27 Dates_The Race Date

by B. N. Hale

Kate stared at the giant ice cube, her features twisted into a cute expression of confusion. Then she noticed the note he’d placed on the top and reached out for it. She unfolded it and Reed recalled the words as she read them.

  To be your date,

  would melt my heart,

  To drive at your side,

  While my car’s apart.

  You must find the rose,

  So the race may start.

  “Your rhyme was stupid,” Jackson said.

  “It’s romantic,” Roman said.

  “What do you know?”

  “I’m Latin.” Roman smirked. “Romance is in my blood.”

  “How old are you?” Jackson asked.

  “Seventeen,” he replied defensively.

  “Can you two be quiet?” Reed asked.

  Kate’s roommates were all standing on the porch. They exulted over the note and the giant ice cube, with Marta giving a command performance of feigned shock. In the midst of speculation and awe, Kate stared at the rose, perfectly frozen in clear ice, a soft smile on her face.

  Reed watched her, a tingle climbing up his spine as he witnessed her response. He’d seen that expression on countless dates, but this time was different. Kate’s smile conveyed so much more than surprise and wonder, it conveyed a tenderness, a vulnerability, an intimacy.

  She didn’t know he was watching, but he felt like she was looking right at him, like he was on the porch inches from touching her hand. She flushed at something Brittney said and brushed her hand across the enormous ice cube.

  “Looks like it’s a hit,” Jackson murmured.

  The girls pulled out hair dryers to try and melt the ice. Ember said that was cheating and took pictures while Brittney wielded two hair dryers, gunslinger style. The others laughed but their combined efforts didn’t make a dent on the cube.

  “It’s going to take forever,” Ember complained.

  “That’s our cue,” Jackson said. “Let’s go.”

  Reluctant to depart, Reed watched Kate until Jackson tugged on his arm. Then he turned and crept through the shadows. When they were clear he stood and walked back to the truck, and the whole way Reed bore a smile on his face.

  “That’s a confident smile,” Jackson said.

  “Oh?” he asked.

  Jackson stabbed a finger at him. “You’ve made your decision, haven’t you.”

  “Maybe,” Reed said, but his smile widened.

  Seeing Kate had caused something to click. For the first time since the start of the dating challenge, he felt like he knew what he wanted. And he wanted Kate. More than anything he’d ever wanted in his life, he wanted to be with her.

  His promise to Aura remained unfulfilled, and he would always regret it, but if he abandoned Kate now he would never forgive himself. He yearned to be with her, every moment of every day, and now that he could see without the filter of regret, he realized she’d become essential to every aspect of his life.

  “About time,” Jackson said, unlocking the door.

  “For what?” Roman asked, looking between them as if he’d missed part of the conversation.

  They piled into the truck and Reed jerked his head. “I didn’t say anything,” he said, his tone gaining an edge. “And don’t say anything to her roommates.”

  Jackson raised his hands. “What’s there to say?”

  Reed smiled. “If there is something to say, I want to say it at the right time.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Jackson replied, turning up the street and leaving Kate’s house behind. “But are you going to say it tonight?”

  Reed shook his head. “She has her date planned, and I’ve intruded enough. Besides, after all our dates, I think she deserves a grand finale, don’t you think?”

  “Is this about your car?” Roman asked.

  Reed and Jackson laughed in unison. “It’s not about the car,” Reed said. “But I really need it later this week. Jackson can’t be my chauffeur every day.”

  “True,” Jackson said.

  “Well if you ever decide to sell your car, I’m buying,” he said.

  “You want his wreck?” Jackson asked.

  “For cheap,” Roman said.

  Just then Reed’s phone buzzed and he saw it was Kate. Warning his companions to silence, he answered the call and, at Jackson’s insistence, put it on speaker.

  “Hello?”

  “Don’t ‘hello’ me,” she said. “There’s a giant ice cube on my porch with a rose frozen inside.”

  Reed heard the smile in her voice, just audible over the sound of hair dryers. “I take it you accept my answer?”

  She laughed lightly. “Of course—assuming I can get to it. The rose was a nice touch, by the way.”

  “I couldn’t leave you just a giant box of ice,” Reed said. “That would just be weird.”

  She laughed again. “It’s going to take forever to melt the thing.”

  “No it’s not!” Ember called in the background. “I’ve summoned reinforcements.”

  “You could just pour hot water on it,” Reed said.

  The sound quieted as Kate changed rooms. Then her voice became softer, more mischievous. “I know, but I’m waiting for them to figure it out. They’re really enjoying melting it with hair dryers.”

  Jackson grinned and whispered, “She’s positively devious.”

  “Call me when you finish the melting,” Reed said.

