Ch. 14
Clove POV
My eyes opened before it was even six in the morning. I rolled over, checked my phone, and groaned. Because I either had classes or schoolwork to do during the week, Saturdays were usually my day to sleep in.
I sat up, eyes wide. It's Saturday! Which means tonight is date night with Cato.
There was no way I was going to fall asleep again. I slid out of bed and landed on uneven ground, gripping my nightstand to keep from falling. I looked down at what I had stepped on. Running shoes. I might as well. It would kill time and maybe keep adrenaline from pumping through my veins so violently.
I threw on some clothes that were light in color, as it was still dark outside. It probably wasn't too safe, running around Boston in the wee hours of the morning, but the way I was feeling nobody would be able to take me down.
Glimmer wasn't even awake yet, so I taped a note to her phone. That's the problem about rooming with a model. If it were for me, she would just leave a note on the fridge, as that's usually the first place I go to when finally awake in the morning. But, on a "strict eating plan," that was not the case for Glimmer, so the phone was the best place to go.
It was brutally cold out, and even when I was really feeling the run in my legs I had to keep moving. I had long since lost my distance watch, but I estimated that I covered anywhere from five to seven miles.
By the time I returned, it was light out, and my stomach was growling. Being back in the warm building was a relief, and my frozen fingers struggled with my keys. I finally made it inside and made a beeline for the kitchen, where Glimmer was waiting for me.
"Morning. Are you not freezing?" she asked, finishing up a small bowl of yogurt.
"Only slightly," I said as I opened up a box of granola.
"Good, eat those carbs now so you're not stuffing your face at dinner tonight," Glimmer told me. I scowled. She knew my love for food, especially pasta.
"I'm not going to not eat! Not all guys like girls who starve themselves, you know," I retorted.
"Maybe the ones who like you for your personality. I'm just looking out for you. Cato is gorgeous," Glimmer said. "Do you have your outfit planned yet?"
"Not yet, I've got all day," I said. Well, that wasn't entirely true. I was going to spend most of the day getting some schoolwork out of the way, and then get ready for the date.
"I say we go-"
"I can't go shopping! I have shit to do!" I was getting irritated. Glimmer always feels the need to dress everyone up.
"Well I have to go get new jeans anyway. I'll forget your little angsty outburst and get something for you if I see any good finds," Glimmer said back.
Glimmer was true to her word. While I typed a five thousand word paper, she spent over four hours in downtown Boston spending one of her latest paychecks. She was so late that I was already dressed for the evening when she got home.
"This. You will love this one," she said, throwing one bag at me. "You have to wear this one tonight."
"Glimmer, I'm already dressed," I responded, finishing up my eye makeup. I saw her about to argue with me, so I decided we could compromise,
"I'll wear it next time I have something special. What is it, a dress?"
"Yeah. You'll like what's in this bag, too. But it's not clothes," Glimmer said with a devilish smile.
I raised my eyebrows and reached into said bag.
"Really, Glimmer? A matching black lace push-up bra and thong, how classy. What a shame I'm already dressed."
"You'll wear 'em eventually, you mark my words," Glimmer retorted. "What time is he gonna be here anyway?"
"Any minute."
"Ok, let me do your hair real quick," Glimmer said, reaching for a brush.
"Ohhh no," I said, getting out of my seat. I wasn't about to be attacked. "It is done."
"C'mon, just let me tease it a little," Glimmer said sweetly.
"It's fine," I said, slowly backing out of the room.
"Clove."
I ran.
Glimmer gave chase. It was only a matter of seconds before we were running around the apartment, laughing and screaming.
"Get back here, bitch!" Glimmer shrieked.
My response was interrupted by a knock at the door. Glimmer and I froze.
We panicked silently for a few seconds. I allowed Glimmer to come and smooth my hair down, as it had gotten disheveled during our shenanigans.
I turned and made my way to the door. Glimmer continued to lurk in the background. I turned and gave her a look, pointing to her room. She rolled her eyes and retreated to the kitchen.
I made sure my dress was straight before I opened the door. Cato was standing outside, looking irresistible in a white button down and jeans. He pulled me into a hug.
"Don't you look pretty," he murmured.
"Well thank you. I guess you clean up nice," I said with a smile. That was really the understatement of the century; it was all I could do not to pull him back into the apartment onto the nearest flat surface.
The Italian place we were going to for dinner was down the street from my building, so we didn't have to walk far.
"Been enjoying your day off?" Cato asked as we stepped out of the lobby.
"If by 'enjoying my day off,' you mean writing that paper for Fowler, then yes it's been lovely. Well, I did run, so I guess that was a plus."
"You run? Oh, how could I forget? That's how our first little encounter happened," Cato said, smiling at the memory.
"You mean when I outran you at the gym that time?" I teased.
"You can run, I'll give you that," he laughed. "Have you always?"
"I've always had to for soccer. "
"You played soccer?"
"2 year old amoeba soccer to college," I said back.
"You played a sport in college, too?" Cato asked, surprised.
So, in the few blocks in between my apartment and our restaurant, I learned that Cato ran cross country for Davidson. I was liking him more with every word he said.
In fact, I learned a lot during dinner. Before our spaghetti came, Cato told me how he was the oldest of five, growing up in North Carolina. I caught little unspoken hints of resentment toward his parents, who probably paid more attention to his siblings and seemed to want him to stay instate and go to medical school, like Cato's father. After staying instate for college, he paid his own way so he could come to Boston for law school. Of course, Cato didn't say all that. He said:
"Yeah, they wanted me to be a doctor like Dad. I guess they can't complain that I'm at Harvard, though."
