Thank you all for the awesome feedback on my first two fics A Little Broken and Just to See! I thought I'd do a little wishful writing about the buildup and aftermath surrounding Nick and Jess' first date. Will be a multi-chapter story.
Nick was walking in tight circles around his room, willing his confidence to spike. His shoes were starting to rub a path on the floor; little figure eights from the foot of his bed to his desk and back again. He knew pacing was stupid, but he was far too keyed up to sit still. Don't be a dummy, just go out there and make it happen. He knew it was the right thing to do, but sometimes, actions were so much easier than words.
It's just dinner; you owe her after everything she did in Chicago. She dressed up as Elvis for God's sake! Elvis! Nick laughed at the memory of Jess, clad head to toe in white polyester and rhinestones, fully committing to the performance. After that drunken idiot they'd hired flaked out, she barely even hesitated; she just jumped in. Everyone loved her; she saved the day. Even his Mom had thawed out after In the Ghetto turned out to be the absolute highlight of his Dad's service. Even in that ridiculous costume and wig, Nick had locked onto Jess' flushed face, her bright eyes like a lifeline in a storm. She'd grasped his hand at the podium, squeezing strength into him, and he'd clung on for dear life. God I'm lucky to have her on my side.
Drawing in a breath and squaring his shoulders, Nick let that thought guide him into the living room where he knew Jess was stretched out reading. She was sitting with her legs propped up on the coffee table, completely immersed in her novel. A new cup of tea was steeping on a coaster. He hated the fact that he knew it was green with Echinacea, but that's what Jess drank on weekday evenings. As hard as he'd tried not to learn her habits and routines, they were as natural to him now as his own. She didn't notice him at first, so he watched her absentmindedly play with the fringe on a throw pillow as she turned pages. He smirked as something in the book took her by surprise and she sucked in an audible breath and uttered, "Whoa!"
"Whoa what?" Nick asked.
"Oh hey!" Jess snapped her book shut and pulled her legs off the coffee table so she could tuck her feet underneath her and turn toward Nick. "I didn't hear you come in. Man, this novel is a doozy! The main character, who had been pretty sympathetic up until this point, just revealed she's kind of a sociopath. Books, right?"
Nick laughed. "Jess, I think you're the only 30-something to have ever uttered the phrase, 'books, right?'" He plunked down beside her and she turned a little bit more so their knees were almost touching. She had on one of her super girly sundresses; this one was orange with little white swirls crisscrossing everywhere. "You look like a creamsicle," Nick blurted without thinking. His cheeks immediately burned, "sorry, that was weird."
Jess smiled and raised her eyebrows, "thanks, I guess? Was that a compliment?"
Nick covered his eyes with the heels of his hands for a second, "it was trying to be, but I don't think it delivered, sorry."
"No worries," Jess said with a floaty little giggle. "So what are you up to tonight, are you working?"
"Yeah, I go in soon, but I, uh, I wanted to ask you something," Nick managed to sputter out.
Jess looked a little surprised, but nodded for him to continue as she took a careful sip of her tea.
"So, I know I already said thank you for coming to Chicago and everything. That was really cool of all you guys, but Jess, that Elvis thing? That was something else."
Jess blushed and put her tea back down. "Hey, no problem, I've always wanted to channel The King, so you kind of did me a favor," she shrugged.
"Jess, c'mon, that was a big deal. And I know my family had been hard on you and that didn't make things easier. So, I feel like I need to thank you, uh, formally. Like, maybe dinner or something?" Nick finished lamely.
Jess looked puzzled but pretty pleased. "Dinner? Like, just us?"
Nick decided to man up just a little and adopted a less flimsy tone. "Yes, I'd like to take you to dinner, as a thank you, on Saturday. Are you free?"
"Ok, yeah, let's go to dinner," Jess said smiling; her cheeks tinged a faint pink.
Nick grinned but felt a little shaky. "Yeah, good, 'cause I mean I totally owe you, for Elvis, so just making good on that debt with a little fine cuisine," he rambled.
Jess rolled her eyes. "Got it Nick, you're thanking me, that's why we're going."
"Cool, well I'll make a reservation and everything, so I'll just see you then…. and over the next several days, because we are roommates."
Jess laughed and stood up to head to her room. "Saturday it is then, have fun at work Nick."
"Are you coming down later?"
"Maybe, depends on how much grading I get through."
"All right, well maybe I'll see you in a little while."
Jess closed the door to her room with a faint click. Ok, Nick thought to himself. Now where the hell do I take her?
It was a busy night at the bar but Nick found himself compulsively watching the entrance and jumping like he'd been shocked every time a brown-haired girl sidled up to order a drink. Around 10, Schmidt and Winston came in and even though Nick tried to play off his frantic scanning for Jess, they weren't fooled.
"Just us buddy, at ease," Winston quipped. Nick shrugged like he didn't know what Winston was talking about and Schmidt couldn't resist adding a little fuel to the fire.
