After class, we had a study group scheduled at Daedre's house. She lived close to campus, so we walked to her house as a group. As we walked, all of the girls wanted more details about the bet that Kendra and I had made, especially because they were wondering about my trip to the student center when I was supposed to be in class.
I told them a little bit about the situation and how Kendra had challenged me to date him for two weeks. I was grateful when we arrived at Daedre's house because I didn't want to keep talking about Patrick all afternoon. I was ready to get to work and start studying the information that we needed to cover that day.
The plan was to prepare for our economics test which was scheduled the next day. Knowing that it would take most of the afternoon to get through the content, we ordered in pizza and hunkered down to study our notes and textbooks.
Throughout the study session, I tried to focus on information for the test, but my mind kept wandering to Patrick and wondering why he was being so evasive. Sometimes he seemed like he was really interested and other times it seemed like there was something going on that I couldn't quite understand.
One interesting thing about our hot-and-cold conversations was the fact that his playing hard to get was bringing out my competitive edge even more. My experience in the dating world had taught me that I could date just about any guy that I was interested in, and I had never really gone through the experience of being interested in a guy but not having him interested in me.
My mind wandered off and I thought about the cute dimple and wavy hair... he really was easy on the eyes. If I was being completely honest with myself, I knew that I was a little more than just interested in Patrick. What had started out as a simple conquest to win a bet had turned into a little more.
Was I actually interested in this guy, as in interested enough to consider getting to know him a little better?
Or was I only interested because I had to work harder to get him to ask me out?
Was it Patrick or the challenge that had my attention?
I reminded myself that I still had a semester and a half left to finish my degree. That the plan was to get him to ask me out, date him for two weeks, and then get back to focusing on school.
I needed to stick to the plan. School was too important to let myself waste time chasing after one guy. I couldn't let my heart get involved at this point. I recommitted that I was going to stick to the plan. School first; relationship after graduation. That’s the plan. I just might need to keep reminding myself of the plan.
*****
The next two days flew by as I focused on studying for my test and finishing up a big project for my business management class. I kept thinking about Patrick and how I needed to find him to spark up a conversation again. I didn't have much time to spend on it, so I figured that country dancing on Thursday night would be my best opportunity.
Thursday morning, Kendra and I were getting ready to go to school. We were both seated on the floor in front of our full length mirrors curling our hair. "You promised to go country dancing with me tonight, are you still planning on it?" I asked Kendra. "Since I don't know much about Patrick or where he lives, this might be my last chance to see him before the week is over."
"Of course I'll go with you; I know that every girl needs backup when it comes to this kind of thing. Don't worry; I've got your back. We'll get this figured out. And if you don't figure it out, I'm really looking forward to my free iPhone," Kendra laughed.
"Is Liam going to be joining us?"
"No, he has to work tonight. He’s trying out a new position and he only has a few more nights to decide if he likes it or not. It would be a good raise for him, but he has to work some really odd hours. They promised him if he takes the new position it won’t interfere with school, but he’s still not quite sure about that."
"It’s good they’re giving him a chance to see if it will work before he has to give up his old position. That’s pretty cool."
"Yeah, he asked my opinion and I told him he has to make that decision on his own. He’s the one who might have to be finishing homework at three am, not me." Kendra finished brushing her hair and then turned to me, "I only know that I couldn’t do it. I need my beauty sleep!"
"Well, I think you’re a great girlfriend to be so supportive. We better get going, it’s starting to get pretty late."
"Ready whenever you are. Let’s go see if we can find Mr. Patrick Jamison." Kendra turned on her heel, grabbed her purse and I turned off the lights as we headed out.
That night, we arrived at the dance club around 10:30 PM. By that point, the dancing had already started and there was a fairly good crowd of people on the dance floor.
As I walked into the dance club, I was feeling confident and nervous at the same time. Kendra helped me pick out the perfect outfit, so I was feeling great about my appearance. But my nervousness was stemming from the doubts that were nagging in the back of my mind.
I doubted whether or not Patrick would actually be at the dance club tonight, and I also doubted whether I could get him to ask me out. I knew that I wanted to dance with him, but sometimes it was hard to hold a conversation in a crowded and loud dance hall... which meant that it might make it more difficult to have him ask me on a date. I would figure it out one way or the other though, tonight might be my last opportunity if I was going to make it happen.
Kendra and I walked around the outside edge of the room, scoping out the crowd before we decided on a place to settle. I didn't see Patrick right away, but I knew that it was crowded enough that it might take a few minutes to be able to locate him. In the meantime, I decided to start dancing and enjoy myself.
The song ended and I saw my friend Derek walking toward me; he waved when our eyes met. Derek was a great dancer, probably one of my favorite guys to dance with on country swing nights. He extended his hand, asking me to dance, and swept me out onto the dance floor, twirling me around as we went.
