by B. N. Hale
“You think he’ll kiss me?” Kate asked, voicing her doubt.
“He’d be crazy not to,” Marta said.
“He’d be stupid not to,” Ember corrected.
Kate smiled at the stunning image in the mirror, wondering about tomorrow night. She felt fear and excitement, worry and hope, all blending into a cacophony of emotions that dried her throat and clogged her voice. But it was anticipation that came out on top.
“Looks like I’m ready,” she said with a smile.
Chapter 3
The next night Kate dressed for her date and finished her makeup. The whole day, she’d vacillated between excitement and nervousness, and not even Brittney’s white chocolate macadamia nut cookies had helped.
“You have it bad,” Marta said from the door, savoring one of the remaining cookies.
“It feels like our first date ever,” she said, checking her makeup for the hundredth time.
“Of course it feels like the first date,” Marta scoffed, poking her head into view. “That’s when most of us kiss.”
“Or more,” Ember called.
“Or less,” Kate said, shaking her hands. “How can I be so nervous about kissing a guy? It’s not like I’m going to spend the night with him.”
“You’ve built this moment into a mountain,” Brittney reasoned. “You just need to climb. We all know he’s gorgeous.”
“You think so?” Kate asked, glancing her way.
Brittney grinned. “He’s better looking than Jason—and Jason was hot.”
Kate laughed nervously and forced herself to step away from the mirror. Perhaps they were right, and she’d built up this moment until it seemed insurmountable. It was just a kiss, and he might not even come to that.
Had she over-thought the night? Had she assumed something that was not going to happen? Fear suddenly gripped her. But she jerked her head, discarding the thought with a rigid No, she was not imagining the depth of his feelings.
The doorbell rang and she flinched. Ember smirked as she saw Kate’s nervousness and rose from the couch, beating Marta and Brittney to the door. When she swung it open, Reed stood framed in the doorway.
Dressed in jeans and a shirt bearing the United States flag, he looked much like he always had, but a twinkle in his eye sent a shiver down Kate’s body. Without speaking a word, he seemed to call to her, and of its own accord, her body answered.
She advanced to greet him and he pulled her into an embrace, the contact soft yet firm. She breathed deep of his cologne, the scent mingling faintly with the cotton of his shirt, which hugged his shoulders as tightly as she did.
“Ready for tonight?” he asked.
Her heart jumped at the loaded question. “Ready for anything.”
He laughed and waved to the blondes. “Thanks for not telling Kate about the firework sign.”
Kate registered the comment and rounded on them, but all three looked shocked. Even Ember appeared surprised, and as she stuttered a protest Kate rotated back to Reed. He bore a smile of satisfaction.
“They didn’t help me,” he admitted. “Not for lack of trying, though. Ember was quite persistent with Jackson.”
“Stubborn brute,” Ember muttered.
“That he is,” Reed said, and then gestured to his car. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved,” she said.
She abruptly realized she hadn’t eaten anything besides Brittney’s cookies. She’d been so distracted by Reed’s date she’d forgotten food. She cast him a surreptitious look and found his eyes on her, a smile on his face.
Her roommates called out a farewell, their voices tinged with smiles, but Kate hardly noticed. She walked with Reed to his car and he opened the door for her. Then he got in and they drove away.
“I’m sorry the invite took so long,” he said.
“You’re worth the wait,” she said, laughing nervously as she realized how her statement could be interpreted.
He grinned. “It took forever to set up the board, and it was hard to actually get the fireworks. We had to drive all over the city for the right ones.”
“I can’t believe it all worked,” she said. “Once I saw the message I was worried something wouldn’t fire on time.”
“I was worried, too,” he said. “So I watched it from down the street.”
“It was a risky invite,” she said. “A bold invite, but a risky one.”
“I figured it was worth the risk,” he said, his lips twitching with amusement.
She looked away so he wouldn’t see her flush. In an effort to find a safe subject, she asked about dinner. After all the denials she expected him to refuse to answer, but to her surprise he did.
“We’re doing a barbeque in the park,” he said. “I have the smallest pavilion reserved in the Boulder City Park. We’re doing a Build-a-Burger bar.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yep,” he replied. “Can’t go wrong with a good burger.”
“Too true,” she said.
A firework burst on a nearby street. Small and cheap, the spark of light faded under the light of the setting sun. The group of kids shouted in delight and set about lighting the fuse of another, and the screaming firework went off as they turned the corner.
“They should have waited,” he said. “It’s stupid to light the fuse before the right time. You rob the fireworks of their brilliance.” He cast her a meaningful look.
Her skin tingled and she had to swallow. “It’s almost dark,” she said. “So it’s almost time.”
They shared a smile and then he turned onto the freeway that would take them downtown. A few minutes later he pulled off and headed to a park overlooking the valley. Small pavilions dotted the slope, interspersed with tracts of trees and fields of grass. A sign as they entered the park indicated the city fireworks would start at nine.
“You’re taking me to see the city fireworks?” she asked.
