In The Moment

by Alison G. Bailey

  “The little bit of time I’ve spent with you has meant more to me than you’ll ever know.”

  “Then let me take you out.” He paused. “One date, that’s all I’m asking.” Hope lit up his face.

  Standing, I put on a serious game face and looked him directly in the eye so he’d see how serious I was. “We’re not a good idea.”

  “Just because I’m a few years younger than you…”

  “Fifteen years. I’m a high school sophomore older than you… A whole person able to drive older than you.”

  “It’s just dinner, Cadence. What are you so afraid of?”

  A prickling heat crawled up my neck and to my cheeks at the sound of his voice wrapped around my name.

  “I’ve not been on a date with a twenty-five-year-old since I was a twenty-five-year-old.”

  “Dating hasn’t really changed that much.”

  “Yes, it has. You practically have to be a tech geek with all the apps, social media, and websites out there.”

  “Lucky for you, I’m a pretty low-tech guy, despite my career. We can take it slow. In fact, for dinner, we can eat slow smoked barbecue and drink slow roasted coffee.”

  “Now you’re making fun of me.”

  He took a step forward, putting him only a few inches from my body. “No, I’m not. Listen, I’ll adjust to whatever speed makes you comfortable.”

  Looking over his shoulder, I focused back on the painting as if the answer was hiding in the mix of colors.

  “Come on, Cadence, give a guy a shot. I promise I won’t bite… Unless you’re into that sort of thing.” He winked.

  God help me.

  “One dinner.” My stern expression crumbled.

  He held up his hands in surrender. “One dinner.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “Tonight? But isn’t it a school night?”

  His jaw clenched. “I’m not some immature kid.”

  My gaze dropped as regret hit my stomach. “I know you’re not. I’m sorry. I was trying to lighten the mood, and it came out bitchy. I just didn’t realize you meant tonight.”

  “No time like the present and it’ll give you less time to weasel your way out of it.”

  “But I need time to get ready.” There was slight panic in my tone.

  “Then you better get going. Although, you look incredible just the way you are.” His gaze lingered on my mouth for a second.

  “I guess you need my address or I could just meet you.”

  “I’d never be a douche and ask you to meet me for a date, and I actually already have your address.”

  “Okay then… tonight.” I headed toward the door.

  “Cadence.”

  Stopping, I turned to face him. “Yes.”

  “Two things you should know about tonight. One, I’ll be kissing you repeatedly, if that’s alright with you. And two, my mom lets me stay out as late as I want.” He smirked.

  Laughing, I left the office and power walked down the hall in search of Grace. I figured I had just enough time to beg her to help me get ready for my date and kill her for interfering.

  STANDING IN FRONT of my full-length mirror, I dropped the dress I’d been holding in front of me.

  “I can’t do this,” I said to Grace who was sprawled out on my bed drinking a glass of red wine.

  Thankfully, she agreed to help me get ready and to give me moral support. She owed me since she was the one who got me into this mess.

  “You can and will.” She took a sip of wine.

  “No… no… no. This is not a good idea. I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to go out with him.” I disappeared into my closet and rummaged through more of my clothes.

  “I think it’s absolutely fabulous and much needed. That’s why I helped the dashing Luken snare you.”

  I stuck my head out of the closet. “Thank you and fuck you.”

  She giggled into her glass. “Caddie, summer is right around the corner. What’s the harm in having a fun fling with a virile young man? If you think about it, this is the perfect time for the two of you to get together. Sex-u-ally speaking.”

  I dumped another armful of possible outfits on the bed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Biology! Both of you are in your prime fucking years.”

  “You get classier with each word.” I held up a black pantsuit. “Thoughts?”

  “It’s scientific. And hell no, you’re not running for president.” Grace looked through the pile. “This one.” She held up my white sleeveless turtleneck swing dress with gray pinstripes.

  “It’s a little too short.”

  “Exactly! A little bare shoulder and leg will drive him nuts.” She shoved the dress into my chest and disappeared into the closet.

  “I don’t want to drive him anywhere.”

  Grace walked back in the room holding a pair of gray kitten heels. “These are perfect. We’ll keep the jewelry to a minimum. Some silver hoops and a bracelet.”

  Plopping down on the bed, I put my face in my hands and mumbled. “My head has stopped working. I’m not thinking clearly.”

  “Good. The only part of your body you should be listening to is your fanny or as you Americans call it, your vajayjay.”

  “Grace, what if he’s got some sort of fetish like a mother complex? Oh my god! It’s like when Mrs. Brady dated Greg.”

  “I have no idea who you’re babbling on about.”

  “Or Mrs. Robinson seducing Dustin Hoffman.”

  “Oooh, I like the sound of that. Come on, time to get ready.”

  Grace tugged me off of the bed, shoved a glass of wine in my hand, and waved her magic wand.

  AFTER ONE LAST pep talk, Grace had left and I ended up pacing for the next twenty minutes. My nerves were wound so tight I about jumped out of my skin when the knock sounded on the other side of the door. Taking one last glance at my outfit, I inhaled a deep breath and opened the door.