I was having so much fun dancing with Derek that I momentarily forgot about Patrick. Derek and I danced two songs in a row, and then moved on to dance with other people. I had a few friends that were regulars at the country dance club, and it was normal for us to dance with each other for one or two songs before moving onto a new dance partner.
After Derek and I finished dancing, I stepped to the side of the room to catch my breath, just as a slow song came on. A guy that I hadn't met before came up and asked me to dance and I agreed.
We moved around the room in a slow two-step pattern, and we talked a little bit getting to know each other. I found out that his name was Spencer. He was a pre-med student and was aiming to go to an Ivy League university for medical school. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and just as the conversation was starting to get good, I looked over his shoulder and saw that familiar wavy hair and the perfect dimple.
It was Patrick!
My heart skipped a beat, and I was wondering if he had already seen me. I could see the profile of his face, and a cute brunette girl that he was dancing with. He turned just slightly so that he was facing me and I quickly looked away, because I didn't want him to think that I was staring at him.
I continued to talk with Spencer, but at that point my mind was completely distracted. I was thinking about how I could position myself after the song was over, so that Patrick could see me and hopefully ask me to dance.
The slow song ended and an upbeat swing started. Spencer wanted to dance with me again, and I didn't want to be rude, so I agreed. Plus, it might be a good thing for Patrick to see me dancing with another guy, because I didn't want to come across as the desperate girl who was following him around.
I continued to dance with Spencer and tried to stay engaged and look like I was having fun. I really was having fun, but I wanted to make sure that Patrick knew I was having the time of my life. It's one of those funny things that girls do when they see the guy that they like. Why does it always seem like women are out to prove a point for a guy?
My second
dance with Spencer ended and I thanked him for the dance. I walked over in the direction of Patrick, where he had just finished dancing with another girl. I walked close to him as if I was headed toward the drinking fountain. I intentionally kept myself from looking at him.
"Hey, Shara!" I heard that familiar voice calling my name, and I turned around just as Patrick placed the palm of his hand on my lower back, trying to get my attention. His touch sent shivers up my spine and reminded me how much chemistry there was between us.
"Hi Patrick, it's good to see you here! Are you having fun tonight?"
"Yeah it's been a lot of fun, and a nice way to relieve some stress after a busy day at work." Patrick smiled, and he kept his hand on my lower back as we both walked toward the drinking fountain together, using his hand to guide me through the crowded dance floor.
It was hard to hear each other over the loud music, so as Patrick spoke he leaned in a little closer to my ear. I could feel his breath on my cheek, and it was exhilarating to have him so close. It was the first time he had been this close to me and the smell of his cologne was fantastic. Somehow it seemed to fit him perfectly.
"I completely understand," I leaned close to his ear so that he could hear what I was saying. "I just finished up a big economics exam and a project in my business management class. Dancing tonight was my reward for getting my schoolwork done."
I paused for a moment, "Well, it's not completely done, because schoolwork seems to be never-ending. I still have one more paper I need to finish before tomorrow afternoon. But the weekend shouldn't be too busy for me, thank goodness."
"Do you come dancing often?" Patrick questioned.
"I like to come when I can," I replied. "I was always in dance class when I was younger, and I found that swing dancing is a great way to have fun and burn off a little stress at the same time. Plus it's always fun to meet new friends."
"Well, I would love to take you on a few turns around the dance floor if you don't mind. I already know that you’re beautiful and smart. If you’re the full package deal, like I think you are, I think it's safe to assume that you're probably a good dancer too."
My heart was beating quickly in my chest and my palms started to get sweaty. How could this guy make me so nervous and excited at the same time? He always seemed to know the right thing to say, to flatter me and make me feel like the only woman in the world.
We both took a drink of water at the fountain, and then he took me by the hand and led me out onto the dance floor.
We had a blast! It was obvious that Patrick had some formal dance training, plus he seemed to have an internal rhythm that ticked perfectly in beat with mine.
We were good together on the dance floor.
Really good.
I realized that I might have found a new favorite dance partner. I was able to easily follow his strong lead and our skill levels were matched perfectly. I was excited because hopefully our good dance chemistry might be enough to get him to ask for my number that night.
We danced two upbeat songs in a row together. As the second song was finished, we stepped apart and a slow song started playing. Patrick leaned in close to my ear again. He was a little out of breath from the upbeat song we had just danced to, and again the feel of his breath on my cheek sent chills down my spine.
"I know that I've already monopolized your time for two songs in a row, but I can't pass up the opportunity to dance this slow song with you. Will you let me keep you to myself for once more song?"
Usually, I only danced two dances in a row with a partner, but we were having so much fun I didn’t even hesitate to go a third round.
"I'd love to, it's a great song!"
Patrick smiled, and in one fluid motion he wrapped one arm around my lower back to pull me in close. He grabbed my right hand to bring it up close to his chest, and led me slowly as we swayed to the music.
We were dancing so close that we were nearly cheek to cheek. It felt nice to be so close to him, and I could smell his cologne again... it was intoxicating.
