I kept my gaze locked onto the front door, hoping and hoping that Denny would walk through them with his charming smile and beautiful eyes. Though, almost at the end of my shift, and I began to give up. Maybe he had other things to do. Maybe something came up…
Maybe, maybe, maybe.
"Come on, Jess. We've gotta clean up before heading home," my best friend, Kate, said. I glance over at her, sighing.
"I guess you're right. I was just hoping he'd stop by. I mean, our date went great. I even kissed his cheek." I grab a clean towel, dampening it with warm water and grabbing the spray to clean the empty tables around the bar.
"Well, you've got his number and he's got yours. Remember? Don't overthink it."
I sigh. She was right.
"I'll go and clean up the rest of the tables then I'll help you count the money." I tell her, walking around the bar counter to the tables that littered around the room. I start at the end of the room, beginning to clean the sticky table.
When the door opens, I stop myself from looking. I didn't want to look only to be disappointed. Again. That was until I heard his voice.
"Hey, is Jess around?"
I look over at him, grinning to myself as Kate motions to you. "She's over there. We're getting ready to clean up."
Denny nods, walking towards you. He was sporting a sweater and another coat over it. He was dressed simple, but for some reason, it made him look so adorable.
"Hi." He grins, pocketing a hand into his pants.
"Hey. You're kinda late." I tease, continuing to clean the table. I needed to busy myself. I didn't need him to find out that I was waiting for him all night.
"Sorry. Got caught up with some stuff. I'm here now though." Denny gently rests a hand on my wrist to stop my task. When I look up at him, I couldn't help but bite my lower lip. I still couldn't believe how handsome he was.
"Do you want to do something once you're done with your shift?" He asks.
I arch a brow, glancing at the clock and then over at Kate. She practically gestures for me to leave.
"Um, it's a little late, don't you think?" I tell him.
He maintains his smile. "There are tons of twenty-four hour restaurants around Seattle."
What else do you have to lose? Now that he's here, you want to push him away? Come on, woman.
I bite my lip at the thoughts in my head before I reply with a curt nod. "Okay, I think that should be fine."
Kate approaches us, gently motioning for me to follow her.
"Excuse me."
Denny nods. Kate grins, looking over at Denny with a look of approval.
"He's hot, Jess. Now, get outta here. I can handle closing."
I instantly shake my head. "What? No! I can't do that. You know I can't."
"Jess, leave. I've been here longer than you have. I have more authority of you by default of superiority."
I narrow my eyes. She was right. She was always right.
"Fine. Okay? Fine."
After bidding Kate goodbye, I walk over to Denny, pulling my coat closer to my body.
"Shift done already?" He asks.
"Kate wanted me to leave," I respond.
Denny grins, nodding to himself. He leads you out of the bar, resting a hand on my lower back. The touch doesn't go unnoticed and in fact, I simply lean into him. It was almost as if it was something I was already used to doing.
"I know a good taco shop a block from here. Do you want to walk instead?" Denny asks.
"I don't mind. As long as it doesn't rain, I think we're good."
Denny smiles, pulling the umbrella from his coat pocket. "I'm prepared just in case it does."
I laugh quietly, nodding to myself. About ten minutes later, we enter the small taco shop. He insists that he pays, telling me to order whatever I wanted.
"You paid for breakfast. Let me pay for this." I tell him. He shakes his head, but it was a good thing he told me what he wanted.
Walking to the register, I order his meal and mine as well, instantly handing the woman behind the counter the exact amount of change. When I glance over at him, he narrows his eyes, but it fails him due to the smile that creeps up onto his lips.
"I said I was going to pay," he says.
"I know, but you got breakfast. I figured I'd make it even and pay for this late dinner."
He leads us to a small table, holding my chair out for me. Once seated, I finally take in his features. Denny looked a bit paler than he did this morning and he looked stressed, but he does his best to hide it with a smile.
We spend the rest of the night talking about one another, about past relationships, childhood memories, etc. It was oddly comforting to be able to talk to someone that I just met.
"Mm, it's almost four in the morning. We should get going." Denny says. I nod in agreement. Once we step out of the taco shop, it begins to rain and Denny grins, almost proud that he managed to come prepared.
Suddenly, he wraps his arm around me to pull me close to his side, lifting the umbrella so that it could cover the both of us. I take this time to inhale his scent, shutting my eyes and letting my head rest against his arm.
