Chapter 93: First Date
Once Zak and I were both sitting down in the bed of the truck - which didn't even feel like one, the layers of thick blankets making it very comfortable – we both took off our shoes, since we didn't need them.
We left the shoes on top of the open door and then moved up near the pillows, and Zak took his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Music okay?" Zak asked.
I smiled and nodded.
"Sure," I replied.
Zak smiled as he tapped a few times on his phone, and some music began playing softly as he set his phone aside.
I recognized the first song from the night of my birthday - when we danced in his backyard – "Never Gonna Be Alone" by Nickelback.
I smiled to myself at the memory as I watched Zak start to open the picnic basket.
"This isn't exactly a 'first date' meal, but I made some of my mom's homemade soup that you said you liked, and brought some rolls and crackers and some other munchies," Zak said, somewhat sheepishly, as if he thought the food wasn't sufficient enough.
I smiled at him.
"That sounds great. Nice cozy blankets and some warm soup," I said, not at all minding his choice of meal.
My stomach still had butterflies, so I was rather grateful I didn't have a large meal to eat.
Zak smiled.
"Awesome," Zak replied, pleased with my reaction, and started taking things out of the picnic basket.
I moved closer to help him, and was surprised at how full the basket was.
He had packed some plates, bowls, glasses, forks, knives and spoons. There were two large thermos' – which I assumed contained the soup – and a large bottle of water.
And then there was some rolls and crackers like he had said, as well as some cookies and some other small snacks.
"Wow, you really went all out," I said, teasing him.
Zak laughed and looked slightly embarrassed.
"I wanted to be prepared…I asked my sister for ideas," Zak replied, sheepishly, but was also laughing.
I laughed quietly.
"Well, it looks great," I said with a smile, carefully setting down the plates and bowls on the blankets.
Zak smiled as he continued to unload the basket.
Roughly 20 minutes later…
"That was delicious Zak, you make good soup," I said, politely wiping my mouth with a napkin as I set my bowl down on the blankets.
Zak smiled after taking a sip of his water, having already finished his soup.
"Thanks doll, glad you enjoyed it," Zak replied. "Are you sure it was okay for a meal?" Zak added.
I nodded.
"It was great. To be honest, I've had butterflies in my stomach all day, so I didn't really want a big meal…" I replied shyly. "Besides, you have a bunch of snacks packed too," I added.
Zak smiled.
"You weren't that nervous about going out on a date with me were you? I know I'm weird, but still," Zak asked, laughing.
I laughed in response.
"I'm a 33-year-old woman on her first date…of course I was nervous, especially since a certain someone wouldn't tell me what we were doing," I replied, playfully nudging him in the arm.
Zak laughed and smiled.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to surprise you, that's all," Zak said.
I smiled.
"No need to be sorry, I would have been nervous regardless," I replied.
Zak smiled before leaning over and gently kissing my cheek.
"Worry wart," Zak teased.
I felt my face flush, but laughed.
"Yeah yeah," I muttered.
Zak laughed.
"Okay, so what should we do now?" I asked, a bit shyly, feeling unsure of myself.
Zak smiled as he got up on his knees and moved down near the end of the truck, grabbing our shoes.
"I have three different activities planned that we can do," Zak added, with a slight smirk on his face.
Oh boy.
"And what might those activities be?" I asked. "Bagans," I added.
Zak laughed.
"Well, since I got you into bed on the first date…" Zak replied, jokingly.
I couldn't help but laugh, thinking of Cheryl's comment regarding "Fifty Shades of Grey", and because we were sitting on a pile of blankets in the bed of truck.
"So hilarious," I said.
Zak laughed and smiled.
"Yeah, lame joke I know," Zak said, then held our shoes up a bit. "How about we dance under the stars?" Zak asked.
I smiled and could feel my insides melting.
"Sure," I replied, moving down near the end of the truck and took my sandals from him and started putting them on.
Zak smiled and slipped his shoes on, then reached back and grabbed his phone, and then started scrolling through his playlist.
After a few seconds, he found whatever song he was looking for and turned up the volume a bit before he set his phone down on the blankets.
As he hopped down off the truck and turned to help me down, I glanced at his phone in surprise when I recognized the song.
"Drowning" by the Backstreet Boys.
"Don't pretend you're sorry
I know you're not
You know you got the power
To make me weak inside"
I looked at Zak in surprise.
"Since when do you have the Backstreet Boys on your phone?" I asked.
Zak smiled and gently, but firmly, put his hands on my waist, and lifted me down off the truck and pulled me close, causing my face to flush.
"Girl you leave me breathless
But it's okay 'cause
You are my survival
Now hear me say"
"Since I researched them that time on the way back from Romania," Zak said.
I smiled as he wrapped an arm around me, and took one of my hands in his, and I wrapped my other arm around him.
"I can't imagine life
Without your love
Even forever don't seem
Like long enough"
"You don't have to, I know they're not exactly you're kind of music," I said.
Zak smiled down at me as he started to lead us in a slow dance.
"I don't mind," Zak said softly, gently kissing my forehead. "Just don't tell anyone," Zak added jokingly.
I laughed quietly as we swayed to the music.
"'Cause every time I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
Every time I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love"
"I won't," I replied softly, resting my head against his chest.
"Good," Zak teased softly, resting his chin on the top of my head.
As the song continued, I felt myself smiling as I listened to the all familiar lyrics.
"Maybe I'm a drifter
Maybe not
'Cause I have known the safety
Of floating freely
In your arms"
Zak lifted his head up and I could tell by his movements he was looking down at me.
"What are you smiling about doll? You're not imaging you're dancing with one of them are you?" Zak teased.
I laughed quietly and lifted my head up from his chest to look up at him.
"Of course not," I replied. "I just really like the lyrics of this song…" I added softly, and shyly.
Zak smiled, gently squeezing me with his arm.
"I don't need another lifeline
It's not for me
'Cause only you can save me
Oh can't you see"
"I picked this song for a reason…" Zak said softly.
I smiled, feeling my face flush, and rested my head against his chest again to try to hide my blushing.
Zak laughed quietly.
"Sorry doll, I saw you," Zak said softly, gently squeezing my hand.
I couldn't help but laugh quietly.
"Damn you Bagans," I replied jokingly.
Zak laughed, causing me to smile.
"'Cause every time I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
Every time I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love"
"So…are you going to tell me what these other two 'activities' are that you have planned?" I asked softly.
Zak laughed quietly.
"Nothing to stress your cute little self over," Zak replied softly.
I felt my face flush again, and before I could say a word, Zak spoke again.
"I put a few movies on my laptop and brought it with me. Or we could just sit and talk if you want," Zak said.
"Go on and pull me under
Cover me with dreams, yeah
Love me mouth to mouth now
You know I can't resist
'Cause you're the air
That I breathe"
I smiled and lifted my head from his chest again to look up at him.
"I like the sound of both," I said softly.
Zak smiled.
"Good," Zak replied. "Are you still nervous?" Zak added softly.
I shook my head slightly.
"No, not anymore," I replied softly, truly feeling more at ease now.
Zak smiled in response, and then leaned down and gently kissed me, as if he had been waiting for the right moment to make a move, despite us having kissed before.
I returned the kiss gently as we continued to sway to the music.
"'Cause every time I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
Every time I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
And baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning your love"
I thought I was going to die then and there – dancing to a slow song, under the stars, on my first date, with Zak.
I had never imagined how much my life could change within a few short months.