by Dana Tyler
I panic. What if he was drunk? He didn’t seem drunk but maybe last night was just a fluke.
Trish is at her sewing machine on the kitchen table cursing about crinoline. “It’s like not even fabric. How the hell am I supposed to sew it?”
“Magic?” I suggest. She gives a look to indicate it’s not the time for jokes. Her usually perfect hair is in a messy bun and she has dark circles under her eyes. “You’ll get it to work.”
“I’d better.” She takes a seam ripper and starts tearing thread from a piece she messed up. “By the way, that hot guy who stayed over left you a note.”
“What? Where?”
“Counter.”
On the counter under a used coffee mug is a sheet of paper from our magnetic fridge notepad. “Hannah - Had to run. See you tonight. Be ready at 6. - David.”
I put on jeans and a t-shirt but Trish, who apparently decided my fashion crisis was more important than hers, shoves a blue peasant top at me. I use her magic hair stuff to smooth my frizz and put on make up.
David arrives at six on the dot and I rush downstairs. He grins at me.
“You are gorgeous.”
“So do you.” He’s wearing jeans and a button up shirt. His face is freshly shaved. He kisses me and the smoothness of his skin against mine is nice.
“Where to?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. I tried to make reservations at this place Katy recommended but they’re closed for renovations.” He gives me an apologetic look. “The other two places I tried were booked.”
“That’s okay. Any place is fine.”
“It’s not though. This is our first real date and I screwed it up. I should have planned ahead, but I wasn’t sure—And then I didn’t know if you wanted—“ He stops and shrugs. “I’m not really good at this part.”
“David, there’s nothing to be good or bad at.” I take his hand. “Let’s make a deal, okay? No making a big deal out of this. We’re exactly like we were before, except monogamous.”
“Monogamous?” he asks, pretending to be shocked. I smack him in the shoulder. He laughs.
“Seriously. No putting pressure on this. This is the fun part, okay? How about we go to that place with the wood fired pizza and pool tables? Pete’s?”
“Are you sure? That’s not very romantic.”
“I’m sure.” I kiss him and pull him close. He smells like soap and aftershave. “I just want to be with you, like before. Except, you know.”
“Actually together.”
“Right.”
“Okay.” He puts his arm around my waist and I put mine around his.
“Okay,” I say.
And everything is.
About the Author
Dana Tyler is a romantic who’s worked a dozen jobs, including a stint as a barista. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her best friend. In her spare time, she likes to bake cookies, watch the skies for UFOs, and try to hunt down the mysterious Bigfoot (often with the aforementioned cookies).
You can contact Dana on Twitter @DanaTylerBooks or email her at [email protected]. For more information about Dana and her upcoming releases, visit danatyler.wordpress.com
This novella, like all of my writing, didn’t happen in a vacuum. I owe so much thanks to so many people. Thanks to my beta readers on Team Octopus. Your input was invaluable. Thanks to my roommate for letting me skip the dishes so I could write. And thanks to everyone who’s supported me in my writing ambitions. It means the world.
Thanks especially to my dad, who never stopped believing in my ability to do what I love.
And thanks to everyone who bought, borrowed, or otherwise read this novella. I hope you enjoyed it.
