me find a vase.
“ These are beautiful. You know that tulips are Bailey’s favorite, right?”
“ Really? I let Lacey help with the selection. Although I have to admit that her favorite color is purple, so that probably influenced her.”
“ Uncle Eli, this is Collin McKenna. Collin, Eli Corbit, and you met my aunt Rachelle the other day.”
My uncle got up from the couch, and stepped over to the kitchen to shake hands with Collin.
“ Hi, Collin, nice to meet you. You take good care of my niece, she’s very special to us.”
“ Yes, sir. I will.”
After placing the flowers in the glass vase my aunt had pulled out of the cabinet, I was ready to leave. “Okay, let’s get going so we’re not late.”
“ Nice to meet you, Mr. Corbit. Good to see you again, Mrs. Corbit.”
“ Please just call us Eli and Rachelle. Have fun tonight,” my aunt responded.
We walked out to the car and were off to the theater downtown. Once in the car, Collin turned down the radio so I could actually hear him talk.
“ So tulips are really your favorite flower?”
Looking at his strong profile made my stomach flutter. “Yeah. They are so simple, yet so elegant. I love all flowers, so if you ever feel the desire to give me flowers again, don’t think I’ll only enjoy tulips.”
His eyes turned in my direction. “Ah, I can take a hint when it’s given. Haven’t you gotten lots of flowers from special admirers?”
“ Umm...no. Those are the first ones I’ve ever gotten from someone not related to me.”
“ Are you serious? You've never gotten any type of flowers? No single rose, nothing?”
“ Nope. I told you, no one’s ever really asked me out before. I’ve just had friends where we’ve all gone out as a group.”
“ I guess I’m just still surprised. I have to say, though, I’m happy to have been the first.”
* * *
Arriving at the packed theater, Collin parked the car after circling through the parking lot several times, and we walked toward the ticket booth. By the time we found our seats, we had a big bucket of popcorn, drinks, and my favorite movie food, a box of Red Vines. Choosing seats up at the top of the theater, we moved into the middle of the aisle. The lights went down just as we were sitting in our seats, and the previews started.
Collin had the popcorn propped up on his left knee so that it was between us. He had left the armrest up, and my right shoulder would brush his when I would reach into the bucket. The times when our hands made contact left my arm tingling. Halfway through the movie, we had almost completely devoured the popcorn and the Red Vines.
I tried to follow the movie on the screen, but Collin’s close proximity made it hard to focus. My hands were folded in my lap when I felt Collin’s left hand casually pull my right hand into his, linking his fingers with mine. I could feel a shiver move across my body. I cringed, hoping that Collin wouldn’t notice. My heart was pounding. I wondered if he could hear it or feel it beating as the blood was coursing through my hand. He seemed calm, and completely in control, while I felt like I was about to shatter in a million pieces.
The movie ended, and I was surprised but thrilled that Collin didn’t let my hand drop from his. Instead, he led me out of the theater with our fingers intertwined. Walking back to his car, we talked about the movie and the things we enjoyed, thought were funny, and found interesting. It was only when he opened the door for me that he let go of my hand. He walked around and got in the driver’s side. After starting the car, his hand searched for mine, and he pulled it over to lay on the console between us. I was secretly glad his car wasn’t a stick. As we drove through the streets headed to the edge of town, I was pretty sure he was driving to the lookout where he had taken me last week.
When we arrived at the lookout, I was glad there was no one else there. Collin stopped the car, reached in his
“ These are beautiful. You know that tulips are Bailey’s favorite, right?”
“ Really? I let Lacey help with the selection. Although I have to admit that her favorite color is purple, so that probably influenced her.”
“ Uncle Eli, this is Collin McKenna. Collin, Eli Corbit, and you met my aunt Rachelle the other day.”
My uncle got up from the couch, and stepped over to the kitchen to shake hands with Collin.
“ Hi, Collin, nice to meet you. You take good care of my niece, she’s very special to us.”
“ Yes, sir. I will.”
After placing the flowers in the glass vase my aunt had pulled out of the cabinet, I was ready to leave. “Okay, let’s get going so we’re not late.”
“ Nice to meet you, Mr. Corbit. Good to see you again, Mrs. Corbit.”
“ Please just call us Eli and Rachelle. Have fun tonight,” my aunt responded.
We walked out to the car and were off to the theater downtown. Once in the car, Collin turned down the radio so I could actually hear him talk.
“ So tulips are really your favorite flower?”
Looking at his strong profile made my stomach flutter. “Yeah. They are so simple, yet so elegant. I love all flowers, so if you ever feel the desire to give me flowers again, don’t think I’ll only enjoy tulips.”
His eyes turned in my direction. “Ah, I can take a hint when it’s given. Haven’t you gotten lots of flowers from special admirers?”
“ Umm...no. Those are the first ones I’ve ever gotten from someone not related to me.”
“ Are you serious? You've never gotten any type of flowers? No single rose, nothing?”
“ Nope. I told you, no one’s ever really asked me out before. I’ve just had friends where we’ve all gone out as a group.”
“ I guess I’m just still surprised. I have to say, though, I’m happy to have been the first.”
* * *
Arriving at the packed theater, Collin parked the car after circling through the parking lot several times, and we walked toward the ticket booth. By the time we found our seats, we had a big bucket of popcorn, drinks, and my favorite movie food, a box of Red Vines. Choosing seats up at the top of the theater, we moved into the middle of the aisle. The lights went down just as we were sitting in our seats, and the previews started.
Collin had the popcorn propped up on his left knee so that it was between us. He had left the armrest up, and my right shoulder would brush his when I would reach into the bucket. The times when our hands made contact left my arm tingling. Halfway through the movie, we had almost completely devoured the popcorn and the Red Vines.
I tried to follow the movie on the screen, but Collin’s close proximity made it hard to focus. My hands were folded in my lap when I felt Collin’s left hand casually pull my right hand into his, linking his fingers with mine. I could feel a shiver move across my body. I cringed, hoping that Collin wouldn’t notice. My heart was pounding. I wondered if he could hear it or feel it beating as the blood was coursing through my hand. He seemed calm, and completely in control, while I felt like I was about to shatter in a million pieces.
The movie ended, and I was surprised but thrilled that Collin didn’t let my hand drop from his. Instead, he led me out of the theater with our fingers intertwined. Walking back to his car, we talked about the movie and the things we enjoyed, thought were funny, and found interesting. It was only when he opened the door for me that he let go of my hand. He walked around and got in the driver’s side. After starting the car, his hand searched for mine, and he pulled it over to lay on the console between us. I was secretly glad his car wasn’t a stick. As we drove through the streets headed to the edge of town, I was pretty sure he was driving to the lookout where he had taken me last week.
When we arrived at the lookout, I was glad there was no one else there. Collin stopped the car, reached in his
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