His mouth was close to my ear, and it was a little easier to talk since it was a softer song. I could hear him clearly as he spoke. "I'm convinced that I am the luckiest man on the dance floor right now. Those other guys are missing out since they aren't dancing with you!"
"Awe, those poor guys!" I responded, jokingly. "Well, the truth of the matter is that I am the luckiest girl on the dance floor! You are a lot of fun to dance with."
"Tell me three things that I don't know about you."
I loved the fact that conversations with Patrick were unique and creative, and thought for a moment to come up with a witty response.
"First, I went skydiving on my eighteenth birthday. I didn't tell my mom because she would have been terrified at the idea of her little girl jumping out of an airplane. Second, ice cream is my kryptonite, I have a hard time limiting my portion size because it's so tasty. Third, I want to visit Italy, I've never been."
"Ah, that tells me so much about you. Now I know how to plan a perfect date for you: skydiving in Italy, with ice cream of course!" We were dancing so close that I couldn't see his eyes, but I knew they were twinkling in delight and it sounded as though he were smiling as he spoke.
It was exciting for him to say the word "date," and it made me wonder if he would ask me out before the song was over.
"Now it's your turn, tell me three things that I don't know about you!"
"I had a dog when I was young, he was a golden retriever named Taffy. He was the best friend a boy could ever want. Second, I believe that dancing makes the world a better place, and people would be much happier if they danced more often. And last, but not least, I like shoes. Yes, I'm a guy who isn't scared to admit that I have a thing for nice shoes."
I laughed, and made a mental note to pay attention to his footwear when we stopped dancing.
"A guy who loves shoes? It sounds like a perfect match, because I love shoes too! Well, I guess every woman loves shoes though, right?"
"Yes, most women do."
I was wishing that the song would never end, because I knew that the end of the song meant that our dance would be over. I enjoyed the feeling of moving across the dance floor in his arms, and I knew without a doubt that I wanted him to ask me out so that I could get to know him a little better. Plus, I had to win the bet!
As the song came to an end, Patrick pulled away and looked me in the eye.
"You'd better save another dance for me later tonight; you’re a lot of fun to dance with!"
"Don't worry, I will." I tried to sound encouraging, but not too desperate. "The club is open till one, and I'm planning on staying the entire night."
"Sounds great. I'll look for you in a little while. Until then...." he placed his hand over his heart and gave a little bow. "I know it's gonna be tough to find another dance partner as good as you, but I shall endure."
I giggled a little and said, "Thanks so much for dancing with me, I really enjoyed it. You'd better hold true to your word, because I would love to dance with you again tonight."
"I'm a man of my word." He grabbed my hand and gave it just a little squeeze, and then turned around and walked across the room.
The rest of the night flew by quickly; I danced with many other guys. I didn't like standing against the wall to watch other people dance, so I was glad to be on the dance floor for most of the night.
It was fun to watch Patrick out on the dance floor as he danced with other women. I wanted to be the only one dancing with him that night, but we barely knew each other.
I made sure that I was enjoying myself as I was dancing with the other guys, and always tried to keep Patrick in the corner of my eye. I wanted to watch him, but I also didn’t want to get caught staring or be overtly rude to my current dance partner. But I was having a hard time keeping my eyes off him.
I was excited to dance with him again, and decided to wait for him to approach me to ask me to dance again. Playing "hard to get" was difficult for
an impatient person like me!
I told myself that I would ask him to dance if he hadn't asked me again by 12:30, which was 30 minutes before the dance club would close. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk to him before the night was over, especially because I didn't know when I would see him again and I only had a few days left to get him to ask me out.
I kept an eye on my watch and tried to be patient for Patrick to ask me to dance again. Just as 12:30 was rolling around, I finally built up the courage to go ask him to dance. I saw him across the dance floor and began walking in his direction.
As I started across the floor, a guy that I knew from church touched my shoulder and invited me to join him for the song that was just beginning. I hesitated because I wanted to dance with Patrick, but I didn't want to be rude to this guy, so I said yes.
As we started dancing, I knew that I’d need to move quickly after the song to reach Patrick on the other side of the room before he started dancing with someone else.
When the song ended, I quickly started walking to the area where I had last seen Patrick. I carefully navigated my way through the crowd to get over there, trying to avoid eye contact with any other guys who might be interested in dancing with me.
I scanned through the crowd for his wavy blond hair, but didn't see him anywhere. Maybe he'd moved to a different part of the dance floor? At this point, the dance floor was very crowded, and in the dimly lit room it was difficult to identify people.
I stayed to the edge of the room and worked my way around the entire dance floor. He seemed to have disappeared! Maybe he was in the bathroom?
I stopped for a moment trying to decide what to do. I looked to my right and saw Kendra talking with Beth in the corner of the room. I walked over to the two girls to say hi.
The Boyfriend Bet (LDS Fiction) Page 4
