"So, Greg's told me you finished college when you were 18?"
"Yeah."
"How was that for you?"
She smiled at him. "It was hard, I was with all these kids in their 20's, but then again.. I always was the youngest."
"Yeah, because you finished high school when you were 14?"
"Yeah, I skipped a lot of grades. I was like 10 or 11 when I was taught about safe sex." She chuckled. "God, I was so not ready for that."
Ed smiled. "Yeah, I can imagine that. Bet you were still in the holding hands phase."
"Not even yet, there wasn't a boy for me to hold hands with. I was too smart for boys my own age, they wanted to talk about totally different things. And the older guys were not into me, for obvious reasons." She smiled at him. "Didn't even have my first kiss until I was 17."
"Finally found a boy?" He smiled at her.
"No, a man." She smiled, fond of the memory. "My professor, actually."
Ed looked up. "But you were a minor.."
"Legally, yes. But emotionally, I was way past 17."
"Did it work out?"
She smiled at him and shook her head. "For a couple of months, then my mom found out.."
"So, did he lose his job?"
"No, she only knows I slept with him after I turned 18." She looked up from her drink. "And I would like to keep it that way?" He nodded."Good, because you're the only one that knows this.. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Any skeletons?"
"Not really."
"Greg told me you had a divorce about a year ago?"
He nodded. "It didn't work out, she was in love with some other guy."
"What about your son?"
"He uuh, doesn't like my job, doesn't like me.. blames me for the divorce."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
He shrugged. "She cheats, and it's my fault.."
She took his hand. "Now that doesn't sound fair." She smiled at him. "Do you have to work in the morning?"
"Yeah."
"Then maybe we should get going?"
He finished his soda. "Yeah, I'll drive you home. I'll be right back." He got up to pay.
…
"Let me walk you up to the door." He smiled as he parked his car across the street.
"Sure." They both got up and they crossed the street. "So, thanks for the drink."
"You're welcome." They stopped at the front door. "Do you want to go out to dinner sometime?"
"Sure, dinner's going to be a little hard though.. I work almost every night."
"What night don't you work?"
"We're closed on Monday's"
"Monday it is." He kissed her briefly. "I'll give you a call."
"Wait." She stopped him and kissed him again before grabbing a pen from her bag and writing her number on his hand. "Don't call my home, my mom and Greg cannot know about this."
He smiled at her. "Want to keep me your dirty little secret?"
"Yes." She smiled and kissed him again. "For now."
"Okay. Goodnight, V."
"Night, G-man."
…
"Veronica, your phone is ringing!" Her mother called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming." She yelled just as she rounded the corner and walked down the stairs. "Thank you."
"So, is it a guy?"
Veronica smiled and shook her head. "When has it ever been a guy?" She glanced at caller display, it was a number she didn't recognize. "Yeah-hello." She said as she walked back up the stairs.
"So, about Monday.."
She smiled as she heard his voice. "What about it?"
"Any preferences?"
"Nope, your choice."
"Really, not even from a professional point of view?"
"No, because then I'd never eat outside."
He chuckled. "Of course you wouldn't.. So, can I pick you up at your place?"
"No." She said firmly. "That's not really a great idea. I can meet you at your place, or there.."
"Okay, sure. Meet me at my place. What about Monday at 7?"
"Sounds good, see you the day after tomorrow. G-man."
…
"So, I'm going out tonight." Veronica said during lunch.
"Oh, okay, where are you going?"
"Don't know yet. Going to Angela and we'll see from there."
"Okay sure, so I'm cooking for myself tonight?"
Veronica looked up, she hadn't thought of that. "Uuh, yeah.. I guess.. or I can make you something before I go?"
"No, I'll be fine. I can feed myself, I'll call Greg over with some take-out."
Veronica got up and smiled. "Thought you could feed yourself?"
"I'll talk to you when you're in love."
"Hmm, so it's love now?"
"Yes it is, trust me Veronica, one day I will marry that man."
"If you say so." Veronica smiled at her as she took both of their plates to the kitchen. "Anyway, I'm going out. I'll be back around 4. I've got my cell if you need me."
"Okay, honey."
"Bye."
She got into her car and quickly called Angela as she drove off.
"So, where do you want to meet?"
"Don't know, you tell me."
"Any idea where you're going for dinner?"
"None."
"Just meet me at the mall then."
"See you in 10." With that Veronica hung up.
They were going shopping. Veronica thought she had it all figured out. She'd looked in her closet and came up with jeans and a low-cut shirt. She didn't think it was too bad, but then Angela called her and decided she needed to go shopping. Angela thought she needed a dress to impress Ed.
