Page 18 of Succeeding Love
“Yeah,” she giggled. “You went from hero to robber overnight.”
“I think that’s a different Vin Diesel movie,” I chuckled.
“We should make a list and start checking them off.”
That gave me an idea. I don’t know if it’s a good one, but I wanted to take the chance. I looked down at her dog, nervously petting his ears. “We could, um, have a movie night some time then?”
She fluttered her eyes in the cutest way, brushing her hair behind her ear while she looked down shyly. Man, she’s pretty. “You really want to watch that Riddick movie, huh?”
“That, and I could handle your leftovers for you,” I chuckled nervously. “I mean, I scarfed that lasagna down. It was amazing.”
“It was pretty amazing, huh?” she giggled.
Damn, she was cute. Her ex-husband must have been a moron.
“I, uh, I don’t have the kids on weekends, so I wasn’t planning on cooking tonight.”
“Even better,” I said. “I could take you out? Maybe see an actual movie?”
“Are you saying Riddick isn’t an actual movie?” she grinned adorably. “It happens to be one of my favorites.”
I shook my head and burst into laughter. “Well, what I meant was a movie playing in theaters. I’m sure there’s something out there like it.”
She bit her lip, looking up at me. I could see she was thinking it through, and I’m sure she’s uncomfortable being put on the spot like this.
“Tell you what. Think about it for a second. I’m going to run in and get your containers for you and your bag.”
“You really ate it all?” Her large brown eyes went even wider.
“Every bit of it.” I rubbed my belly and smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
I jogged up to the house, passing through the garage to grab the bag quickly from the kitchen. Mom was in the backyard looking at her flowers with her cup of tea and toast for breakfast.After making sure she was okay, I hurried back out to where Feighlynn was still waiting at the end of my driveway.
“Here you go,” I handed it to her, but her fumbling with the leash to grab it had me pulling it back towards me. “Uh, I can just place this on your porch or in your garage for you until you get back.”
She smiled, biting that bottom lip and shaking her head. “I have a better idea. How about just bringing it to me tonight? Say, around six?”
My heart was thundering in my chest, and a relieved, rejoicing smile split across my face, making my cheeks hurt, but I didn’t care.
“At six? Sounds great.”
“It’s a date,” she giggled, then hurriedly started walking with Kevin in tow.
~
Nick
“What do you think?” Arlene asked me, shaking my knee.
“Huh?” I snapped out of my thoughts, glancing at her before focusing back on the road. She’s been awfully chatty since we left this morning, which I didn’t expect after what happened last night.
“Nicholas, are you serious? Were you really not listening to a single word I said?”
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I was thinking of my case.”
That was a lie. I have been fighting a headache from drinking too much last night, then thinking about my wife and the new condo.
Arlene scoffed like she didn’t believe me, but continued talking anyway. “I was saying, why don’t we take Jessie to that new dive bar down the street for dinner tonight? I hear the tartar is astounding.”