I’m at my car, loading the few bags in the trunk and getting ready to pick up the twenty-four pack of water, when Eric’s voice stops me.
“Let me get that for you,” he says as he effortlessly picks up the heavy load and sets it in the back of my car, making sure to avoid squishing the other items.
“Thank you,” I reply, and close the trunk with a slam.
“No problem.” He smiles, showing off a set of bright white teeth.
He just stands there, and I’m not sure what else to say, so I nervously jiggle my keys in my hand. I don’t do well in awkward situations, and this shouldn’t even be one, but that’s the way it feels. I don’t associate with people from work outside of the office, except for Liv. It’s not that I’m stuck-up, I’ve just never really been given the opportunity. If there are work functions, they’re usually in the office, and because of that, it’s normally work we talk about. Seeing Eric outside the office seems strange; it’s easier to talk to him at work.
“Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask if you wanted to go get dinner sometime?”
Caught off guard by his question, I stand there like a moron and stare at him. After several seconds, my eyes land on the bag that he’s holding, reminding me of what he was buying inside. It puts a sour taste in my mouth, knowing he’s asking me out when he just bought condoms to use with another girl. I wouldn’t have thought Eric would be the type, but it just goes to show how little us women actually know about men.
“In light of what you were just buying, I’ll have to decline, but thank you.” I’m sure Eric doesn’t miss the look of disdain I can’t hide from my face before I turn away from him to walk to the driver’s side door.
“Wait!” he shouts from behind me. Disappointed that Eric would be classified in the douchebag category when this whole time I thought he was a good guy, I turn to face him. He’s rounded the car and is now standing directly behind me.
“Can I tell you a secret?” he whispers, leaning closer.
Not sure where this is going, but wanting it over with, I nod.
“They aren’t really mine,” he says sheepishly.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“These.” He holds the bag up that has a few other items in it besides the box of condoms.
Does he take me for a fool?
He chuckles at my doubtful look. “Really, they aren’t. This’ll sound strange, but they’re for my sister.”
Now I’m getting pissed, and I show it by scowling. There’s no way this man is buying condoms for his sister. What older brother does that? Not to mention, she has to be old enough to buy them herself. The guy can’t be a day younger than thirty-five, unless his parents had a late child.
He must sense my anger because his laugh dies a slow death and is replaced by a more serious expression.
“Look, my sister is sort of a hothead wild child. She’s sixteen and stuck on her I’ll-do-what-I-want-and-I-don’t-care-if-you-like-it attitude, and that includes having sex. She’s not reliable enough to take her birth control pills. My parents hate it and so do I, but there’s nothing we can really do about it, save for locking her in her room and putting bars on her windows. That’ll just push her further away. In order to keep her safe, I regularly buy her condoms.”
I stand quietly, listening to him. Having never went through that phase, I can’t imagine what he and his parents are going through, but I bet it can’t be easy.
When I don’t say anything, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. “If you don’t believe me, I can show you the text she sent me earlier.”
I put my hand over his as he types something on the phone. “No. I believe you,” I tell him honestly. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
He looks at my hand for a minute before bringing his eyes to mine. The brown in them seems much deeper up close, almost black. And it goes perfectly with his thick lashes. I drop my hand back to my side.
“No worries. I kind of led you on back there. It’s reasonable that you wouldn’t believe me.” He slips his phone back inside his pocket. “So, what do you say? Will you allow me to take you out for an early dinner one day after work?”
It’s strange, really. Three months ago, I finally started dating again. I went from having no dates in over a year to dating guys from a dating site and having a coworker ask me out to dinner. Not to mention, a nameless man who sends me flowers.
I look at Eric and see genuine interest. It’s flattering that he wants to take me out. Despite him leading me on about the condoms, he really is nice, and certainly not hard to look at. But do I really want to go out with him? Yes, I’ve dated several guys in the last three months, but this seems different. Eric and I don’t really know each other, but in a sense, through work, we do.
When I don’t answer right away, Eric takes another step toward me. I feel his fingers brush mine.
“It’s just dinner, Poppy. Nothing more. We can both take our own cars, and if you want to leave early you can. I know you said you have a date tomorrow. Is it serious?”
“No, not serious.” I don’t miss the relief that flashes over his face.
I take a second to think it over. It’s only dinner, what could it hurt? I really like Eric and he’s always been sweet to me, so that’s a bonus. The dates from the dating site have all been epic failures. I don’t even know why I go on them anymore.