by Nicola Haken
Don chipped in every now and again with tales of the man of this week’s dreams. He was in love. Again. It must be exhausting falling love every other day. I had only ever done it once and it had taken its toll often enough. It was impossible not to be happy for him though. Like Michelle, he had those lovesick puppy dog eyes. The kind I knew I had when I told them about my date with Blaine tonight.
Don didn’t mention the fact I forgot to call him after my party so neither did I. I wondered if Lori had told Michelle how disastrously it ended who in turn told Don who then felt too uncomfortable to ask. I was fine with that. I was just grateful I didn’t have to think about that night again.
Blaine showed up at a quarter to seven just like he said he would. My heart danced a quickstep at the sight of him when he strolled into the coffee house in formal black slacks and a fitted white shirt. His hair was damp and ruffled as if he’d just showered and he had that deliciously arrogant smirk of his plastered across his face. He looked completely edible… and he knew it. I wondered where he’d changed because I knew he wouldn’t risk going home and he didn’t have clothes at mine.
“I think I’ve just come in my pants,” Don uttered as he caught sight of Blaine. He didn’t even whisper!
“Shame. I would’ve helped you with that if you’d asked,” Blaine teased back with a wink that had Don fanning himself with his hand.
“Do you want me to leave you two lovebirds alone a while?” I interjected.
“No point now,” Blaine said. “His bubble’s already popped.”
“Oh, I could inflate it again in no time for you, baby,” Don replied.
“Seriously guys… you two have just gone way beyond creeping me out. Now Don, how about you stop trying to steal my man and cover the last five minutes of my shift for me?”
Don laughed. So did Blaine. Followed of course by Michelle.
“Sure thing, Mads. Have a great time.” I nodded and smiled before he added, “give him a good ride from me.”
Batting his arm, I chuckled and walked into the back to grab my jacket. After shrugging it on I pulled my phone out of my pocket and noticed a text from Lori.
Have a great time 2nite. I know u will! Xxx
My brow furrowed as I tried to remember telling her about tonight. I hadn’t I was sure.
How do u know about tonight? X
She replied almost immediately.
I’m Blaine’s PA. Did he not mention it? I swear that boy wud be lost without me! Xxx
What the hell was she talking about? Had Blaine been having secret rendezvous with Lori as well as Trudy?
????
Stop texting me and go and enjoy yourself! And so u know, I expect details in the morning ;-) xxx
Suddenly I was insatiably intrigued and after slipping my phone back into my pocket I practically ran out front to Blaine’s side.
“Ready?” Blaine asked.
“I’ll let you know.”
Chapter Eighteen
Blaine
“I feel underdressed,” Maddie said, pouting as she eyed up the outfit Lori had gotten for me.
“You won’t soon,” I replied as I took the turning to her street.
“I don’t know what good you think taking me home will do. I’ve got nothing fancy there either.”
“Quit whining and trust me.”
“I do not whine!” she protested.
“Sure you do. You’re a girl. Girl’s whine.”
“Oh my god, you sexist arsehole! I can’t believe you just-”
“See? You’re doing it right now.”
“Oh…just… piss off.”
“You piss off.”
I loved the banter Maddie and I shared. Especially now. To say life was fucked up was an understatement yet somehow when Maddie was near everything was right with the world. Everything was… normal.
I was so proud of her and Kara today. I knew all along Kara would accept Maddie and vice-versa. They’re more similar than either of them realise - sweet and selfless. Maybe that’s what drew me towards Maddie in the first place. Actually screw that – it makes it sound like I want to fuck my baby sister.
“There’s a case in the trunk. I’ll wait here for you,” I said as I put the car in park outside Maddie’s house. She shot me a look – glare might actually be more fitting. “Jesus, it’s not a case of severed limbs, lish. Just take it and hurry up.” I winked at her and a nervous smile played on her lips.
Yep, still got it. I loved how much I affected her.
Maddie scurried round to the back of my car and grabbed the pink case. I inwardly cursed Lori. With a pink case covered in butterflies and diamantes Maddie would know instantly I had help pulling off this evening. Biting her bottom lip with curiosity she walked into the house.
Clearly girls have a different definition for the term ‘hurry up’ because Maddie re-emerged almost an hour later.
Holy fuck.
She looked… incredible. Beautiful didn’t seem a good enough word when she walked towards my car in a knee length purple dress with a diamante encrusted belt wrapped around her tiny waist and a deep v cut out the back that slit all the way down to the top of her perfectly peachy ass. She looked gorgeous. Utterly, dick twitchingly stunning. And by the way she looked coyly towards the ground as she paused beside my car I could tell she had absolutely no idea.
“Madam,” I said with an exaggerated arm roll as I opened her door for her. Hell, I could be chivalrous if I wanted to be. She cocked a dubious eyebrow at me but didn’t say anything. I held her hand as she slipped into the passenger seat and then I brought it up to my lips and kissed it softly before placing it on her knee and closing the door.
“You look… amazing,” I said breathlessly as I climbed in the car next to her.
“Lori chose this didn’t she?” she said, motioning her hands up and down her delicious body.