I was excited when the spaghetti arrived. Glimmer, however, would not be. I can hear her now, giving me a pep talk years ago before I was to go out: "NEVER ever get spaghetti! It's the worst date food ever! You're never going to get all those noodles on your fork, and it's going to go everywhere, and you know what isn't cute? Spaghetti going everywhere!" But, I felt comfortable around Cato already. And, he got the same thing. So, we could struggle together.
I twirled my fork around in vain; the pasta all fell off. I didn't want to show my frustration, but I didn't want to struggle through this meal. I glanced up at Cato, who performed some fancy maneuver with his spoon.
"How did you do that?" I asked indignantly.
Cato looked up, surprised and mid-bite.
"Do what?"
"Twirl your spaghetti like that? Teach me your ways."
"It's not that hard, Clove," he laughed.
Turns out it wasn't a difficult process, and I was a pro within a few minutes. Cato did enjoy laughing at me while I learned, though.
"Need any more help? Do you want me to nose your meatball over for you?" Cato asked.
I froze, shocked. Did he just allude to Lady and the Tramp?
"Disney reference on the first date? Smooth," I said, outwardly cool.
Cato gaped.
"That's a classic. You can't hate Disney."
"Oh, believe me, I don't. The Lion King is my favorite movie of all time. I just didn't take you for a guy who knows much about Disney," I said.
"Why is that?" Cato asked, eyebrows raised.
"I don't know, you're all…tall and muscular," I muttered sheepishly.
Cato held my gaze for a moment, and then burst out laughing. I quickly followed suit.
"What?" I choked out in between giggles. "You are tall and muscular."
Cato just kept his face in his hands as he laughed. I noticed that couples at other tables were staring, but I didn't mind.
As we left, I mentally declared our dinner a success. I could definitely feel the chemistry between us as Cato held out his arm to me. I tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow for the stroll back to my building.
We were almost back when Cato stopped, noticing a public garden one of the alleyways.
"What's that?" he asked. "I've never noticed it before."
"A little garden. It's beautiful. Glimmer and I, along with other people from our building always seem to end up here. Come on, I'll show you," I told him, grabbing his hand and pulling him along behind me.
I showed Cato my favorite spot to read when it was sunny out, where the prettiest flowers were usually in bloom, and various tokens people had left for loved ones.
"I'll be sad in a couple months; who knows how everything will hold up when it gets really cold," I said, holding a blue lily in my palm.
Cato picked another lily.
"For you, my dear," he said, grinning as he pushed back my hair to place it behind my ear. I looked up to meet his gaze, the intense blue of his eyes not unlike the color of the flower he had tucked behind my ear.
"Perfect," Cato said softly, not moving his hand from my cheek. He placed his other hand on my hip and gently pulled me toward him as he leaned down to kiss me. I was thankful for my heels for giving me a little lift(he had a good foot on me in height) as I rocked onto my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck.
I shouldn't have been so taken off-guard by how good of a kisser Cato was (it seems like he's excellent at everything else!), but it still caused my breath to catch in my throat. The fact that I could feel his lips curving into a smile wasn't helpful, either. He was so sweet, something I hadn't anticipated. It made me feel light-headed. If he pulled me any closer, he would probably be able to feel my heart pounding in my chest.
He did pull me closer, though, as his mouth opened slightly, deepening the kiss. That's when it happened. I followed suit, stepping into him. Unfortunately for me, the cobblestones were uneven, and one of my heels got wedged in between them, breaking with a loud snap. I gasped as I lurched sideways, and, lucky for me, Cato was quick enough to catch me.
"Um," I said awkwardly, unsure of what to do in this situation. I was in the arms of a beautiful man, struggling to catch my breath after the best kiss of my life. "I'll just take them off?"
"You can't walk home like that!" Cato said, concern in his eyes.
Now was not the time to look weak, so I ignored the twinge in my ankle and took off both heels.
"See! We're good," I said with a very unconvincing smile.
Cato frowned, but, after thinking for a few seconds, looked at me with a devilish grin.
Before I could protest, he had swooped me up and was carrying me bridal style back to my apartment building. I held onto him and nonchalantly nuzzled his chest while he carried me. He smells amazing.
I could no longer keep my composure once we got back to the building. Timothy, our socially awkward doorman, was looking at us with a peculiar expression, and gave us a nod and an uncomfortable smile.
"I can probably walk now," I told Cato as we stepped out of the elevator, onto my floor.
"Fine," he said, putting me down. He kept his arm around me, and we held each other as we walked back to my apartment.
I wished my h all was longer; it seemed like we got to my room too soon.
"We should've walked slower," I mumbled.
Cato laughed and hugged me. He pulled back and paused for a moment.
"I don't want to be too forward," he said slowly. "Because we haven't known each other very long. But I really like you, Clove."
I didn't think I was capable of formulating words or any kind of thought, so I pulled his face down to mine. I felt his arms wrap around my waist as he kissed me back, with a touch more certainty and intensity than before.
Cato pulled back to press his forehead against mine.
"I like you a lot, too," I said breathlessly, pressing my lips to his once more before turning to my apartment.
"Good night," Cato said, looking at me warmly.
"'Night," I said in return, unable to keep the smile off my face.
And Glimmer said spaghetti would make for a bad date.
Clato! Finally :)
PLEASE review! I love getting feedback! But, can I just say that reviews are NOT meant to be for harassing me! This fic means a lot to me and I'm doing the best I can.
Chapter 15 will be up Saturday. I wrote it 2 months ago because I got so excited. Get ready.