"Yes, Jessica was treating herself to a glass of Chardonnay and grading papers when we left," Schmidt said. "Too bad you can't leave early and go upstairs and help her break more of my stuff. I'm sure she'd be amenable after a few glasses; wine goes straight to her head."
"Enough," Nick growled, sliding the guys a beer each. Adopting a more pleasant tone, he decided to take advantage of Jess' absence by trolling for a little advice. "So, uh, actually Schmidt I'm glad you're here. I need to find a semi-nice restaurant for a thing this weekend," Nick said casually. "Any ideas?"
"Wow Nick, sure I have ideas. Ideas I don't really want to lend you as you try and seduce my roommate," Schmidt snapped. "This has disaster written all over it, and I for one, am not going to help it along."
Nick looked down at the bar a little defeated. Who am I kidding? I don't know how to do this, Schmidt's right; I'm going to ruin everything. Nick kept his head down for a minute, unnecessarily wiping off the bar so he wouldn't have to face the guys.
"All right, all right, I can't take hurt puppy Nick," Schmidt said throwing up his hands. "Nick, making a dinner reservation isn't neurosurgery. Are you familiar with the internet? Just go to a website like , check what's available and then do a separate search on that restaurant to make sure it has a good Zagat rating. It's simple. Once you find a place you like, make a reservation online and then call ahead and ask for a nice table by the window. The whole process will take you five minutes."
Nick nodded rapidly. "Ok yeah, thanks Schmidty, sounds pretty easy, I can handle this."
"Also, avoid weird lounge-restaurant hybrids where you sit in pitch darkness on velvet couches. Those are always bizarre and it's impossible to talk over house music. Stick to Italian or French food, and look for a place that has twinkle lights in their pictures online. Girls really like twinkle lights," Winston chimed in.
"Ok, twinkle lights, Italian food, Zagat, opentable, got it!"
"Oh my God," Schmidt groaned. "Nick, did you actually just write that down, with a pen, on a bar napkin?" Schmidt shook his head. "What generation are you from? Are you a time traveler?"
"Shut up! I'm going to help that group of drunks over there, thanks for the advice." As Nick slid across the bar to pour some ill-advised tequila shots, the bar napkin tucked safely in his pocket, there was definitely a more pronounced spring in his step.
Nick opened the door to the loft carefully. It was pretty late, even for him. He had to close up, and one of the waiters had been exceptionally chatty tonight. Geez, it's almost 3 a.m. I hate this schedule. Nick grumbled in his own head as he picked his way to the bathroom to wash up and brush his teeth. Once he was minty fresh, he headed for his bedroom, but stopped when he heard a distinct rustle. Walking toward the living room he was startled to see Jess, still wearing her glasses, asleep on the couch. He laughed at the picture before him. Her graded papers were neatly stacked, a half drained bottle of wine rested beside them on the coffee table and she was curled up under a blanket, her glasses twisted at a funny angle. That can't be comfortable, Nick thought as he slid the frames off her face, folded them, and placed them next to her schoolwork. She sighed and snuggled deeper into the sofa as he brushed some hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.
"Jess, hey Jess?" Nick said quietly putting a hand on her arm. "It's the middle of the night, why don't you get in bed?"
"Hmm?" Jess murmured, eyes still closed.
Nick laughed. "It's really late; don't you want to sleep in your room, the land of 100 pillows and curtains? If you sleep here all night, Schmidt will wake you up really early when he comes out to blend a coconut milk smoothie and do his morning squats."
Jess' eyes fluttered open and she smiled sleepily at Nick. "Yuck, that doesn't sound appealing. But I'm so tired… I can't move!"
"C'mon, it's not that far," Nick wheedled.
"You're right," Jess mumbled. "So it will be no big deal for you to carry me," she said lifting her arms.
Nick was a little taken aback. Jess usually didn't milk the damsel in distress thing, but it was 3 a.m. and she'd had a least three glasses of wine. Besides, he wasn't going to put up a fight if Jess wanted to flirt with him.
"You're right; it would be very coldhearted of me to make you walk those, 20 or so steps. Up you go." In one motion, Nick slid an arm under Jess' bent knees and another across her back. She grinned at him and twined her arms around his neck as he straightened up and started toward her room.
"This is the life," she breathed in his ear as she snuggled her face into the crook of his neck. Little chills shot through Nick at her words and he slowed his pace just a shade so he could enjoy the moment a second or two longer. He crossed the threshold of her room and placed her gently on her bed, trying to ignore the implications of their posture.
"Ok, couch to room service is now complete," he said stupidly. She still had her arms around his neck and it was getting harder and harder for him to imagine pulling free.
"Nick?" Jess asked quietly as she traced her thumbs lazily across the back of his neck.
"Hmm?" Nick responded, half drunk on the sensations of her absentminded gesture.
"I'm really excited about dinner on Saturday, thanks for asking me," she said shyly.
He didn't mean to take advantage of her in this tipsy, sleepy state, but when she looked up at him through her lashes and offered up that sweet little smile, he just couldn't help it. He leaned down and placed one soft kiss on her cheek, right beside her ear.
"Oh Jess," he murmured, "you have no idea."