27 Dates_Valentine's Day

by B. N. Hale

  27 Dates

  Volume 1: Valentine’s Day

  By B. N. Hale

  Text Copyright © 2018 B.N. Hale

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Excerpt from Volume 2

  Author Bio

  Chapter 1

  “No.”

  The word slipped out of Kate’s mouth before she could stop it, obliterating her future in a single syllable. Jason stared at her, his features frozen in disbelief. She was distantly aware of the collective gasp by those present, but couldn’t tear her gaze from her boyfriend, still down on one knee.

  She struggled to speak but the word seemed to hang in silence, a brutal rejection that could not be withdrawn. Doubt assailed her and her eyes flicked to the ring, the diamond glittering in its black velvet box. Why had she said it? Had she meant it? Please tell me I didn’t say it.

  They’d met in their senior year of high school, just two years ago. They were paired as lab partners and she’d stolen looks at his chiseled jaw line, wondering as to the sudden source of her luck.

  “Do you like biology?” she’d asked.

  “I prefer chemistry,” he said, his lips twitching into a smile.

  She flushed and looked away, but a moment later stole another look. At six feet two he was on the tall side for a soccer player. His brown hair was wavy and thick, just begging for fingers to rake their way through, while his brown eyes were arresting in their intensity. They’d begun dating by the end of the week, and she’d fallen hard.

  The memory faded and Kate realized that only a fraction of a second had passed. Jason’s expression was just starting to change from surprise to hurt, followed quickly by embarrassment. His eyes darted to the circle of friends standing awkwardly around them, settling on Jason’s best friend who stood frozen, a partially unrolled poster in his hands that revealed seven letters, Congrat—

  She swallowed and forced herself to speak. “Jason, I . . .”

  How could she explain it to him? How could she explain it to herself? Jason abruptly stood and shut the ring box, the snap causing her to flinch. He smiled and made a joke, but both were forced, and no one laughed. Giving up the pretense, he threw Kate a scathing look and strode to the door. She leapt after him, wondering what she could say to withdraw the rejection. Wondering if she would.

  Kate looked at the party, yearning to return to the moment before he’d proposed. Paper hearts hung from the ceiling, fluttering in the breeze from the open door. The candy was also shaped like hearts, as were the banners and the ice in the punch bowl.

  Jason had been planning the Valentine’s Day party for weeks. He’d been evasive and nervous leading up to the day, but she’d assumed it was due to his classes. How could she have known what he was about to do?

  As he stepped onto the porch she caught his arm. He whirled, his eyes burning into hers. She winced and snatched her hand back. Anger and pain washed across his features and his jaw clenched. She wanted to comfort him, but doubt lodged in her throat. He’d professed his love and she’d crushed his hope with two letters.

  The silence lasted until he grimaced and left. She remained in the door and watched him walk away, his broad shoulders hunched, anger and confusion wafting off his frame. She wanted to call out to him, to repair what she’d said with three letters, but the same part of her that had said no bound her tongue, and her apology went unvoiced as he disappeared into the night.

  Chapter 2

  One Year Later

  Kate stared at her textbook, the words blurring into an endless stream of academic language. Deciphering the text occupied much of her homework time, and she made a mental note not to take another class where the professor assigned a book they had personally written. Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen.

  She didn’t read the text, her eyes drawn to the date on top of her phone. February 14th, one year since she’d watched Jason walk away. She’d dreaded the approach of Valentine’s Day with the cold certainty of an impending exam, and spent much of the day holed up in her room, trying desperately not to think of him.

  And failing.

  She thought of their time together, of his smile, of his touch. But more than that she thought of the time after, when he’d wanted an answer she’d been unable to give. Their relationship had ended abruptly and left her reeling. And here she was, one year later, still without an answer.

  Her phone went dark, mercifully removing the reminder that a year had passed. Anger briefly flickered in her chest but could not survive against the numb confusion that still held her bound. Releasing a long sigh, she returned her attention to her textbook.

  A knock on the bedroom door caused Kate to look up. She glanced at the clock but it wasn’t even five, not yet time for dinner. Curious, she stepped to the door and swung it open. To her surprise it was all three of her roommates.

  “Did I forget to do my dishes?” Kate asked.

  In the center, Ember folded her arms. “It’s an intervention.”

  Kate smiled faintly. “Aside from Netflix, I don’t have any addictions.”

  “You’re addicted to solitude,” Marta said. “You haven’t been on a date in months.”

  Kate’s smile faded and she retreated to her desk. “I’ve been busy.”

  Brittney stepped in after her. “You broke up with Jason because you didn’t want to get married. Now you’ve escaped into your studies.”

  “I need to focus,” Kate said, bending over her book.

  “Not tonight,” Ember said, her voice changing with her smile.

  Kate looked up and frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “You have a date,” Brittney said smugly.

  “In thirty minutes,” Marta added.

  “Who?” Kate demanded.

  Brittney shook her head. “You don’t know him.”

