anyway?” I had a sneaking suspicion I knew exactly what it meant but wanted to make sure.
“Well, it’s something that happens to a bloke when he gets aroused.” He shrugged, as if this conversation wasn’t the least bit unusual or awkward.
It was dead silent for about point five seconds before everyone busted out in hysterical laughter.
“That is the best thing I’ve ever heard,” Emery said as he wiped imaginary tears from his eyes. “I have to start using that.”
“Can we please eat?” Lola whined. “I have places to go and people to meet. Not to mention finding a new birthday present since Callie took mine and won’t share. She’s such a minx.”
Dad placed two sushi boats on the island and grabbed plates and chopsticks. We dug in. I was just about to put a roll in my mouth when Oli’s hand nudged my thigh. I turned to him.
“Thanks for inviting me to dinner,” he said quietly.
Over his shoulder Lola winked. “You’re welcome.” I smiled.
“Where are you two going tonight?” Dad asked, pointing his chopsticks at us.
“I’m taking her to Chocolate Dichotomy,” Oli said.
“Their homemade hot chocolate tastes like it was sent from heaven,” Ady said. Emery nodded in agreement.
Chocolate Dichotomy was a place I had wanted to go in numerous times. I always stopped myself because it was more like an intimate setting rather than a place you walk in alone.
“Oh Callie, you’re going to love it,” Ady crooned. “They sell these amazing chocolate covered coffee beans. Do you think you can buy me two pounds of them?”
“Make that three,” Emery added.
“Sure thing.” I made a mental note to try some when I got there.
Lola became antsy the later it became. “Presents and singing later,” she demanded. “Cake now.” She’d gone all cavewoman—she did that sometimes. Lucky for me, her impatience made Dad completely skip the ritual candles.
Since Oli and I were going out for dessert, we left them to their cake. Before Dad ushered us out the door, he pulled me aside.
“If this is going to be another birds and the bees talk, you can save it,” I said playfully. “I already know how babies happen, and I certainly don’t plan on pushing anything out of me that has a head this big.” I made a circle with my two hands.
Dad’s lips pressed together.
“Was that too much information?” I asked, watching him squirm.
He shook his head. “I just wanted to say don’t do anything you’re not ready for and have fun.” He gave me a hug. “You look beautiful and happy, and I’m glad.”
“Likewise, Dad. And thanks for the sound advice.” I chuckled.
“It was my best advice yet. Now get out of here and have fun,” he said before kissing my forehead.
Oli led me to his silver Mercedes and held the passenger door open. “So, how did you hear about Chocolate Dichotomy?” I asked as he drove us into town.
He chuckled. “When I went to the grocery store today I asked the bloke who bagged my things where a good place for a first date would be. He suggested it.”
“I’m glad you asked.”
He gave me a crooked grin. “Me too, Kitten.”
As we drove by Chocolate Dichotomy we noticed there was no close parking.
“Do you want me to drop you off so you don’t have to walk?” Oli asked, being all gentleman-like.
“Thanks, but I’d rather walk with you.”
“Ace.”
We pulled into an empty spot in the lot and got out of the car. We walked down the street, enjoying the scenery of the tiny shops decorated for Halloween.
“They’re really into Halloween here,” he noted. His knuckles brushed mine, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Religiously. Ardmore always goes all out.” Our knuckles brushed again. My heart picked up pace.
“How so?” His knuckles against the back of my hand made my skin tingle in appreciation. The thumping of my heart beat in my ears like a tiny drum.
“Well for one they begin decorating on October first. The week leading up to Halloween
“Well, it’s something that happens to a bloke when he gets aroused.” He shrugged, as if this conversation wasn’t the least bit unusual or awkward.
It was dead silent for about point five seconds before everyone busted out in hysterical laughter.
“That is the best thing I’ve ever heard,” Emery said as he wiped imaginary tears from his eyes. “I have to start using that.”
“Can we please eat?” Lola whined. “I have places to go and people to meet. Not to mention finding a new birthday present since Callie took mine and won’t share. She’s such a minx.”
Dad placed two sushi boats on the island and grabbed plates and chopsticks. We dug in. I was just about to put a roll in my mouth when Oli’s hand nudged my thigh. I turned to him.
“Thanks for inviting me to dinner,” he said quietly.
Over his shoulder Lola winked. “You’re welcome.” I smiled.
“Where are you two going tonight?” Dad asked, pointing his chopsticks at us.
“I’m taking her to Chocolate Dichotomy,” Oli said.
“Their homemade hot chocolate tastes like it was sent from heaven,” Ady said. Emery nodded in agreement.
Chocolate Dichotomy was a place I had wanted to go in numerous times. I always stopped myself because it was more like an intimate setting rather than a place you walk in alone.
“Oh Callie, you’re going to love it,” Ady crooned. “They sell these amazing chocolate covered coffee beans. Do you think you can buy me two pounds of them?”
“Make that three,” Emery added.
“Sure thing.” I made a mental note to try some when I got there.
Lola became antsy the later it became. “Presents and singing later,” she demanded. “Cake now.” She’d gone all cavewoman—she did that sometimes. Lucky for me, her impatience made Dad completely skip the ritual candles.
Since Oli and I were going out for dessert, we left them to their cake. Before Dad ushered us out the door, he pulled me aside.
“If this is going to be another birds and the bees talk, you can save it,” I said playfully. “I already know how babies happen, and I certainly don’t plan on pushing anything out of me that has a head this big.” I made a circle with my two hands.
Dad’s lips pressed together.
“Was that too much information?” I asked, watching him squirm.
He shook his head. “I just wanted to say don’t do anything you’re not ready for and have fun.” He gave me a hug. “You look beautiful and happy, and I’m glad.”
“Likewise, Dad. And thanks for the sound advice.” I chuckled.
“It was my best advice yet. Now get out of here and have fun,” he said before kissing my forehead.
Oli led me to his silver Mercedes and held the passenger door open. “So, how did you hear about Chocolate Dichotomy?” I asked as he drove us into town.
He chuckled. “When I went to the grocery store today I asked the bloke who bagged my things where a good place for a first date would be. He suggested it.”
“I’m glad you asked.”
He gave me a crooked grin. “Me too, Kitten.”
As we drove by Chocolate Dichotomy we noticed there was no close parking.
“Do you want me to drop you off so you don’t have to walk?” Oli asked, being all gentleman-like.
“Thanks, but I’d rather walk with you.”
“Ace.”
We pulled into an empty spot in the lot and got out of the car. We walked down the street, enjoying the scenery of the tiny shops decorated for Halloween.
“They’re really into Halloween here,” he noted. His knuckles brushed mine, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Religiously. Ardmore always goes all out.” Our knuckles brushed again. My heart picked up pace.
“How so?” His knuckles against the back of my hand made my skin tingle in appreciation. The thumping of my heart beat in my ears like a tiny drum.
“Well for one they begin decorating on October first. The week leading up to Halloween
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