“Hey, I read Vogue I’ll have you know.” She cocked that accusatory eyebrow again. “It’s true, I do. Sometimes. If Trudy’s left it in the bathroom and there’s nothing better to do while I’m taking a dump.”
She rolled her eyes and then giggled.
“Wow, Blaine, you sure know how to set a romantic ambiance,” she teased. “So where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” I replied, tapping my finger against my nose. She let out a frustrated huff sound. She’s so cute when she’s pissed.
She tried and failed to tease the answer out of me all the way there. I’d had this night planned for weeks and I was going to follow it to the letter. I wanted to make this night the most memorable of her life. It felt almost as if this was the last chance I would have to do something wonderful for her. I didn’t know why but it felt like time was running out. Maybe it was because I was painfully aware that when I finally returned home I was in for the severest punishment of my life.
It felt like the end was approaching and I was powerless to stop it.
I immediately shook any thoughts of my father away as I pulled up outside The Crystal.
He. Will. Not. Take. This. Night. Away. From. Me.
“What the hell are you doing?” Maddie whispered in my ear as I handed my car keys over to the valet.
“He’s gonna park the car, lish, not steal it,” I assured her.
“Why would he do that?” she asked innocently.
“Because I’m about to spend a shit load of money in there and I expect good service.” I knew I sounded like a pretentious bastard but what the hell. I was showing off. I enjoyed impressing her. Maddie’s mouth formed an ‘O’ and then it dropped open completely when she eyed up the building in front of us.
“We’re going for dinner… in there?” she asked disbelievingly. I nodded with a cocky smile. She immediately started smoothing out her dress with her palms and then began fiddling with the curls around her face. She was nervous. She was hot when she was nervous. Hell, she was hot all the time.
“Stop fidgeting. You look fantastic. You’ll be the most beautiful woman i
n there,” I assured her and then entwined my fingers in hers as I led her towards the restaurant.
When we reached the softly lit porch we were greeted by a tall, dark-haired man in a crisp black suit and tie.
“Reservation for Mr and Mrs Elwood,” I said confidently. It just kind of spilled unintentionally out of my mouth when I made the booking. I guess I just wanted to know how the words felt on my lips. Turns out they feel fucking amazing.
I heard a little gasp escape from the beautiful set of plump pink lips beside me and I chuckled inwardly. I should point out I mean Maddie’s lips – I didn’t look at the doorman’s lips long enough to know if they were plump or pink.
“Don’t look so nervous,” I whispered when I noticed Maddie biting her bottom lip. “I didn’t have a pastor come marry us while you were asleep or anything I swear.”
“Right this way, sir,” the doorman said after he’d finished running his finger down a list of names on the slim plinth in front of him.
Another sharply dressed man took over from the doorman with the maybe or maybe not pink lips and we followed him across the deep-red carpet and into the vast dining area. Maddie gaped up at the ceiling looking completely awestruck as she seemed to study each chandelier above us.
I’d reserved a small table at the back of the room to give us some semblance of privacy. When we reached the polished mahogany table which was subtly lit with flickering candles in crystal holders, the man escorting us leaned forward to pull out Maddie’s chair but I cut in and did it first whilst irrationally screaming ‘back the fuck off, jackass’ in my mind. She sat down with the same amused expression she had when I opened the car door for her and I winked.
Once I’d sat down our waitress – a busty blonde whose buttons were hanging on for dear life across her chest - brought us two leather-bound menus and asked what drinks we would like.
“We’ll take a bottle of Bollinger,” I said casually, knowing damn well she would never think to question my age. It costs you ten bucks a minute just to breathe the air in this place – not your average high school senior’s hang out.
“Coming right up,” Blondie said with a fake smile.
Maddie looked at me all wide eyed and… shocked?
“What? I’ve flicked through Trudy’s copy of Fifty Shades… I know how to treat a girl!” I am totally not ashamed to admit that I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Personally I just didn’t get it. I’d rather watch the action played out on screen in some shitty German porno than read about it. It seemed that Christian guy only ever drank Bollinger. Hell, I think he even had it on his cornflakes. “You read it?” I asked curiously. I swear my dick was having an epileptic fit under the table at the thought of Maddie lying in bed reading that shit at night.
Maddie giggled and rolled those big brown eyes at me.
“Are we seriously going to spend our first proper date talking about Fifty Shades Of Grey?” I was taken aback a little. This really was our first ‘proper’ date. My heart sank when I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that it could be our last.
“Don’t worry if you’ve not read it. I can show you all that happens in it later.” I winked suggestively at her, desperately trying to dismiss the dread looming in my stomach.
“Are you ready to order?” Blondie interrupted before Maddie could reply. I’d been too busy trying to make Maddie blush to even look at my menu.
“Not yet. We need a few extra minutes,” I uttered, never taking my eyes off Maddie. I guessed that could be seen as rude but I didn’t care. I couldn’t stop looking at her. I wanted to remember every expression portrayed on that beautiful face tonight forever – however long that may be.
I continued to stare at Maddie as she glanced down at her menu, biting her lip with a perplexed expression on her face.
“What’s a hors d'oeuvre?” she whispered – pronouncing it ‘horse duvet’ whilst scanning the room around us as if to make sure no one was around to hear.