  “Hi.” The word came out on an exhale making it sound all breathy.

  Butterflies swirled in the pit of my stomach at the sight of him in a light gray long-sleeve shirt and dark jeans with his short hair worked into a deliberately messy style. And to make me swoon, even more, was the bouquet of wildflowers he was holding.

  “Wow,” he said, staring intently at me.

  A warm blush crept across my cheeks. “Luken.”

  “What?”

  “Stop looking at me that way.”

  “Then stop looking that way.” Snapping out of his trance, he held out the flowers. “These are for you. Hope you’re not allergic.”

  I held his gaze and took the flowers. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” Holding them up, I breathed in their sweet scent. “And no, I’m not allergic. Come in while I put them in water.”

  I couldn’t deny the thrill I got watching him walk through my door and into my life.

  “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back,” I said walking into the kitchen.

  My place had an open floorplan, making the living room and kitchen one huge space. As I arranged the flowers in a vase, it struck me how natural it felt to have Luken in my home. I placed the vase of flowers on the breakfast bar that separated the two rooms then joined him. He had worked his way to the corner where I had a few framed photos on a small table.

  Standing slightly behind him, I teased. “See anything you like?”

  “Are these your parents?”

  “Yeah. It was taken last year at their forty-fifth wedding anniversary.”

  “Nice. My parents have been together for a long time too. Is that your brother?” He pointed at the picture of Michael and me on the beach in Mexico.

  I had considered putting the photo away several times since the breakup, but it was a happy memory. And that’s how I wanted to remember my time with Michael. This spur of the moment date night had me rattled. If I’d been thinking clearly, I would have slipped it into a drawer before Luken got here.

>   “No, I don’t have any siblings. Mom had a hard time getting pregnant. She and Dad almost gave up after the third miscarriage, but then I came along. When that happened, they decided to quit while they were ahead.”

  I had no idea why I felt compelled to reveal my family history. A simple, “no”, would have sufficed. But for some strange reason I wanted to share a part of my life with him.

  “I’m sorry.” He looked and sounded so sincere.

  “It was a very long time ago. How about you?”

  “I have one sister.”

  “Are you the baby of the family?” He looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Sorry, that wasn’t meant to be a commentary on…”

  He shook his head and chuckled. “God you’re cute. In fact, I’m the oldest by five minutes.”

  “You’re a twin?”

  “Yeah, but I’m still one of a kind.”

  I didn’t even try to hide my eye roll.

  Picking up the picture, he examined it. “So this Tom Cruise look-a-like was a boyfriend… husband… gay best friend?”

  “Boyfriend.”

  “How long were the two of you together?”

  I hesitated for a moment. “Twelve years.”

  He drew in a sharp breath. “And how long have y’all not been together?”

  “One month.”

  He gingerly placed the photo back in its spot. “Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much. You’re off to a pretty good start.”

  Mindlessly, I slipped my arm around his bicep and rested my head on his shoulder. Once I realized what I’d just done, I told myself to pull away, but I didn’t. One of the things I’d missed most over the past several years was the simple touch of affection. Twisting his body toward me, Luken cupped the sides of my face. As his lips touched mine, a rush of emotion hit my heart.

  He pulled away, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “We better…” He came in for a quick kiss. “…Get going.” Another quick kiss. “It takes about a half hour to get there.”

  I drew in as much oxygen as my lungs would hold. “Then I guess we better get going.”

  With his hand glued to the small of my back, we made our way out to his car. We stopped at a beautiful silver luxury truck. My first thought was boys and their toys. My second thought was his parents must be loaded. There was no way a trainer at a small software company could make enough to afford such an expensive ride.

  Opening the passenger door, he said, “Your chariot awaits.”

  “Wow, you’ve got a really big truck.”

  Standing behind me, he lowered his lips to my ear. “I’m in no way overcompensating for any inadequacies, in case you were wondering.”

  “I wasn’t but thanks for the heads up anyway.”

  Slipping his hands around my waist, he helped me into the truck. He held my gaze as he buckled me in, giving me a quick peck on the mouth before closing the door. Luken rounded the front of the car and slid into the driver’s seat.

  He leaned in close. “Being with you feels awesome… natural.” He didn’t give me a chance to respond before capturing my bottom lip and sucking gently. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. He let go of my lip but didn’t back away. “I like kissing you.”

  “I like being kissed by you,” I whispered.

  Internally I was kicking and screaming. I promised myself tonight would just be two new friends going out for dinner. There’d be no flirting, no kissing, and no touching. Only fifteen minutes in and I’d broken all three promises willingly. I should have made up an excuse and gotten out of the truck. The fact that I didn’t scared me to death.

  “YOU NEVER TOLD me where we were going,” I said.

  We’d been on the road for about twenty minutes. The conversation had been steady and easy. Being with Luken felt new and exciting, but also comfortable and natural.

