The stretch between Nash’s and the Quick Stop seemed too damn long. I ran hard and focused on working through my jealous anger I had no right to have. I was a douchebag. I hadn’t called her all damn week. Not even texted. I had been doing it for her, thinking she needed distance from me. Worried I was going to hurt her. She’d been carrying on with her life. Dating Brett and not worrying about me. I was an arrogant douchebag.
Ezmita was gorgeous. She smelled like vanilla and honeysuckle. She tasted smooth and sweet. Why the fuck was I thinking I was going to hurt her? It wasn’t like she had to sit at home and wait for me to call her. She wasn’t professing her love to me. We had gone out. We had kissed and it had been fucking incredible. I was going to ask her out again.
The Quick Stop was busy. It was Saturday in the summer. Boats were hitched to backs of trucks and filling up to head to the river. People were buying ice and beer for their coolers. It was the norm this time of year. Going inside now and trying to talk to Ezmita was going to be difficult. She wouldn’t be able to talk.
What did we have to talk about really? I would just go inside, get a drink, and ask her out for tonight. That simple. I’d made no promises on our last date to call. She hadn’t sat home waiting on me either. This was like any other girl. I was making this a bigger issue than it was, simply because when it came to Ezmita, I had feelings I didn’t want to have.
I claimed to be protecting her, but it seemed more like I was protecting myself. Which was fucked up. When had I become that guy? The one who cared too much about a girl. I wasn’t that guy.
Walking up to the store, I waved at a few people who called out my name, but I was focused on going inside. By the time I got to the door to go inside, I was chill. This was easy.
She was behind the counter ringing up a customer and didn’t see me. I made my way to the coolers to grab a bottle of water and took my time in the candy aisle, giving the guy time to pay and leave before picking up a Snickers bar and going to the counter.
Ezmita’s eyes widened when she saw me, and I gave her my best charming smile. She returned my smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Damn. What if I was too late and she’d decided she preferred Brett?
“Hey,” I said as I set the things on the counter.
“Hello,” she replied, and her smile looked a little nervous now.
“What time do you get off work?” I asked, reminding myself not to apologize.
She began ringing up my items and didn’t look at me when she replied. “Four.”
Four was better than I expected. “Can I pick you up at six? I’ve missed you.” That sounded smooth. As if it was equally her fault that I hadn’t called her. Technically she could have called or texted me.
“Uh, I can’t.” Her response surprised me. Was she mad at me? Had I been right to assume she expected more from me? “Five thirty-six,” she then added.
“Huh?” I asked, confused.
“Your total, it’s five thirty-six,” she replied with a smile.
She wasn’t going to give me an explanation as to why she couldn’t go tonight. I shouldn’t push. Just accept it, pay, and leave, but fuck that. I missed her—and after seeing her, I wanted to see her more. Tonight.
“Can you go later? Too early?” I asked, not moving to pay. There was no one in line behind me. I didn’t need to rush.
“No, it’s just I have plans.”
Oh. Okay. She had plans. “Ah,” I replied, and moved to get the money I kept tucked in my zipped pocket when I ran. “Tomorrow, then?”
She hesitated. I swear I stopped breathing while waiting on her response. “I’m free after two,” she said. Then took my money and handed me back the change.
“I’ll pick you up at two,” I told her. “Wear a bathing suit,” I added.
“Okay,” she said, then looked up as the doorbell chimed and someone else entered.
I wanted to ask if she was going out with Brett tonight, but I didn’t do it. I wanted to give her an excuse for not calling, but I didn’t. Instead I winked and took my things. “See you then.”
I didn’t wait for her response. Nova Cox was walking in my direction dressed in tiny shorts and a halter top. She was stunning as always. She was also not someone I wanted to see right now. “Well, if it isn’t Asa Griffith. Haven’t seen you in forever. I’m thinking I missed you,” she drawled.