Third Date

by Kylie Keene

  He sighs. “Yeah. Believe me. I know exactly how long it’s been.”

  “Why did you wait so long? I know you’ve dated since then.”

  “I was waiting for the right person. I’ve had plenty of meaningless sex in my life. I’m done with that. I was waiting for someone like you. The smart, beautiful girl I knew from high school who I was too afraid to ask out because I knew she’d say no. The girl I never forgot. Then fate steps in and lands you right in front of me at a hotel in Boston. And even as a grown man, I didn’t think there was a chance in hell you’d go out with me.”

  “Well, you won me over by taking me to buy underwear that night.” I kiss his cheek. “And you’ve pretty much continued to win me over since then.”

  He laughs. “If I’d known it was that easy I would’ve taken you to buy underwear a long time ago.”

  “Nope. It only worked that one night. Something happened on that trip. I can’t even explain it. You got in my head and I couldn’t get you out.”

  “You got in my heart. And I didn’t even try to get you out. I knew you’d always be there.”

  His comment surprises me. I had no idea he felt that way in Boston. I wish he’d said something.

  “Brad, I felt horrible leaving you like that at the airport. I didn’t give you my phone number because I knew I wouldn’t be able to get over these feelings I had for you if we kept in touch. But my plan didn’t work because even when we were apart, the feelings never went away. If anything, they got even stronger.” I pause, then say, “I also didn’t give you my number because a part of me thought you’d never call. That maybe you were just being nice to me in Boston because you felt sorry for me. Sometimes I still think of myself as the shy, quiet Morgan from high school who doesn’t believe someone like you would ever be interested in me. And I didn’t want to be disappointed when you didn’t call. So I made sure you couldn’t call.”

  “I would’ve called. I would’ve called you every damn day—more than that if you’d let me. If I’d had your number, I would’ve called you while we were still at the airport. In fact, when I noticed that both our planes were delayed I wanted to go see you at your gate, but I thought you’d tell me to get lost.”

  “I wanted to see you, too, but I thought you hated me after I just left like that.”

  “I’d never hate you, Morgan.” He kisses me. “You’re too damn cute and sweet and sexy and so many other things that make me want to never leave your side.”

  “Never? That’s a long time.”

  “Then I’ll stay there as long as you’ll let me. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds good. And you know what else sounds good?”

  “What?”

  “More ice cream. I know it’s 2 in the morning, but you want some?”

  He raises his brows. “I don’t know. The ice cream is what ended us up here.”

  I smile. “Exactly. Now do you want some?”

  He smiles back and kisses me. “I definitely want some.”

  And that was the night I lost my virginity.

  It’s a night I will always remember.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  One Year Later

  Brad and I are now engaged. He proposed to me at Gino’s, that little Italian restaurant in Boston with the great meatballs. It happened just a couple weeks ago. Brad had to go to Boston for work and I decided to go with him. We stayed a few extra days to do some sightseeing.

  Boston is having an early spring this year so the weather was warmer than normal and the trees and flowers were already starting to bloom. We rode a swan boat, walked the cobblestone streets, and stayed in a fancy hotel right downtown. Then, on our last night there, he took me to Gino’s for dinner, and right before dessert he got down on one knee and gave me a beautiful one-carat diamond ring. I was completely shocked. And so happy I cried. I love Brad more than anything and I can’t wait to be his wife.

  When I think back to all that’s happened since that day I told Kayla to set me up, I’m amazed that everything worked out the way it did. I thought I’d go on a few dates and maybe find someone who could turn into a boyfriend. I wasn’t expecting anything serious. Just someone to do stuff with. I had no plans to get married. But plans have a way of changing. Like the plan I had to lose my virginity. I was ready to give it away just to get it over with, even though deep down that’s not what I wanted. Then Brad stumbled into my life at that very moment and ended up being the love of my life. It’s funny how things just work out sometimes when you’re least expecting them to.

  Brad and I are getting married a year from now. Another March wedding. My mom’s birthday was in March. It used to be a sad month but it’s not anymore. It’s the month I officially started dating Brad. It’s the month my dad got married. And now it’s the month I’ll be getting married. It’s become a month of celebrations, not sadness. Dad says that’s what Mom would’ve wanted.

  As for Grant, he’s dating Abbi, a woman he met at the art center. They both volunteer there. She’s a runner, just like him. They’ve already done two marathons together. And she loves sushi. She doesn’t love to cook but that’s fine with him because he’d rather do the cooking anyway.

  My dad is happier than ever, relaxing under the warm Texas sun with Sophie. They live on a lake and Dad bought a boat. He always wanted a boat. Living all those years in the state of 10,000 lakes you’d think he would’ve bought one years ago. But he never did. His boating dream is now a reality and he’s out on the lake almost every day. Brad and I have been down to visit him three times this past year. My dad already treats Brad like the son he never had. The last time we were there, my dad took Brad fishing while Sophie and I had a spa day. Living without my mom all those years, I didn’t do things like spa days or shopping days. But I do now. Whenever I go there to visit, Sophie takes me for manicures, pedicures, tearoom lunches, and other girly things I missed out on after my mom died. Sophie will never replace my mom, but she treats me like a daughter and it’s nice to have that again.

