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Chapter 3

The next night

Andy arrives promptly at six o'clock with a ring of her doorbell. When Rusty opens the door, it is to see a very nervous Andy shakily holding a bunch of long, purple flowers.

"Hey Flynn. Wow…dude, get a hold of yourself. You're shaking in your boots."

"I ain't wearing boots, kid," Andy replies as he steps into Sharon's apartment. Truth be told, he is scared shitless. It's as if all the times he and Sharon went out never happened. He can't get his nerves to calm down.

"Okay you really need to calm down. Look, take a deep breath, and pretend this is one of your family function dates. Pretend you're on a casual family get together thing."

Andy closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, and then another. Eventually, he calms down enough so that he isn't visibly shaking.

"Hey, thanks kid. I do feel better now."

Rusty pats him on the back.

"No problem, Flynn. However, you may need to repeat that mantra throughout the night, buddy."

Andy gives him a questioning look, and Rusty points behind him. When Andy turns around, he suddenly understands exactly what Rusty meant.

One look at Sharon, and he instantly loses his breath.

She is exquisite, divine, ethereal, heavenly, and more beautiful than he ever thought possible. The deep emerald green dress makes her jade eyes sparkle even more. It is subtly tight in all the right places, but becomes a flowing stream toward the bottom. He can just make out the pointy tips of her matching shoes beneath.

The minute he loses his breath, he apparently also loses his mind as he valiantly tries to say something to her, but only manages a barely audible wow.

Sharon approaches him carefully, concern written all over her face.

"Andy, are you okay?"

Andy shakes his head up and down. It's all he can manage at the moment.

Sharon laughs and pats his arm lovingly.

"Breathe, Andy. Everything will be alright."

Sharon turns to Rusty to give him instructions for the night, affording Andy a lengthy look at her backside. Her very bare backside. Jesus, where does she get her clothing? This dress could give any man over 70 a heart attack…

It is at this moment that Andy's heart swells more than he thought possible, because he realizes that he is Sharon's date tonight, and every night after as long as he doesn't screw this up.

This woman, this amazing, gorgeous woman is his date, and the woman he loves, and the woman who loves him. He can't believe how lucky he is to have her by his side.

His reverie is broken by Sharon's extended hand reaching out for his to guide him to the front door.

"Oh, I almost forgot!"

Andy pulls the flowers from behind his back to present them to Sharon.

"Oh Andy! Lilacs! Thank you, Andy. They're beautiful."

She gives him that smile, the one she only gives to him, and it instantly puts him at ease. He did well with the flowers. He mentally gives himself a pat on the shoulder. It was a long shot as he guessed, but the book on lilacs by her desk did help guide him in the right direction.

Rusty takes the lilacs from Sharon, promising to put them in water for her while ushering the adults out of the apartment.

"Okay you two. Have a great time. Call me if you're going to be late. Behave!"

Rusty waves at them before closing the door on their smirking faces. He turns and leans against the door for a few seconds. Adults are so weird…

Sharon sighs as she faces Andy.

"Sorry about that."

Andy shakes his head a little as he leans in to gently peck her lips. She smiles shyly, kissing him back, deepening the chaste kiss. She doesn't even care if she ruins her lipstick, as his lips make her forget everything and everyone. He reluctantly pulls back, mindful of the time. He does, however, keep his arms wrapped around her waist, bringing his forehead to lean against her own.

"Hi."

"Hi."

They both close their eyes and have a moment to just be…in the hallway of her apartment building. He pecks her lips once more before putting one hand in his pocket and grabbing her hand with the other, encouraging her to walk toward the elevator.

"He's a riot. Honestly, he's being very good about all of this. I didn't take offense at all. He's probably rushing us out so he can watch some t.v. and order a pizza!"

Sharon laughs, her hand covering her mouth.

"You really think so?"

"Oh yah. That kid is only too happy to have the place to himself tonight. Believe me."

Sharon puts her chin up slightly, nodding once as if to make up her mind to believe him.

"Well, okay then. Where are we off to?"

"Endless wonder, my love. Endless wonder."