  “It’s Valentine’s Day,” Kate protested. “Who would go on a blind date today?”

  Ember grinned and departed, a sly smile on her face. “You’d better get ready!”

  Marta followed her, and Kate cast Brittney a pleading look. “Why would you do this to me?”

  “Because you need it,” she said sympathetically, and slipped from the room.

  The door shut with a click and Kate stared at the barrier, wondering when her roommates had gained the upper hand. Although only one was blonde they called themselves the blondes, and the redheaded Ember was clearly their leader. The girl was strikingly beautiful but a danger to any boy that crossed her. One boyfriend had made the mistake of breaking up via text, and she’d broken his car window with a hammer, grabbed his phone and smashed it with said hammer. While he was still in the car.

  Marta’s parents were from Puerto Rico, and she’d inherited their lovely dark complexion, wavy hair, and brown eyes. She had not inherited a love for everything Puerto Rican, a constant point of contention between her, her parents, and her numerous cousins.

  Brittney was the only blonde of the bunch and by far the smartest. She was taller than the others and not as trim, but her sense of humor and intelligence were her best assets. She was fond of disparaging vegetables and praising cookies, of which she could only be described as a connoisseur. She was also the best cook in the house.

  Kate liked her roommates—most of the time. They’d been with her through the ending of her relationship, a time that Brittney called “The Age of Jason.” They’d pulled together for her, and Brittney had even made her quadruple chocolate lava brownies with devil’s ice-cream, assuring her that it was the cure to all. But the t
aste of chocolate was a temporary remedy that did not fill the void in her chest.

  Over the last few months the blondes had begun setting her up on dates, most of which she’d managed to avoid. This time they they’d obviously opted to blindside her at the last moment to prevent her from escaping.

  Kate had been looking forward to a night curled up in her bed, trying to figure out if it was too late to call Jason. Now she’d have to pretend to smile at the one guy desperate enough to accept a blind date today. On Valentine’s Day.

  She considered how she could cancel the date, but the blondes where like pretty pit bulls, and any effort to escape their jaws would be futile. Like when Ember had decided she liked a guy on the lacrosse team, and they had spent two weeks learning the rules, even playing in the park with a group of friends. Ember had dated him for less than a week. The girls still played lacrosse.

  Kate glanced toward the window, wondering if she could slip out unseen. Her room was small, but at least it was hers. Movie posters lined the walls, mostly from Harry Potter and Marvel. Her bed sat in one corner with her desk on the opposite side of the room. Books were piled above it, old textbooks with a few favorite novels, the pages still bent from where she’d stopped reading.

  She groaned and stepped to her closet. Her roommates may have blindsided her, but they had good intentions. She could endure one night to appease them, especially after all they had done in The Age of Jason.

  She chose a nice blue shirt and her comfy jeans. When she was dressed she stepped into the bathroom and added a touch of makeup, pausing to stare into the mirror. Her hair was brown like Marta’s, but wavier and longer.

  Slender and of average height, there was little remarkable about her except her eyes, which were a striking green. Jason had said they were like emeralds that softened when she smiled. She pushed the memory away and tied her hair back. Then she went into the living room to collect her purse and sneakers.

  The house was small but close to campus. With little more than a couch and a TV, the living room was not spacious. The kitchen made up for it, and boasted a stainless steel fridge with matching oven and microwave. As Kate sat on the couch and tied her laces, Ember came from the kitchen.

  “You can’t wear those,” Ember said, her features wide with horror.

  Kate didn’t stop tying her shoes. “If he doesn’t like me in sneakers, he won’t like me in heels.”

  Marta stepped into the living room and her eyes flicked to Kate’s feet. “You can’t wear—”

  Kate threw her a scathing look and Marta just shook her head. Brittney appeared with a leftover slice of pizza from the previous night and her eyes fell to Kate’s shoes. Before she could speak Kate raised a finger to her.

  “You chose the date. I chose my shoes.”

  The girls sighed in unison, and Kate smiled in triumph. Ember pouted and sank onto the couch. “Don’t blame us if he isn’t attracted to you.”

  “Who is this guy anyway?” Kate asked.

  “Reed Hansen,” Marta said. “He’s a TA for one of my classes.”

  “A master’s student?” Kate asked. She’d expected someone younger. “What does he look like?”

  Marta and Ember exchanged a look, and Marta said. “He’s cute. I think you’ll like him. And he dates a lot.”

  Kate frowned at her evasive tone. An older student that was “cute” and dated “a lot” didn’t bode well for her. She pointed an accusing finger at them but the sound of a car door drew her attention.

  “He’s here!” Ember said brightly.

  Kate stepped to the door and slipped into her coat. Then she caught the handle as the bell rang. She swung the door open to reveal her date. She blinked, surprised to find him very attractive. His hair was black but his eyes a dark blue, a contrast that sent heat into her belly. He was trim with a nice build, and came dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt visible beneath his coat. His lips twitched in amusement as he endured the scrutiny.