  As for work, both Brad and I have been promoted. Kayla and Paige have, too. The company is growing even faster than anticipated, allowing for more opportunities to move up as new people are added. The company picnic last summer was a huge hit. The best one ever, according to the employee surveys. HR asked Brad and me to plan this year’s picnic as well but we declined. We have another party to plan; our wedding.

  Speaking of weddings, Chase and Kayla got married last December. That’s right. The party girl who said she’d never date a numbers guy got married to the guy from the finance department. It was a beautiful, winter-themed evening wedding. I’ve never seen Kayla that happy. I finally found out why Kayla acted and dressed the way she did in her pre-Chase life. Turns out her parents divorced years ago because her dad cheated. Kayla was 14 at the time and her father’s infidelity convinced her she could never trust a man and that marriage was a waste of time. She decided back then that men only wanted sex and that real love didn’t exist. But Chase changed her mind about all that. Kayla’s so stubborn that I don’t know how he did it. I guess his persistence won her over. Every time she told him to go away, he just tried harder. Now she’s almost a different person. She no longer puts her body on display for everyone at work and she let her hair go back to her natural medium blond color instead of that white-blond color she used to dye it. She’s still sarcastic and needs to filter her words sometimes, but she smiles and laughs more and is way more fun to be around.

  Paige is smiling a lot more, too, because she’s having a baby in June. Actually, two babies. She and her husband are expecting twin girls. I can already picture her dressing them just like she dresses. She’s freaking out a little about having two babies at once, but if anyone can do it, she can. She’s always so organized and though she doesn’t realize it, she works well amid chaos. And in a few months, she’ll have plenty of chaos.

  When I think about Paige having two daughters, it makes me wonder what their dating lives will be like when
they grow up. In 20 years, will it be the norm to have sex on the first date instead of the third? Will it go the other way and people will wait longer? Or will norms disappear and people can decide on their own when to do it without all the pressure to follow some made-up rule?

  I hope the latter is true. Dating is hard enough without having to follow someone else’s rules. And following those rules just leads you down a path that isn’t right for you. But breaking those rules can lead you down a path you never expected. And if you’re like me, that path might just lead to the place you wanted to be all along.

  Love Romance?

  Other Romance books from Waltham Publishing include…

  THE JADE SERIES by Allie Everhart

  The Jade Series is a New Adult Romance that follows the relationship of Jade and Garret during their first year of college while they deal with an ongoing mystery that involves Jade’s past and Garret’s future.

  CHOOSING YOU (Jade Series #1)

  When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

  Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

  As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.

  KNOWING YOU (Jade Series #2)

  Now that Garret’s decided he’s no longer following the rules of his wealthy family, he can finally develop a closer relationship with Jade. Things are going well, but Jade still worries that being with Garret is only temporary. And because of that, she’s not sure how much of herself and her past she’s willing to let him see.

  Garret does all he can to assure Jade that the two of them can last, but convincing her of that is difficult when she’s never trusted anyone. So he has to show her, by being there when she needs him the most, even when she tries to keep him away.

  The mysterious letter from Jade’s mom still haunts her and now she’s getting threatening phone calls. Someone from Jade’s past will stop at nothing to keep his secrets from getting out. And his number one secret is Jade.

  LOVING YOU (Jade Series #3)

  Since meeting Garret on her first night at college, Jade’s had to overcome many obstacles to be with him, including interference from Garret’s father.

  Now, months later, it seems that Mr. Kensington has finally accepted Jade dating his son, but the reason for that is unclear. After what Jade witnessed at the Kensington mansion, she’s not sure what his acceptance of her means. Is she tied to his family forever now that she knows some of their darkest secrets?

  Spring semester begins at Moorhurst College and a new student arrives who has a little too much interest in Garret’s family. And a little too much interest in Jade.

  Garret continues to win Jade’s heart with romantic gestures that make her love him even more. It seems like everything is starting to work out for Jade, but as her mother used to say...Good things never last. Or do they?

  PROMISING YOU (Jade Series #4)

  When Jade first arrived at Moorhurst College, she never imagined that the guy who helped her move in would end up being the guy she wants to be with forever. Now, seven months later, Jade and Garret are starting to talk about a future together. But the people around Jade are planting doubts in her mind, questioning her decision to be part of the Kensington family. Behind their lavish lifestyle are obligations and commitments that Garret may not be able to free himself from.

  One of these obligations is something Garret never knew about. Even his father wasn’t aware of what’s in store for his son. And once he finds out, it seems there’s nothing he can do about it.

  Just when Jade and Garret thought their problems were over, this new challenge emerges. Garret learns something that could change his future forever. And Jade’s future as well.

  As the school year comes to a close, will Jade and Garret get the happy ending they deserve? Or will bigger forces intervene? Garret promised Jade he’d always be there for her. But can he keep his promise?