“You sound unimpressed.”
She gestured to the thousands of cars threading into the parking spots along the way. “After everything else you’ve done, this just seems a little . . . easy?”
“I’m certainly not easy,” he protested.
She laughed. “True.”
“I think you’ll be pleased with the evening,” he said cryptically.
She threw him a look but he merely smiled and turned up a small side road. The main road through the park branched into dozens of smaller roads, each leading to pavilions scattered throughout the park. Most were large enough for a group, but a handful were no more than a table and a barbeque stand. Reed’s destination sat at the top of the park, a refuge hidden in a stand of trees.
She exited the car and breathed deep of the warm air, the scent tinged with pine and stone. Below, people were setting up chairs and blankets to view the fireworks. Children ran about with sparklers in hand, the festive atmosphere filled with laughter and music.
Reed unloaded a cooler and several boxes, which he set out on the table. As he poured charcoal into the grill, she turned and joined him, picking up the lighter on her way. He accepted it with a nod and set to lighting the charcoal.
“This is wonderful,” she said, sweeping her hand at the vista.
“The night is young,” he said. “But first, dinner. We’ll have to wait for the charcoal to be ready, but you can lay out the toppings if you’d like. I asked Marta what you like and she gave some suggestions, but I brought some of my favorites as well.”
She opened the cooler and began unloading the various potential toppings for the burger. Bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato were expected, as were pickles and various sauces, but there were several surprising options.
There were three cheeses including cheddar, pepper jack, and pimento. Avocado, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and a handful of onion rings were also available. Reed took the avocado from her hand and pulled a cutting board from the box.
“You don’t mess around,” she said, her tone filled with praise.
“I’m what you call a burger snob,” he admitted. “I’m okay with most burgers, but I’m always on the hunt for a good one. I also prefer to have homemade fries, but those would be hard to cook in a park.”
“Chips are good,” she said, pulling them out of the box. Then she noticed an odd choice. “Pita chips?”
“Those are the appetizer,” he said. “We’ll dip them in Nutella.” He pointed to the box and she spotted the jar.
“And dessert?” he asked.
“An all-American trifle,” he said with a smile. “It’s in the cooler.”
She pulled it out and admired the multi-layered dessert, complete with pudding and various fruits. “You know, if you didn’t have the dating thing down, you could get any girl with just your cooking.”
“What if I don’t want just any girl?” he asked with a teasing smile.
She met his gaze, her heart accelerated anew. “Then you could have the one you want,” she said.
He smiled and nodded, returning to his work. She continued to unload the dinner but stole frequent glances in his direction. She’d thought herself confident before, but now she felt certain. And she yearned for the impending kiss.
Chapter 4
The conversation remained light and flirty, and she noticed he’d forsaken certain boundaries. As they prepared the meal together their hands frequently brushed, each contact sparking across her skin.
He shaped the hamburger with care and, when she admitted her brother had always insisted on managing the grill without her, showed her how to do the same. His easy smile appeared often as he helped her mold the meat into the right shape.
“If this was a pottery wheel it would be sexy,” she said.
He burst into a laugh and pointed to the grill. “That should be about ready. You can throw them on.”
The crowd had grown significantly as the sun set, with some setting their chairs and blankets on the opposite side of the road. Highly aware of the proximity, Kate glanced their way several times, and frowned when she noticed one of the women looking at Reed, a quizzical expression on her face.
The burgers finished and they each built their own, selecting the toppings like they were building a bomb. Amounts were measured and examined, and then added with great flair. Kate chose bacon, all three types of cheese, avocado and onions.
“I can’t stand mushrooms,” she said with a shudder.
“More for me,” he said, plucking one and tossing it into his mouth.
They sat down to eat and she took the first bite, all but moaning as the flavors merged in her mouth. Noticing her expression, he grinned and bit into his own burger. She looked at the burger with new eyes, all the previous hunger flooding back. Then she bit again with equally tantalizing results.
He caught her glancing at the girl nearby and said, “What are you looking at?”
“She keeps looking at us,” Kate said, subtly pointing at the girl. “She’s the one in the blue flag shirt sitting next to the guy in the Broncos hoodie.”
He glanced their way and frowned. “She looks familiar. Do you know her?”
She shook her head. “Not that I can recall. But she seems to be looking at you more than me.”
Kate stole another look, and the girl rose to her feet, pulling her apparent boyfriend up with her. Then she turned and strode towards the pavilion, obviously intent on talking to them. Reed wiped his mouth on a napkin.
“It looks like we’re going to find out.”
The girl walked in, holding hands with her boyfriend. “Reed?” she asked.
He squinted in the dim light. The sun had almost gone down and only the lamp Reed had brought illuminated her face. She was undeniably beautiful, with bright red hair and blue eyes. Tall and slender, she had an athlete’s build and graceful legs.
“Melissa?” Reed asked. He smiled and stepped forward to hug her. “I haven’t seen you in what, two years? How have you been?”
“Great,” she said, ending the brief contact. “This is Warren, my fiancé.”