Veronica parked her car and walked through the mall, to the meeting spot. Angela was already there, waiting impatiently.
"Finally!"
"I'm not late or anything.."
Angela just shook her head. "Come on, we've got a lot to do."
"We've got a couple of hours.."
Angela grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the escalators. "And we'll need it." Veronica shook her head, unsure why she would need hours to shop for a dress. "So, first dress, then underwear?"
Veronica stopped in her tracks. "Underwear?"
"Yes! Lingerie, have you ever heard of it honey?"
"What do I need.."
"Are you kidding me?" Angela glared at her. "Have you never tried seducing a man?"
"It's the first date.."
Angela shook her head and folded her arms. "No it's not."
"Yes it is."
"Have you kissed him yet?"
Veronica's mind shot back to their make-out session at SRU. If Greg didn't come inside she didn't know where that would've led. She blushed at the memory, she'd never made out with a guy like that before. Not one she barely knew, not one she hadn't gone out with and especially not one that was her mother's age.
Angela smiled satisfied. "See, not the first date." She pulled her further to a store. "So I'm thinking, low-cut, hugging and above the knee. Mid-thigh is a little too much for you right now."
"Too much for me?"
"Honey, when was the last time you wore a dress for a man?"
"Uuh.." She thought for a second.
"Back when you were 19 and that jackass professor ditched you?"
"He didn't.. he's not.."
"Honey, he's a jackass. You dressed up for him only to be dumped."
"I never said that.."
"Subtext."
Angela walked into a store in front of her and started pulling clothes from all over and throwing them in Veronica's arms. Veronica sighed and just endured it, fighting it would only lengthen the shopping-spree.
"I think this is it, for now."
Veronica looked at all of the dresses in her arms. "You sure? I think maybe you missed one?" She said sarcastically.
"Shut up and go model them." Angela pushed her towards the fitting rooms.
…
"No, Ange.."
"It's just Victoria's Secret.."'
"Any other lingerie store, any other.. but not Victoria's Secret.."
"Why not?"
"Because everyone shops there.."
"So? It's perfect for what we're looking for."
"For what you're looking for."
Angela pouted. "Come on, V. We'll check it out and if you don't like it, we don't buy it and go to the drug store around the corner."
"Fine."
Angela smiled and pulled her in. "You must really like this cop."
"Why's that?"'
"Because you've never let me shop with you before."
"Maybe I haven't dated any guys?"
"In the last year? You're telling me, you haven't had sex in the last 14 months?"
"Now there's two different things, Ange."
"Are you telling me you've got a go-to guy anytime you want to get laid?" Her eyes grew wide when Veronica didn't reply. "O my god you do!" She smacked Veronica's arm. "You've been holding out on me!"
"So.. Victoria's Secret? Although I don't think she has many secrets left.." Veronica smiled, trying to change the topic.
"Who is this guy I don't know about?"
"There is no one.." She walked into the store, hoping to distract Angela.
"Veronica Mancini, you are a terrible liar."
Veronica ignored her, there was just no way she could convince Angela there wasn't a guy. Even if it was the truth. "So, what kind of underwear are we looking for?"
"First time with a new guy.. Hm.." She looked around for a couple of minutes. "Well, nothing too fancy, maybe a little lace.."
"Lace?"
"Black and blue would look good on you.."
"You're starting to freak me out, Ange.."
"But just panties and bra.." She continued like she didn't hear Veronica. "No garters or corsets, yet."
"Yet?" Veronica repeated.
"What's your size?" Angela asked, looking at a set in her hands.
"Oh, you don't know yet?" That earned her a glare. "Let me at least have some privacy and look for my size myself?"
"Fine.. God, you're so unlike me sometimes."
"I'm aware." She grabbed her size. "Maybe it's because no one's ever felt me up in the backseat of their car."
Angela looked up shocked at her. "No one's ever felt you up in the backseat of a car?!"
"No, I skipped right past college boys and went for men a little more mature.."
"Trust me, when Ed makes out with you on the front seat of his car because he can't walk you to your front door because of your mom.. you'll wish for the backseat."
"Well, I hope I'm not spending.." She glanced at the price. "120 bucks for him just to see it in his car."
"No you're spending 120 bucks for him to rip it off of you within a minute."
Veronica shook her head. "Sounds like a solid investment.."
"Go try it on." Angela pointed towards the fitting room.
"Fine, but I'm so not modelling this for you like I did with the dress."
A/N Please leave me a review? I really appreciate them :)