“So cold is your weakness. I’ll tuck that nugget of information away.” Does that mean she’ll go on another date with me? She could be softening me up after laughing at me.
“Hey, us Southern boys don’t do well in frigid temperatures. If it’s less than seventy degrees, there’s a good chance I will be wearing a hoodie.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she waves her hand at me, dismissing my complaint. “There’s a small Italian restaurant around the corner. It’s usually slower there since it’s off the beaten path.”
She doesn’t seem too upset that we’re going somewhere more isolated, and I follow her lead. As much as I want to take her hand again, I don’t think she’d let me. I’ve never met a woman so hard to read. One minute she’s putting me in my place and the next she’s opening up, letting me see the softer side to her.
Most of the women I’ve dated are shallow. Even in high school and college. They wanted to be with me for the popularity. I was one of the star players and being on my arm somehow raised their status. Half of them had never even been to my house. They didn’t care.
Right now, I don’t know which way Jolene is leaning. She was ready to march out on our date because those women talked to me, but was willing to hold my hand when I reached out. It’s giving me whiplash, but I’ll stay on the rollercoaster a little longer. It’ll either be the ride of my life or I’ll be stuck in misery. Maybe today I’ll have my answer which one it will be.
* * *
She wasn’t kidding when she said this place is off the beaten path. We turned right at the next corner, but it wasn’t where I was expecting it. It’s literally a hole in the wall restaurant. We left the heavy foot traffic behind a few minutes ago. A bright neon red open sign is placed in the window by the door. It resembles a breakfast diner, and I’m not so sure it’s a place I want to eat. I’ve had good and bad experiences at those types of restaurants. Most of those times included copious amounts of alcohol. Just because I was a dedicated ballplayer doesn’t mean I didn’t know how to have a good time.
I open the door, but stay put after she walks inside. She takes a few steps and stops, realizing I’m not behind her. “Are you coming? I thought you were cold.”
“Yeah, about that. Is it safe to eat here? It looks kind of sketchy.” I peer around her, trying to get a feel for the inside.
Her brows furrow and the happy mood she was in vanishes at my question. “Does it not live up to your ‘high class’ expectations?”
Fuck. Everything was going great until I had to open my mouth. “It’s nothing against this place. I just have issues with new places in general. Especially when I don’t know what I’m walking into.” Little does she know I’ve eaten at some horrible looking places, but the food was excellent. I’m officially an asshole. I’ve been trying to persuade this woman to look past her first thoughts and give me a chance, but yet I can’t do the same thing over a simple fucking place to eat.
She walks toward the door, and me. “We don’t have to eat here.” She’s wearing a smile, but the tone of her voice speaks volumes.
Before she’s out the door, I grab her elbow, stopping her from walking away…yet again. “It’s fine. I trust you.”
“Are you sure about that?” The flash of pain across her face surprises me. I want to know what idiot put that doubt in her mind and do anything in my power to make it better.
“Yes. If you were trying to do something horrible to me, I think you’d come up with something more creative than food poisoning. Especially since you’re hungry, too.” Right? What crazy person would also eat something they intend to harm another person with?
"I'm not insane. If I didn't want to be here, or with you, I wouldn't have agreed to the date." She pulls her arm out of my grasp, and heads back into the restaurant. I hurry behind her to keep from insulting her.
Is she always this temperamental? I want to say no, but whoever she dated before must have done a number on her. She's leaning on the hostess stand, waiting for her to show up. "So, what would you recommend that I get?" It's a simple question, and one that hopefully won't spark a debate.
"They have pretty much everything an Italian restaurant would normally have, but I'm still in the mood for pizza. And their pizza is to die for."
I'm a little intimidated that she knows of great restaurants in a town she doesn't even live in. I'll take her word for it though, and I'll get the pizza. It's the least I can do after the way I've continuously stuck my foot in my mouth.
A short older lady emerges from a door I assume leads to the kitchen, and as soon as she sees Jolene her face lights up. "How have you been JoJo? I can't remember the last time I saw you. Are you still doing the long flights?"
Jolene hurries to the woman and wraps her up in a hug. "It's been too long, Marie. And, no, I'm doing mostly US flights right now."
"Where's Lana? She's usually attached to your side." Marie leans around Jolene's, spotting me, and lifts an eyebrow. "I see you've traded her for a man friend. And a good-looking one at that."
Jolene turned toward me and her cheeks are a rosy shade of red. She gestures toward me and says, "This is my friend, Bentley." I don't miss the way she emphasizes friend. I have a new goal, now. Make her refer to me as more than a friend by the end of today. It won’t be easy, but I’ve never been one to back down from a task.
“Hi, Marie. I’m Bentley.” I hold out my hand to shake hers.
She waves me off and wraps her arms around me. “Around here, we hug. Especially when it’s a friend,” she rolls her eyes at the word, “of one of our favorite people.”
“You remind me a lot of my mom.” That slipped out of my mouth without my permission. That’s a great way to portray myself…as a mama’s boy. “She’s a hugger, too.” Maybe that will explain it away. But she reminds me of Mom. She’s so welcoming and gives people chances over and over again. She sees the good in everyone, even if they aren’t all that great.
“I like you already.” She points toward the dining area, “Sit anywhere you want JoJo. We don’t have many other guests and we’re light on staff today. One of the girl’s had a birthday party last night, and I think half the crew went. Needless to say, they’re all feeling pretty horrible today.”
“Thank you, Marie.” Jolene turns toward the tables set off to the side and doesn’t wait to see if I follow her.
I’m happy she picked this place. Even though it doesn’t look like much from the outside, it has the same vibe as some of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Austin. You feel like you’re at home amongst family. A part of me wonders if I’ll ever be allowed to call the woman in front of me “JoJo”. It seems like a name she only lets a select few call her. I don’t even think Lana calls her by that name. At least she didn’t the few times I’ve seen them around each other.