Lane looked up from where he’d beenanalyzing his foot and gave me a skeptical look. “Do you think?”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he was asking.“I’ve seen a lot of people wearing similar shoes with tight jeans like those.Wasn’t your friend—Eli, right?—wearing something like that the other day? Andthis guy came into the shop last week to get a piercing with these boots thathad a really high heel. I’m not sure what section of the store he’d bought themin, but it probably could’ve gone either way, now that I think about it.”
Shoes definitely had gotten a lot moregender neutral. They weren’t really something that I noticed, though. But evenlooking around the room at the younger couples, there were a variety of peoplewhose shoes weren’t gender specific. Or if they were, people were ignoring it.
The last time I’d gone to buy boots,there’d been a lady standing next to me complaining that women’s shoes werealways too narrow and weren’t sturdy enough to really work in. I’d justshrugged and pointed out my favorite brand. Looking back on it, though, Ihadn’t really cared that she wasn’t shopping inhersection. It was justclothes, well, in that case, shoes.
“What would you have done if I’d shown upin something else?” The question wasn’t accusatory, just curious.
I shrugged. “Told you that you lookedgood?”
That had me thinking. “Oh, I don’t think Idid that before. If I forgot, you look good. To be honest, I don’t really lookat feet. I may not have even noticed. Well, unless you grew three or fourinches. Then I would’ve noticed. One of the baristas seems to have a variety ofshoes because some days she grows like four inches overnight, that’s actuallystartling. Although I don’t know why, maybe something about expectations?”
And I was veering ridiculously off topic.
I tried to bring it back around to theoriginal question. “But would I have cared? I don’t think so. Maybe I would’vebeen surprised the first time I saw you back at the coffee shop if you’d beenwearing something like that, but after looking at the stuff on the website anddoing some research, I’m not sure it would’ve been startling.”
Lane nodded and settled back into his seat.“I guess I can understand that. After seeing everything the store carries, youprobably weren’t sure what to expect.”
That was an understatement.
“Yes, but from the things that youmentioned and what you were wearing in the coffee shop, I wasn’t expectingsomething very different. But it wouldn’t have bothered me even if it was.”
At least, I didn’t think so.
It was one of those questions where Ithought I knew what I would’ve done. It was always difficult, though, to be completelysure. “Now I’m second-guessing myself. Discussing the idea with you, it doesn’tseem startling, however. So I’m going to have to go with that.”
Lane chuckled. “You really are funnysometimes. I don’t think you’re one of those guys who would have made a commentor had an issue with what I was wearing.”
“I think you’re right.” I thought aboutasking him to wear something nontraditional next time just to see how it wouldfeel. But that felt a little bit like telling him I wanted to run a scienceexperiment, so I kept my mouth shut.
I was luckily saved from looking even moreawkward as the waitress came over. She asked us about dessert and questioned howthe meal was. Neither of us were interested in more food, so in minutes I’dpaid the bill and we’d headed out of the restaurant.
Lane gave me a teasing grin. “You know, onour second date, it’s going to be my turn to pay.”
A layer of worry that I hadn’t been awareof faded away at the mention of a second date. “I think that’s fair. Where areyou going to take me?”
Lane considered for a moment. “How about myplace, tomorrow night? Dinner and a movie? I’ll cook.”
I wanted to tease him about that clearlybeing a Netflix and chill kind of invitation, but I restrained myself. I didn’twant him to think that I’d have any expectations. Lane, however, must’ve seensomething on my face, because he laughed. “No, not that kind of evening.”
“I didn’t say anything. You seem to be theone with the dirty mind.” I shrugged and gave him an innocent smile.
He chuckled. “I don’t believe that at all.You’ve got a pretty expressive face when you’re not trying to lookunapproachable.”
“I’m always approachable.” Most of thetime.
“Not when you’re reading, then you don’tlike interruptions. Except for the kids.”
Okay, maybe he had a point. “I’m going toplead the fifth on that.” I looked around the lot. “Where are you parked?”
He pointed in the opposite direction than Iwas parked. As he led the way, I let my hand bump against his. Not taking itexactly, but kind of testing the waters. It felt nice. The heat from his bodyand the soft caress of his skin as his fingers brushed against mine felt right.
When he stopped beside a small, darklycolored compact, I frowned. I wasn’t ready for the date to be over yet. Takinga deep breath, I tried to figure out what to say. “Okay, this is one of thoseawkward moments where we both said that we were going to be honest about things.Well, I had a wonderful evening with you and part of me wants to kiss you, butI’d rather not do that in a parking lot. Don’t think I’m hiding or ashamed ofthis or anything, it’s just—”
Lane jumped in, nodding with a smile on hisface. “That our first kiss doesn’t need to be in the parking lot surrounded bystrangers and traffic?”
When I nodded, his smile grew bigger, andhe leaned in close, pressing his shoulder into mine. “No, I understand thatcompletely. And I had a wonderful time as well.” Even in the low light of thedark parking lot, I could see his blush rising. But Lane just ignored it andkept speaking as he let his fingers caress mine. “If we had more privacy, I’ddefinitely be encouraging you.”
