Page 13 of The Love Playbook
“I love it. You clean up even better than I expected.” Stepping in close after I complete my turn, she loops her arm through mine. “Are we still waiting for a table, or can they seat us now?”
The hostess, who’s been witnessing all this with a smile on her face, and I can’t tell if she thinks it’s hilarious or adorable, picks up two menus. “I can seat you now if you’ll follow me.”
Autumn gives me a wide grin as we follow the hostess. “Seriously,” she says, leaning in close and lowering her voice. “Good choice.” And if I had any suspicion she might’ve been placating me before, the appreciative glint in her eye lays that to rest.
“Thank you. You look nice too.” And she really does. With her pressed up against me like this, I can’t help admiring the cleavage revealed by the low V of her top and the pointed crystal hanging just above it as though directing my eye to the dark valley I’d like to … lick, maybe.
Is that weird? Do girls like it when guys lick their cleavage?
I guess maybe I’ll find out soonish. Probably not tonight, though. She only said something about a goodnight kiss. Plus, we drove separately.
The hostess takes us to a booth, and even though it’s in the middle of the restaurant, once we slide in, it feels like we’re in a secluded bubble, just the two of us. Which is good. Having a larger audience for this would only make me more nervous.
Even though Autumn’s directness and probing questions still make me blush, just spending time with her doesn’t.
Once the hostess leaves with a promise to come back with water, I feel like I can finally breathe, the nerves from earlier dissipating, leaving behind the empty feeling of hunger. I had a snack after practice, but that was a while ago. I normally have dinner by now, but since I was meeting Autumn, obviously I haven’t, and now I’m starving.
With a quick smile in her direction, I pick up my menu and immediately start looking for something that will fit with my meal plan.
Autumn lets out a light chuckle. “Hungry, huh?”
“Starved.”
I glance up to find her leaning her chin on her hand, watching me with a smile curving her lips. “I guess I should get used to that if I’m spending time with an athlete.”
Returning my gaze to the menu, I laugh softly. “You should. Plus, this is late for dinner for me. What about you? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Of course.” I catch a sly look on her face that makes me wonder if she means more than just food, but I don’t want to assume anything. I mean, I know we’re going to kiss tonight. She said that was the point. But … would she be interested in more?
We’ve kissed already a couple of times. Of course those were all initiated by her. I’m guessing the plan is for me to initiate tonight.
Could I work up the courage to invite her back to my place?
I swallow hard, realizing that I’ve been staring at the menu without actually seeing what’s available.
The hostess arrives with the promised waters and murmurs that our waitress will be with us in a moment, and I make a quick decision—chicken with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes.
Closing my menu, I set it off to the side and look up to find Autumn’s done the same. “How was practice today?” she asks.
“Good.” We make small talk while waiting for the waitress, and it’s surprisingly easy. She’s good at helping me relax and open up in a way I haven’t noticed before. Actually, now that I think about it, the times we worked together for theatre, she had this ability. I never felt awkward or out of place with her then, with the glaring exception of the first few times we had to practice our stage kiss.
But her matter-of-fact approach and the fact that I never felt like she was laughing at me made it easier to do it and get comfortable with her. The only reason our coffee date was so uncomfortable for me had more to do with my embarrassment at being twenty and having only kissed one girl before.
Maybe there are other guys my age who are still virgins. I can’t possibly be the only one. But of the guys I know? I definitely am. Or if there are guys who haven’t had actual penis in vagina sex, they’ve at least had oral and fooled around.
I haven’t done anything. I’ve been so anti-sex for so long, that I don’t even recognize when a girl is trying to flirt with me.
Has Autumn flirted with me and I’ve been too oblivious to notice?
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” she asks casually, taking a sip of her water. Her eyes glitter with that mixture of amusement and curiosity I’ve come to expect from her. She finds nearly everything entertaining on some level, it seems. And not in a mean, making fun of people way. I’ve never heard her make fun of anyone, actually. Not that we’ve spent a huge amount of time together. But I’ve overheard plenty of other girls mocking people when they thought no one was listening at parties and game nights and just around campus. Not Autumn, though.
In fact, she seems to be most concerned with what will benefit everyone around her. Even people she barely knows, like Tiffany and Gray last year. Her connection to them is tenuous at best. We were classmates with Tiffany and Autumn is now living with Gray’s sister, but last year they were mostly acquaintances. And just because you know a guy’s sister doesn’t mean you give a shit about him.
But Autumn does. Did.
And that probably explains why she’s here with me versus dating a guy she’s actually interested in. Yeah, she thinks I’m cute. There’s no faking the way she was checking me out, and I’ve never heard her give an insincere compliment. While I may not notice girls flirting with me, I’m not so oblivious that I haven’t heard my teammates talk about Autumn. I know she gets around. And I also know I’m not the type of guy she usually goes for.
“I’m wondering …” I start, uncertain if this is really the best conversation topic. I’m supposed to be practicing being on a first date, after all. And quizzing Autumn about why she’s bothering with me at all doesn’t necessarily seem like the best first date subject. But if this were a normal date where I asked out a girl because I liked her and she liked me, this wouldn’t even be a question. If Autumn hadn’t offered to act as some kind of dating coach. If that weren’t the entire basis of our relationship.