“It’s like a starter before the actual starter,” I clarified with a soft chuckle.
“Oh,” she mumbled nervously, her cheeks blushing furiously. Those cute little cheeks of hers seemed oblivious to all the talk of kinky sex books but throw an unfamiliar French word at her and bam, they’re on fire!
“You decided?” I asked. She huffed and snapped her menu closed.
“I can’t even read the damn thing let alone know what they all mean,” she muttered sulkily, pouting her lips like a spoilt child.
“How about I choose for you?”
Petulantly, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Trust me?” I said.
“No.”
I laughed because I knew she did. She just liked to argue with me.
I took the liberty of ordering the same for both of us, using the knowledge of fancy food I had gained from years of growing up with a father who wouldn’t eat at a place that charged less than two-hundred dollars for his spoonful of Osetra Caviar. I also made the bold, and possibly wicked, decision to order everything I knew would make Maddie want to gag.
What can I say, I’m a twisted fuck. But it was totally worth it to see her face contort into an expression I’d never before witnessed on any human being when our platter of Escargot Bourgogne was placed between us on the table.
“Please tell me that’s not what I think it is,” she said with a horrified glint in her eyes as she weighed up the snail shells. Laughing, I picked up a snail with my tongues and scooped the meat out with my snail-fork before popping it in my mouth.
“Try one,” I said. She looked at me like I’d just asked her to fellate a dead donkey. “Seriously, they’re not that bad. You can really only taste the garlic.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said, tentatively picking up her tongues. Pausing the forkful of snail meat in front of her lips she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and tossed it in her mouth. Instantly she gagged but she managed to keep it in her mouth until she’d unraveled her napkin. Then she discreetly wiped her mouth and spat it out in the process.
I couldn’t resist laughing and then I practically jumped out of my seat when she kicked me under the table.
The next course of oysters went down in a similar manner and she refused point blank to try the egg caviar. Needless to say she was starving by the time dessert arrived and she practically devoured her lemon soufflé in one bite.
“Present time,” I said, pulling out the shiny gold-wrapped gift from my pocket as we waited for the check. Her brow furrowed in confusion. “I planned this night for your birthday remember?”
She nodded a little sorrowfully and I felt bad for bringing that night back to the forefront of her mind. Smiling bashfully she took the little gold parcel from me and deftly teased it open without tearing the paper.
“An iPod! Blaine I love it, thank you!” she beamed, rising from her chair just enough to lean across the table and kiss me.
“Have a scroll through it,” I said as she sat back down. With an excited glint in her eye she did as I said.
“Oh my god, how did you know all these?” she asked, biting down her lip as she scrolled through the list of her favourite bands.
“Believe it or not I do listen to you sometimes,” I said with a smug grin. I was feeling mighty proud of myself at that moment. I knew she’d love it. Although god knows why, I’d made the mistake of actually listening to some of that shit when I loaded it on there.
“Take That, Boyzone, The Script… oh my god you’ve even loaded the songs from Glee!” she squealed and she had never sounded so… girly. I liked it. “Blaine this is an amazing present. I love it,” she said again, squeezing my hand across the table.
The check arrived at that point and Maddie picked it up before I had chance to get to it. I watched, amused as the blood visibly drained from her face.
“Shit, Blaine, how in hell are we going to pay for-”
“Don’t sweat it, lish,” I said casually, waving my credit card in the air. Well techni
cally the account is my father’s and I’m not supposed to use it irresponsibly but what the fuck. He can’t possibly hurt me more than he already has so what’s the point in trying to please him anymore?
“I’ve had a really great time tonight,” Maddie said with a heartfelt smile as the valet brought my car back round to the front.
“It’s not over yet,” I said proudly. She clasped her hands in front of her like a kid on Christmas. She was so happy. I made her feel like that. It was the best feeling in the world and completely worth whatever shit I had waiting for me when I got home.
The next stop on my planned itinerary was the hour long drive to the beach but after Maddie’s uneventful meal I made a quick detour to McDonald’s. She put up a weak fight at first, but then the smell of fries wafted through my open window and she was practically drooling all over her dress.
A Big Mac Meal and Oreo McFlurry later we were ready for my next surprise destination. Her eyes lit up the dark evening sky when I pulled up at Baker Beach.
“Cliché much?” she teased but her beaming smile gave her away. She was impressed with my ability to be romantic. In all fairness, so was I. Just a few months ago the idea of walking a girl along the beach would have bored the shit out of me. But now… I was all kinds of proud and excited to have Maddie on my arm as we walked barefoot along the warm sand.
As I suspected her eyes were drawn to the magnificent sight that is the Golden Gate Bridge. I impressed her by spouting its entire history. If I’m honest I made half of it up but she either didn’t notice or didn’t care – she seemed to just enjoy listening to me talk.
“Did you know more people die from suicide at that bridge than anywhere else in the world?” I said, and I really didn’t make that one up.
“How do you even know that?” she asked incredulously, wrinkling her cute button nose.
“Wikipedia,” I admitted, shrugging nonchalantly. “Interesting though right?”
