did as he said and tried to remain calm
when he turned on the engine. I could handle forty minutes.
Corolla disappeared behind us as he sped
farther down Highway 12. We drove through Duck, and Kitty Hawk,
each one a little different but still with a seaside feel.
There wasn’t much traffic, so Ralph drove us
at a fast pace. I’m sure my hands were leaving imprints in Ralph’s
stomach because I was holding on so tight. Finally we arrived at
the restaurant, and I let him help me off.
“Wow, you okay?” He must have noticed how
tense I was.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d have
thought it was your first time on a bike.”
“It was.”
“Oh.” A funny expression crossed his face. “I
thought you were into bikes.”
“Not at all.”
“I would have picked you up in my car, but
it’s too late now. Let’s enjoy dinner.” He took my hand and led me
inside.
I resisted the snarky reply that wanted to
come out. He hadn’t done it intentionally.
Seated at a center table, I picked up the
menu to peruse.
“You don’t need that.”
“I don’t?” I glanced up at his expressionless
face. I really hoped he wasn’t going where I knew he was.
“No. I’ll order.” He went there.
I held in a groan. I hated when guys did
that, especially on the first date. There was no way he knew what I
wanted. I didn’t even know what I wanted. “That’s okay.”
“No, I insist.” He called the waiter over and
proceeded to order for me. I had to jump in when he asked for mine
to be extra spicy.
“No, mild is fine,” I quickly assured the
waiter.
“You sure?” Ralph cocked his head to the side
as he watched me.
“Absolutely sure.”
The rest of dinner didn’t go any better, and
a sinking suspicion set in. When Ralph suggested a round of mini
golf, I couldn’t let it continue.
“Listen, Ralph. Macon’s messing with us.” I
was already planning revenge in my head.
“What do you mean?” Ralph held open the door
for me, and we started walking back out to the lot.
I stopped, waiting for him to do the same. “I
hate motorcycles, spicy food, and mini golf.”
A look of understanding hit him. “And I bet
you don’t like guys who take control either.”
“The whole ordering for me thing?”
“Yeah.” He tucked his thumbs in the corners
of his pockets.
I clasped my hands together. “What an
asshole.” I tried to get my anger back in place. I had a short
temper and once I lost it, it wasn’t a pretty sight. We’re not
talking anger management level, but I’m not someone you want on
your bad side.
“Exactly my thoughts. But you really don’t
like mini golf?”
“No. Especially not here. How many
pirate-themed mini golf courses do you need?”
“We could always go to the dinosaur one.”
“Not much better. That T-rex looks like he
could fall on top of you.”
“You don’t like dangerous things, do
you?”
“Oh. The motorcycle thing? Yeah, blame my
father for it.”
“Okay. If I ever meet him, I will.” He
smiled. “So what do you like? Is there any chance of my salvaging
this date?”
All I wanted to do was get in an actual car
and go home, but I wasn’t that mean. His smile was sweet, and he
was trying. “Ice cream. I like ice cream.”
“You mean you’re not lactose intolerant?”
“Seriously? He said that?”
Ralph laughed. “No, but I’m surprised he
didn’t. Let’s get some ice cream then.”
The next ride on the bike wasn’t so bad. I
relaxed enough, and we stopped for ice cream back in Corolla. I
felt tons better knowing I wouldn’t have to get back on the bike, I
could easily walk the short distance home.
I had just settled in to enjoy my cone of
vanilla soft serve when I noticed an all-too-familiar face walking
toward the register, and he wasn’t alone. So that’s why Colin
hadn’t called back. The girl was pretty, with reddish-brown hair.
She was of average height and wore ballet flats and a puffy skirt.
I at least had to
when he turned on the engine. I could handle forty minutes.
Corolla disappeared behind us as he sped
farther down Highway 12. We drove through Duck, and Kitty Hawk,
each one a little different but still with a seaside feel.
There wasn’t much traffic, so Ralph drove us
at a fast pace. I’m sure my hands were leaving imprints in Ralph’s
stomach because I was holding on so tight. Finally we arrived at
the restaurant, and I let him help me off.
“Wow, you okay?” He must have noticed how
tense I was.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d have
thought it was your first time on a bike.”
“It was.”
“Oh.” A funny expression crossed his face. “I
thought you were into bikes.”
“Not at all.”
“I would have picked you up in my car, but
it’s too late now. Let’s enjoy dinner.” He took my hand and led me
inside.
I resisted the snarky reply that wanted to
come out. He hadn’t done it intentionally.
Seated at a center table, I picked up the
menu to peruse.
“You don’t need that.”
“I don’t?” I glanced up at his expressionless
face. I really hoped he wasn’t going where I knew he was.
“No. I’ll order.” He went there.
I held in a groan. I hated when guys did
that, especially on the first date. There was no way he knew what I
wanted. I didn’t even know what I wanted. “That’s okay.”
“No, I insist.” He called the waiter over and
proceeded to order for me. I had to jump in when he asked for mine
to be extra spicy.
“No, mild is fine,” I quickly assured the
waiter.
“You sure?” Ralph cocked his head to the side
as he watched me.
“Absolutely sure.”
The rest of dinner didn’t go any better, and
a sinking suspicion set in. When Ralph suggested a round of mini
golf, I couldn’t let it continue.
“Listen, Ralph. Macon’s messing with us.” I
was already planning revenge in my head.
“What do you mean?” Ralph held open the door
for me, and we started walking back out to the lot.
I stopped, waiting for him to do the same. “I
hate motorcycles, spicy food, and mini golf.”
A look of understanding hit him. “And I bet
you don’t like guys who take control either.”
“The whole ordering for me thing?”
“Yeah.” He tucked his thumbs in the corners
of his pockets.
I clasped my hands together. “What an
asshole.” I tried to get my anger back in place. I had a short
temper and once I lost it, it wasn’t a pretty sight. We’re not
talking anger management level, but I’m not someone you want on
your bad side.
“Exactly my thoughts. But you really don’t
like mini golf?”
“No. Especially not here. How many
pirate-themed mini golf courses do you need?”
“We could always go to the dinosaur one.”
“Not much better. That T-rex looks like he
could fall on top of you.”
“You don’t like dangerous things, do
you?”
“Oh. The motorcycle thing? Yeah, blame my
father for it.”
“Okay. If I ever meet him, I will.” He
smiled. “So what do you like? Is there any chance of my salvaging
this date?”
All I wanted to do was get in an actual car
and go home, but I wasn’t that mean. His smile was sweet, and he
was trying. “Ice cream. I like ice cream.”
“You mean you’re not lactose intolerant?”
“Seriously? He said that?”
Ralph laughed. “No, but I’m surprised he
didn’t. Let’s get some ice cream then.”
The next ride on the bike wasn’t so bad. I
relaxed enough, and we stopped for ice cream back in Corolla. I
felt tons better knowing I wouldn’t have to get back on the bike, I
could easily walk the short distance home.
I had just settled in to enjoy my cone of
vanilla soft serve when I noticed an all-too-familiar face walking
toward the register, and he wasn’t alone. So that’s why Colin
hadn’t called back. The girl was pretty, with reddish-brown hair.
She was of average height and wore ballet flats and a puffy skirt.
I at least had to
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