  He glanced at me with a mischievous grin. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Come on, give a girl a clue.”

  Reaching over, he placed his hand on my knee and gave it a squeeze. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  Luken was a man of his word because within minutes we were pulling into the parking lot of the Silver Screen drive-in movie theater.

  “I didn’t think any of these still existed,” I said, the excitement evident in my voice.

  “It’s the only one left in the state. I hope it’s a good surprise.”

  “It’s a fantastic surprise.” I beamed out the window at the big flashing neon marque. “When I was a kid my parents brought me to the drive-in all the time. I’d be in the backseat in my pj’s with a blanket and pillow. After stuffing my face with junk food, I’d snuggle down in the seat to watch the movie. Usually, I fell asleep before it was over, but I didn’t care, it was always so much fun. Thank you for bringing me here.”

  When I looked at him, I was met by a huge smile.

  I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to geek out on you.”

  “Don’t apologize. It bodes well for me that the little things in life excite you. Again, not a comment on any inadequacies on my part.”

  Once inside the “theater”, Luken backed the truck up into the parking space. I watched with amazement as he transformed the bed into a cozy nook with thick blankets and large fluffy pillows. The fact that he’d gone to this much trouble in such a short amount of time overwhelmed me.

  “I can’t believe you did all of this.”

  “You gave me only one shot. I had to make the most of it if I had any chance of getting a second one.”

  He lifted me and sat me down on the back of the truck bringing us eye to eye. Raising my hand to his face, my fingertips trickled down the scruff that peppered his jaw. I leaned in and placed a kiss at the corner of his mouth.

  “I was already impressed before tonight.”

  “Damn. And to think instead of doing all this, we could have stayed in and made out.”

  Placing my palms flat against his hard chest, I shoved him back. “Don’t get too cocky. I like the effort.”

  Luken jumped into the truck, extended his hand and helped me to my feet.

  Slipping off my shoes, I said, “If I’d known tonight was going to involve climbing, I would have worn pants.”

  “That’s why I kept it a secret.” He winked. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

  While Luken headed toward the concession stand, I settled down into the cloud of blankets and pillows. Gazing up at the stars that were beginning to pop out, I thought about the advice Grace and Clayton gave me. Maybe they were right, and I just needed to relax and enjoy the moment. Odds were a pretty young girl would catch his attention and whatever this was between us would soon fizzle out. And I’d be left with a great memory of the time when a gorgeous young man made me feel attractive again.

  “Hey, a little help.” His deep voice snapped my head out of the clouds.

  Luken had an armful of stuffed bags.

  “Did you buy out the entire stand?”

  “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got one of everything,” he said, handing me the bags of food.

  “You could have asked.”

  He sat beside me, our shoulders and thighs touching. “I wanted to continue the surprise theme of the night.”

  My mouth watered as we spread out a smorgasbord of artery clogging deliciousness— hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, onion rings, soft pretzels, and funnel cakes. He reached around his side and produced a small cooler of beer and a bottle of my favorite Merlot. For a second, I was confused as to how he knew what wine I liked. I mean, the drive-in was a lucky shot, but there was no way he’d get two in one night. Then it dawned on me… Fairy godmother Grace had struck again.

  After pouring me a glass of wine he raised his beer and toasted. “To our first but hopefully not our last date.”

  I clinked my red cup with his bottle. “Cheers.”

  “Dig in.�
�� He popped a fry into his mouth.

  This was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for me and the genuine happiness on Luken’s face when he saw my reaction touched my heart deeply. I leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek.

  “Thank you again,” I whispered against his skin.

  After stuffing ourselves, there was still time before it would be dark enough for the movie to start. Although I wasn’t interested in opening up a can of worms about my relationship with Michael, it was killing me not knowing about Luken’s history.

  I picked at the last piece of funnel cake. “Since you know about my last relationship it’s time for you to cough up some details of your own.”

  With beer in hand, he relaxed back on the pillows and stretched out his long legs. “Technically, I only know that you had one for twelve years and now you don’t. What happened?”

  “My lips will remain sealed until you gimme a little somethin’, somethin’.”

  A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Seeing as how I plan on breaking that seal in the near future, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to loosening it up a bit.”

  A chill ran through my body at the thought of kissing him again.

  “There was a girl in high school who I’d been friends with since we were sophomores. Our senior year we started dating and by the end of freshman year in college we’d stopped.”

  “Aaand?”

  “And that’s the longest relationship I’ve had, if you even want to call it that.”

  “So y’all were together for two years?”

  “I guess, technically. I don’t really count the time in college. She went out of state, and we saw each other maybe six times that entire year.”

  “Were you in love with her?” My eyes widened the second the words left my mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so personal.”

  His hand found the small of my back, his thumb slowing moving back and forth like a pendulum. “It’s okay. I want to get personal with you.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at sincere eyes and a sweet, faint smile.

  “And to answer your question, no. I wasn’t in love with her.”

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  “I never wanted to be. My focus has always been my career.”