We make it back to our cars and like the gentleman that Denny is, he walks me to my car, opening my driver's door for me to climb in. He leans down, kissing my cheek in which I blush immediately at.
"Drive safely. I'll call you later," Denny says.
"You too, Denny."
Throughout the weekend, I tried to contact him. A few texts here and there, but I was always met with no new messages. Could I have gotten the wrong message? Surely, it wasn't possible. I mean, he kissed me on the cheek.
As Monday rolls around, I step into my classroom, taking my usual seat and bringing my items onto my desk. I set my phone down, beginning to doodle on my piece of paper as I wait for class to begin. I had ten minutes left before it started, so when I felt my phone vibrate against my desk, I immediately scramble for it.
Denny: Hey.
My heart leaps out of my chest. I grin like a maniac, staring down at my phone and suddenly, I feel like I was a teenage girl all over again. He was giving me butterflies.
Me: Hey, you. Everything okay?
Denny: Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?
I clear my throat.
Don't sound too desperate. Change the subject. Quick.
Me: Nothin'. Just wondering. How are you?
Denny: Could be better. You're good company. :)
I couldn't help but blush at the text, reading it over multiple times just in case I read it wrong. All the worrying I had been doing suddenly disappears. He was into me. It was clear that he was.
Me: Oh? Maybe you'll be the one falling for me, Denny.
Denny: Ha ha.
I put my phone down for a moment when my Professor begins her lecture. I hear it vibrate once more, taking a quick peek at it.
Denny: I'm sorry I haven't been responding to your texts over the weekend. Been busy. If you're free later, I can give you a call?
I answer immediately.
Me: That'd be great. I'm in class right now, but I get out in an hour. Call me then.
Denny: Great. It's a date.
Me: On the phone?
Denny: Yes, Jess. A phone date. Come on. Get with it.
I shake my head, smiling to myself before I put my phone away. I begin to write down the notes that my Professor says would be important on the next text. I couldn't get Denny out of my thoughts.
After class, I begin to put my things into my bag before I hear my phone begin to ring. He must have timed it perfectly.
Instantly answering, I drape my bag over my shoulder and bring the phone to my ear. When he speaks, I could have sworn that I would have melted to the floor. His voice sounded much deeper on the phone and it was sexy.
"Are you out of class?" He asks.
"I am. You keeping tabs or what?" I leave the room, walking through the empty halls.
I hear his chuckle on the other end of the phone, smiling to myself. I wish I could see him.
"Maybe I am. What are you going to do about it?" Denny teases.
"Nothing… But thank you for admitting it."
I walk to my car which is on the other side of the campus. It gives me enough time to talk him and just hearing him talk makes me miss his presence, makes me miss him.
"So, you're telling me you've never been to a Seahawks game? Jess! Tell me you're joking."
I bite my lower lip. I just never really had time to go to the games, despite how badly I wanted to attend one. I always watched on television, but I knew that it wasn't the same when watching it in person.
"I know, I know. It's bad," I reply. I decide to take a seat underneath the tree, smiling to myself at my surroundings. It was the first day since Friday that it was a beautiful day with cloudless skies and the sun shining brightly in the sky.
"I've gotta be the one to bring you to your first game, Jess," Denny says, the determination clear in his voice.
"Well, if I was being honest, I wouldn't want anyone else but you to take me." I blush to myself. I just realized how that sounded just as it left my lips.
"You falling in love with me, Jess?" He asks. I could just imagine him smirking.
"Hardly. You just know your football. I'd rather go with someone who enjoys being there."
He laughs, following a quiet cough. I bite my lower lip, looking down at my boots.
"Well, I better get going. We've been talking for a good hour and a half already." He tells me.
I sigh quietly, standing up and continuing my quest to my car. "Yeah and I'm still on campus. I'll talk to you soon?" I ask hopefully.
"Of course, Jess. Study hard. Don't go falling your ice cream for any guy, okay? That position is already taken." He sounds almost possessive and I smile. There was no other man that could compare to him and it was a scary thought.
"Well, it's a good thing I've already got my ice cream."
He laughs quietly. "Alright, Jess. I'll talk to you later."
Once the call ends, I climb into my car, grinning from ear to ear.