semi-edited but not really because it’s late so…yeah! Side note: I’ve never seen Runner Runner, I only read the spoilers summary online so hopefully they got that line correct (they claimed it meant 'Fuck you, dummy' in the movie and it made me giggle so yeah!) Also I tried some different spacing with my paragraphs so they arent so long so let me know how that is if you will. Anywho, in the next chapter Karter and Dylan go out on their first date! Eeeeep! Finally ^_^ I still have NO idea what I’ll have them do but whatevs! Next update will hopefully be very soon! Thank you all for 43 reads! I honestly didn’t think I would get ONE so to get 40xs that blows my brain to bits!(After making adjustments I'm down to 27 reads BLAH!) Please share the story with your friends, vote, follow me, and comment! I love hearing constructive criticism so if you have any pointers feel free to speak up! Oh and Happy Mother’s day to any mothers out there! Speaking of moms, Dylan’s mom and Karter’s grandma will definitely make a few more appearances in the story pretty soon I’m hoping. His parents don’t play that huge of a role so I didn’t cast them XD

I’ll be back soon!

WBN