we aren’t doing other things. Although, I’m harder to catch on Sundays, since that’s the one day I make sure to ride.”
“Why Sundays? What’s so special about that day?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s just the one day I live for, and I make sure I’m there religiously. What about you? Is there one thing you do out of habit that you never break?”
“Yes. Twice a month, also on Sundays, I drive up to Sacramento and spend time with my family. We have family dinners, and I never break the tradition, if I can help it.”
Hearing the love in her voice makes me melancholy where my own family is concerned. I can’t recall the last time we’ve had a family meal of any kind together. Maybe I need to be the one to break the barrier, and check in with my sister and dad.
“Nathan, are you okay?” Charlie asks, reaching up to touch my arm. “You looked a little sad.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just thinking about my family, is all. We don’t get together very often, so I was thinking that I should probably check in with them. That’s all. No big deal.” I play it off as best as I can. No need to delve into places I don’t want to, or ruin one of the best nights I’ve had in a really long time, outside of the track.
“By the way, Charlie, you can call me Nate. It’s what my friends call me.”
“I like calling you Nathan, to be honest. But, maybe—” she trails off.
“ Maybe —as in, the next time you see me, you’ll give Nate a try?” I tease her.
“Maybe.” She says back, resting her head on my arm.
“How about we follow the lead of our friends and exchange numbers?” I hopefully ask her. I hope that didn’t come out too pushy.
“I don’t like to give my number out, especially to someone I just met.”
“You know, I usually don’t ask the women I meet here for their numbers, nor do I give mine out. So, how about the next time I see you here, I ask you again?” I knew I had pushed my luck with the touching, and I was surprised she allowed it with her shyness. However, I can respect the girl for not handing out her number. I’ve already pushed her as far as she could handle, apparently.
“Oh. Okay. Yeah, I think that would be a good idea.” She gives me a shy but hopeful look.
The gang shows up at the truck just then, and I let it go. I’m not going to push for it, but I won’t lie that it sucks I didn’t get her number tonight.
“Nate, didn’t you see my sticker?” Halley asks.
I turn around to see her window sticker, as Tucker reads out loud,
“Q: What is the difference between a Ford and a porcupine? A: Porcupines have pricks on the outside.”
“Oh, you’re a funny one, aren’t you, woman?” Holt says, shaking his head. I know he finds it funny, but he won’t let a Chevy owner get the best of him and his Ford.
“Time to say goodnight to the ladies. We can’t let Charlie ruin a good pair of boots by letting them turn into a pumpkin now, can we? What would that say about us as gentleman?” I say to the guys.
“Ha! No one’s ever accused me of being a gentleman.” Holt winks over at Halley, who just laughs at him and rolls her eyes.
On that note, Halley and Naomi head to the front of the truck, as Halley clicks her remote to unlock it. They climb in as I walk Charlie over to the passenger side, and because I can’t help it, I wrap my arms around her, lifting her off the ground. I reach out to open the door, and then set her in the backseat.
Leaning in, I place a light kiss on her cheek, whispering in her ear, “Goodnight, Charlie. It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.” Then I close her door and walk away.
On the drive home, I can’t stop thinking of Nathan. Nate . The way he kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear before he left. The way he held my hand most of the night, and when we danced. When was the last time I let my guard down that much when it came to a man?
“Charlie.” Halley calls my name, pulling me
“Why Sundays? What’s so special about that day?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s just the one day I live for, and I make sure I’m there religiously. What about you? Is there one thing you do out of habit that you never break?”
“Yes. Twice a month, also on Sundays, I drive up to Sacramento and spend time with my family. We have family dinners, and I never break the tradition, if I can help it.”
Hearing the love in her voice makes me melancholy where my own family is concerned. I can’t recall the last time we’ve had a family meal of any kind together. Maybe I need to be the one to break the barrier, and check in with my sister and dad.
“Nathan, are you okay?” Charlie asks, reaching up to touch my arm. “You looked a little sad.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just thinking about my family, is all. We don’t get together very often, so I was thinking that I should probably check in with them. That’s all. No big deal.” I play it off as best as I can. No need to delve into places I don’t want to, or ruin one of the best nights I’ve had in a really long time, outside of the track.
“By the way, Charlie, you can call me Nate. It’s what my friends call me.”
“I like calling you Nathan, to be honest. But, maybe—” she trails off.
“ Maybe —as in, the next time you see me, you’ll give Nate a try?” I tease her.
“Maybe.” She says back, resting her head on my arm.
“How about we follow the lead of our friends and exchange numbers?” I hopefully ask her. I hope that didn’t come out too pushy.
“I don’t like to give my number out, especially to someone I just met.”
“You know, I usually don’t ask the women I meet here for their numbers, nor do I give mine out. So, how about the next time I see you here, I ask you again?” I knew I had pushed my luck with the touching, and I was surprised she allowed it with her shyness. However, I can respect the girl for not handing out her number. I’ve already pushed her as far as she could handle, apparently.
“Oh. Okay. Yeah, I think that would be a good idea.” She gives me a shy but hopeful look.
The gang shows up at the truck just then, and I let it go. I’m not going to push for it, but I won’t lie that it sucks I didn’t get her number tonight.
“Nate, didn’t you see my sticker?” Halley asks.
I turn around to see her window sticker, as Tucker reads out loud,
“Q: What is the difference between a Ford and a porcupine? A: Porcupines have pricks on the outside.”
“Oh, you’re a funny one, aren’t you, woman?” Holt says, shaking his head. I know he finds it funny, but he won’t let a Chevy owner get the best of him and his Ford.
“Time to say goodnight to the ladies. We can’t let Charlie ruin a good pair of boots by letting them turn into a pumpkin now, can we? What would that say about us as gentleman?” I say to the guys.
“Ha! No one’s ever accused me of being a gentleman.” Holt winks over at Halley, who just laughs at him and rolls her eyes.
On that note, Halley and Naomi head to the front of the truck, as Halley clicks her remote to unlock it. They climb in as I walk Charlie over to the passenger side, and because I can’t help it, I wrap my arms around her, lifting her off the ground. I reach out to open the door, and then set her in the backseat.
Leaning in, I place a light kiss on her cheek, whispering in her ear, “Goodnight, Charlie. It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.” Then I close her door and walk away.
On the drive home, I can’t stop thinking of Nathan. Nate . The way he kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear before he left. The way he held my hand most of the night, and when we danced. When was the last time I let my guard down that much when it came to a man?
“Charlie.” Halley calls my name, pulling me
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