She stops me, pulling me into a hug. “I know, but I worry about you. These college boys can be douchebags. You have my number. Call me if you need me. Will you at least tell me where the date is? For my peace of mind? I promise I won’t follow you there.”
I sigh. “Club Zero on Broadway. My idea, not his.”
“Watch your drink, and if he has even a sip of anything, you call me for a ride,” she tells me.
“I will. What are you doing tonight? Working?”
“Nope. I get the night off, so I’m going to hang out here and catch up on school. So you won’t be interrupting if you call.” She gives me a pointed look.
My phone vibrates, letting me know Kellan is here.
“I’ll call. Love you, PeyPey.” I use the nickname I have for her.
“Love you too, CoCo. Be safe.”
Leaving her in the room, I rush downstairs. I don’t think she would snoop, but I’d rather she not find out it’s Kellan I’m dating by catching us together.
When I get to the truck, I smile when I see Kellan waiting by the passenger door.
He opens it, stepping in my way so that I cannot get in.
“Gotta pay the toll, beautiful.” He smirks at me.
I step into his arms, giving him a hug. He squeezes me extra tight before stepping back to allow me to climb into his truck. Once inside, he closes the door, walking around the front to get into the driver’s side.
Once inside, he grabs my hand.
“You look beyond beautiful tonight, beautiful. Are you trying to earn a new nickname? Maybe…goddess? Sexiest woman alive?” he jokes.
It makes me blush. “Had to match you, hotshot. You are looking pretty snazzy.”
He’s wearing dark blue jeans, a fitted T-shirt, and a backward ball cap on his head. He looks dangerous. Maybe his new nickname should be Danger to reflect how he has my lady bits standing to attention.
“So Club Zero, huh?”
“I like to dance. I’m the social one in my family, and I don’t mind crowds. I like making friends.”
“That much is obvious. You didn’t even hesitate to walk up to me and ask me to be your beer pong partner.”
“Nope. You don’t scare me. No one does, really. I think the fear of rejection is an interesting concept. You don’t want to ask the question for fear the answer is no, but the possibility is always there that it might be a yes. I don’t want to live a life full of what-ifs. I want to know for sure I did everything I wanted to do, and if I didn’t, I tried like hell to.”
“It’s a good way to live. Never have regrets. Lord knows I wish I had lived that way before now. Maybe that’s something I should start,” he tells me, letting go of my hand so he can back into a parking spot.
God, why is it so sexy when a man uses your seat for his arm as he backs in? He even has a backup cam, but he still looks over his shoulder. It makes me want to kiss him.
When he finally puts the truck in park, I swear my breathing has sped up.
“Wait there.”
I do as he asks, watching him take the same path as before to come collect me from the passenger side.
Go for it, Cora.
As he helps me down, I lean into him, but he is closing the door before I can take the plunge. Threading his fingers through mine, he leads me to the door. He pays the cover for both of us, leading me inside.
“Do you want a drink?” he asks.
I shake my head, grabbing his hand to lead him to the dance floor.