  “Kate Williams?” he asked.

  She nodded and stepped outside, shutting the door before the blondes could interject. “Are we going to a movie?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “What do you want to do?”

  She sighed, lowering her opinion of him. Perhaps she could fake a headache to save his feelings before it got too late. “How about dinner and then we catch a movie.”

  He laughed lightly. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but no movie tonight.”

  She frowned at the mischief in his tone. “You do have a plan.”

  “I always do,” he said with a grin.

  She stole a glance at his profile, uncertain what to expect from the evening. “I’m happy to pay for myself.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. He walked her to the car and opened the passenger door for her. “There’s no check to split.”

  She came to a halt with one foot in the car. “What sort of date costs nothing?”

  “A fun one,” he replied.

  Intrigued, she couldn’t resist a smile. “Time will tell,” she said, and stepped into the car.

  Chapter 3

  He laughed and shut the door for her. Striding around the car, he stepped into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The ancient Camry coughed to life and he spun the wheel, pulling onto the road.

  “Nice car,” she said.

  “Is that sarcasm I hear?”

  “No.”

  He grinned. “Tuition sucks all my money, but this little beauty gets the job done.”

  “What’s your major?”

  “Psychology. You?”

  “Mechanical Engineering.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “A smart one?”

  “I try,” she said. “Do you often go on blind dates?”

  “Sometimes,” he said. “But usually I prefer to meet the girl and ask her out myself.”

  “On Valentine’s Day?” she pressed.

  He grinned and threw her a look. “Truthfully, I like to take Valentine’s Day off. Usually a girl gets the wrong impression when I plan so much.”

  “Then why go with me?”

  “Your roommates were quite insistent.”

  She laughed sourly, imagining Ember handcuffing him until he agreed to take her on a date. As they talked he drove off campus and into Boulder, Colorado, headed north. The winter had been surprisingly warm and the roads were clear, the snow already melting long before it was supposed to. He’d said there was no check to split, but she was still surprised when he passed the bowling alley without sparing it a look, and the theatre. She frowned, confused and intrigued.

  She swiveled in her seat to examine him anew. “Just how often do you date?”

  “Every week,” he said. “Sometimes two or three times.”

  She frowned. “I didn’t take you for that kind of guy.”

  He laughed. “I don’t hold hands or kiss unless I want to date exclusively. And no sex.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t sound so skeptical,” he said, feigning a wounded expression.

  “Just what kind of guy are you?”

  “A good one,” he said with a grin. “Are you ready for a game?”

  “Game?”

  “It will take us a few minutes to get to dinner, and a game will help us get to know each other.”

  “What sort of game?” she asked as they pulled onto the interstate. Getting on the freeway didn’t indicate a destination, but as the miles slipped by she wondered what he intended.

  “This one is titled Random Facts About Me,” he said. “We take turns sharing things people wouldn’t normally know.”

  “You go first,” she said.

  He smiled as if he’d expected her response and Kate realized the smile came easy and often. His blue eyes flicked her way and the heat returned. She squashed it and turned her attention to his random fact.

  “When I was four I almost died because I tried to fly. I broke my arm and fractured my eye socket.”

  She burst into a laugh
. “What did you jump off?”

  “The roof,” he said. “My mom was livid.”

  “I bet she was,” she said.

  He gestured in her direction. “Your turn.”

  She considered her past for several moments, but Reed seemed content to wait. He took an exit and headed into the mountains outside of Boulder. She should have been concerned at the obscure destination but surprisingly wasn’t.

  “When I was twelve I went canoeing with some friends,” she said. “My older sister and her friends decided to jump off a cliff next to the river. I wanted to look tough so I went with them.”

  “How high?”

  “About forty feet.”

  He winced. “Sounds painful.”

  She laughed in chagrin. “I lost my nerve halfway down and bent my legs, and landed on my side. My sister heard the smack from half a mile up the river.”

  Reed laughed, causing the Camry to tremble, although she guessed that was just the car’s transmission struggling with the incline. She grinned at his response and ran her finger up her side.

  “My bruise went from butt to bra line.”

  “That’s the best story I’ve heard in a while,” he said.

  She watched his eyes as he spoke. Normally when she told that story a guy glanced at her chest, but he kept his eyes on the road. He’d said no physical contact, but she wasn’t sure she believed him.

  She’d dated quite a bit before Jason, but now as she looked back they were a blur of similar faces. She’d never met anyone like Reed and couldn’t tell if he was feeding her a line or meant what he said.

  She’d expected the conversation to be tedious on a first date. On Valentine’s Day. Instead the game kept the conversation going in surprising and clever directions. He spoke of his sister and growing up in Tallahassee, Florida. She also shared the obligatory details about her family, her three brothers, her divorced mother and father.

  The information was mundane, yet told in the context of the game it seemed exciting. Sharing the basic details of their lives in a series of stories and events made Reed’s sister seem real and Kate could actually imagine her. His stories of her were tinged with fondness, suggesting a close relationship.