"Girl Imma marry you." Nick Miller hated himself the moment the words left his mouth. Not that he didn't want to marry the beautiful blue-eyed vixen who he had approached at the bar. The moment he saw her he knew she was the reason things hadn't worked out with anyone else, but you don't just blurt that out to random girls at the bar.
"God, I'm sorry. That was stupid. I don't know why I said that. My friend dragged me out tonight. I sound just like him. I sound like Schmidt."
She twirled the straw of her ruby red drink. "Schmidt happens!" She exclaimed. She bit her bottom lip slightly. "Was that stupid? That was stupid. I'm stupid."
Nick laughed. "no! I like a funny girl."
She stabbed her thumbs proudly into her chest. "well thattttt's me!"
Nick smiled. He held out his hand. "Nick Miller."
"Jess. Jess Day." She replied, shaking his hand.
Nick hand lingered on hers a moment too long causing a playful pink shade to spread across her cherub like cheeks as she withdrew her hand.
"You. . They. . . your hands are soft." He mumbled. There was just something about a pretty girl that turned him into a bumbling idiot.
She smiled. "Thanks, I use a lot of lotion."
"I hear that's a good use for lotion." he blurted out, his palms starting to sweat.
She chuckled. "What else do you use lotion for?"
His face burned cherry red.
"Oh no! No, I didn't mean it like that! I mean if Jackin' the bean stalk is what you like . . ." She jumped up, knocking over her drink.
He laughed. He lay some napkins down and started soaking up the fruity smelling spill. "Sorry I live with three guys. My mind's always in the gutter. Can I buy you another drink? Is that. . . a Shirley Temple? "
She dabbed at the red liquid on her pale lilac sweater. Seeing the panic in his face she laughed. " It's a Shirley Temple with just a finger of coconut rum and a squeeze of lemon. I call it the Temple Grandin. I teach middle school. I need alcohol."
The worry was replaced with another one of his handsome grins. "One Temple Grandin coming up for Ms. Day!" He hopped behind the bar.
"Miller!" She hissed. "What are you doing?!"
Nick's heart fluttered at the playful way she called him by his last name. " I work here."
Her sapphire eyes widened. "you're a bartender?"
He shrugged "Yeah is that a problem?"
She shook her head vigorously, sending her brunette locks into a frenzy."No! Not at all. I just had you pegged as one of those quirky, unconventional writer types."
He smiled. "Actually, I'm working on a book. A mystery novel, very unconventional."
She took a seat watching him work. "Oh really, I'd love to read it sometime."
"I'd have to put it on paper first." He said as he shook the drink lightly in the metal shaker.
Jess chuckled. "You haven't written any of it?"
He tapped his forehead. "I've written it up here."
"Well what are you waiting for?"
Nick hesitated. "I. . . What if it's not any good?" It was strange being so open and vulnerable with anyone, yet alone a girl he had just met.
She leaned in close, propping her chin on her hands. "But what if it's the next American classic?"
He poured the Temple Grandin into two glasses. "You know what? I like you Day."
Jess grinned. "Well you did say you were going to marry me."
Nick blushed yet again. "Again, I'm sorry about that."
Jess shrugged. She held up her glass. "to friendship!"
"to friendship!" Nick cheered. "and so much more." He added in his head, because he was, in fact, going to marry this girl.