Kate offered her hand. “Kate.”
Mellissa smiled and nodded to her. “Reed’s dates are legendary.”
“It’s true,” Warren said with a laugh. “You set the bar pretty high, you know.”
“Sorry,” Reed said, flashing his smile.
“Don’t apologize,” Melissa said. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me. You helped me see that dating was more than just hooking up. Because of you I learned how to find someone that really mattered to me.”
“I can’t take all the credit,” Reed said. “How long have you been engaged?”
Warren and Melissa exchanged a look, the softness to the expression revealing the depth of their affection. “Three months,” they said in unison, and Warren added, “but we dated for a year before that. She really put me through the paces, wanted to see if I was worth it.”
“You were,” she said, nudging him.
He laughed. “Only after I learned how to treat a girl.”
Melissa suddenly seemed to notice Kate standing awkwardly nearby. “Sorry to interrupt your date,” she said sincerely. “I just never got a chance to thank him. Reed changed my life.”
“I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.” Reed laughed but it sounded strained.
“It isn’t,” she said. “But anyway, I just wanted to thank you.” She looked to Kate and nodded. “He’s the best. Enjoy your night.”
“I will,” Kate said.
“Enjoy the fireworks,” Warren said as they walked away.
Reed chuckled under his breath after they left. “Was that as awkward for me as it was for you?”
“No,” she said, resuming her seat. “It was worse for me.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize I’d had such an impact on her.”
“When did you date her?”
“My junior year,” he said. “Fall, I think. She really liked our first date and wanted a second. I asked her again but after that I was too busy, so I didn’t ask her a third time. I haven’t seen her since.”
They sat in silence and she picked up her burger, which seemed to have lost its flavor. As she chewed she tried to identify what about the encounter set her on edge. Melissa had clearly been sincere. Warren too seemed genuinely grateful for Reed, as if Reed had personally introduced them and was the sole reason they’d fallen in love.
So why was she uneasy? Kate struggled to identify what she felt, her eyes ultimately settling on Reed. He seemed conflicted, the previous peace shattered after the conversation with Melissa. Perhaps what made her uneasy was not the conversation itself, but the impact it had on him.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
He smiled, but his easy smile was not so easy. “Of course. Care for more chips?”
She took some and added them to her plate. The previous euphoria had cooled. She ate but wracked her brain for a way to discard the intrusion and get back to where they had been earlier in the date.
“What’s your favorite date we’ve been on?” she asked, attempting to steer the conversation back to them.
“That I’ve done or that you’ve done?”
“Either,” she said.
“Ember’s polls still say the people like the island date,” he said.
“And you?”
“I think our first,” he said. “You were the most beautiful interrogator I’d ever met.”
She smiled. “I did ask you a lot of questions.”
“That’s an understatement,” he said. “You wanted to know everything about me.”
They laughed together and the tension seemed to ease, but Kate noticed a shadow to Reed’s eyes. Several times she caught him glancing at Melissa, and despite Kate’s best efforts, she couldn’t regain his whole attention.
Her worries gradually mounted throughout the meal, and by the time they finished eating she had to force a smile. Melissa’s appearance had shaken Reed, and Kate could not say why. Shortly after they finis
hed eating Reed looked at his watch.
“The fireworks will start soon,” he said. “We need to get going.”
“Going?” she asked. “Are we not watching the fireworks?”
He shook his head, a sly smile on his face. “We’re not watching the fireworks. We’re lighting them.”
Chapter 5
“No,” Kate breathed. “Really?”
He grinned as he carried the cooler to the car. When he opened the trunk he unrolled a package containing two tags, each bearing the lettering, Official Pyro Team of Boulder. She frowned and looked up at him.
“Are we sneaking in to help with the fireworks?” she asked, and then raised an eyebrow. “Is this going to get me arrested?”
His smile widened and he shook his head. “A friend of a friend is a manager on the crew. He said we could help light the fireworks.”
“A friend of a friend?” she asked, glancing at Melissa.
“A father of a girl I dated,” he replied. “To be honest, I think he liked me more than she did. She wasn’t into the creative dating thing. When I said we weren’t going to a bar she lost interest.”
“No wonder her dad liked you,” Kate said.
They finished loading everything into the car and donned the tags. Then they climbed into the car and drove away. Kate noticed Melissa waving as they departed, and she reluctantly returned the gesture. The girl seemed nice enough and was clearly happy, but Kate didn’t like the impact her appearance had had on Reed. Although conversation during the next part of the date had returned him to his previous demeanor, a shadow still tinged his eyes.
“Have you ever done this with another girl?” she asked.
“Never,” he replied, and feigned hurt. “And if you’ll recall, I promised I wouldn’t do a repeat date with you.”
“True,” she said.
She smiled but his attention was on the road, which had narrowed considerably. They pulled onto the road and wound their way through the hundreds of cars and barbeques going on in the park. Families talked and laughed while children scampered about, chasing each other until parents called their names.