  “I will,” she replied. “And your car will be back to normal by tomorrow. I’ll call the one who helped take it apart.”

  “Roman?” Reed asked, glancing at Marta’s cousin. “He’s a good kid.”

  “Hey!” Roman said.

  “He’s with you?” Kate asked in surprise.

  “I needed help with the delivery and someone had a guilty conscience.”

  “I did not,” Roman protested. “I just wanted to see her face.”

  “You were outside?” Kate asked.

  “Maybe,” Reed admitted.

  The sound of laughter and giggling rose a notch as more voices joined the party, and Kate called out to them. The flurry of giggles implied girls were arriving by the minute. Then she shifted position again and lowered her voice once more.

  “I’m being summoned for a picture. Call you tonight?”

  “Of course,” he said. “And how about lunch tomorrow? Not a date, just hanging out.”

  Her voice indicated she was surprised, and a little suspicious. “More meddling in my date?”

  “No,” he said. “I promise. I’d just like to go to lunch. But you’ll have to pick me up, as I don’t think my car will be un-robbed in time.”

  She laughed. “Deal. I’ll pick you up at one.”

  They said their goodbyes and hung up, whereupon Jackson nudged him. “Looks like I’m not the only one that’s fallen hard.”

  “Are you going to be able to keep this to yourself?” Reed asked.

  “I won’t say anything,” he said, but when Reed skewered him with a look he raised a hand. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Even Shelby?”

  He sighed. “Even Shelby.”

  Reed turned on Roman but he raised his hands in protest. “I was just here to deliver the ice,” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I promise not to say anything about what I don’t understand with anyone who might have an interest in said non-knowledge.”

  Reed and Jackson both looked at him and he shrugged. “I won’t say anything.”

  Jackson turned onto the street that would take them back to the restaurant. “Do you know what you’re going to do in two weeks?”

  “I do—but I’m not telling you,” Reed said. “Not this time. I’m keeping it to myself. I’m not going to risk Kate finding anything out.”

  “But you know what you’re going to do?”

  “It’s going to be on the Fourth of July,” Reed said. “That’s all I’ll say.”

  Jackson pressed him on it, but Reed refused to budge. After all the going bac
k and forth, Reed couldn’t risk anything he said getting back to Kate. Or her roommates. If he was going to cross that bridge with her, she would be the first to know.

  “Good luck with everything,” Roman said as he got out. Then he grinned. “I may have to steal your techniques to use on my girl.”

  “Feel free,” Reed said.

  He grinned and shut the door, and as they drove home Reed continued to resist Jackson’s efforts for a glimpse into his plans. It would be difficult enough to keep his decision to himself—especially from Kate. The burning in his heart yearned to be shared, but after all the creative dates it felt wrong to just call her up and tell her. He needed to plan something special.

  “Just make sure you don’t downplay it too much on your date this week,” Jackson warned as they parked back at their house. “A surprise is great, but if she thinks you’re being too cold, she might get the wrong idea.”

  “Good point,” Reed said. “But what about . . .?” he gestured to the glove compartment, where the engagement ring was sloppily hidden.

  “Oh,” Jackson said, reaching out and retrieving the ring box. He stuffed it into his pocket. “You keep my secret, I’ll keep yours. We can plan something after you seal the deal with Kate.”

  Reed frowned. “And by seal the deal you mean . . .”

  Jackson rolled his eyes. “I mean kiss her. I know you’re not going to have sex with the girl. Honestly, it’s like you were born in the wrong century.”

  Reed laughed. “Stop smiling so much, or Shelby’s going to know something’s up.”

  “I’ll try,” Jackson said as they walked inside.

  He failed.

  Chapter 4

  Shelby pounced the moment they walked inside. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  They exchanged a grin and spoke in unison. “Nothing.”

  “I just spoke to Brittney,” she said. “Something going on and I want to know what.”

  She folded her arms and pursed her lips, so Reed stepped forward. “You’ll know soon enough. For now, can you trust me?”

  Shelby grunted in irritation, but after a moment she relaxed and returned her attention to Jackson. “A girl doesn’t like to be kept in the dark.”

  Taking the opportunity to escape, Reed slipped into his room and picked up a pad and pen. Then he set to planning his date for the Fourth of July. The holiday provided unique opportunities, and he scrapped several before he settled on one he liked. He sat back in his seat and mulled it over, a smile forming on his face.

  The rest of the week he squeezed in as much time as possible with Kate. He knew it might be playing his hand—and Kate’s measuring looks indicated she was suspicious—but he couldn’t resist. Aside from a lingering twinge about Aura, he was ready to take things forward with Kate.

  The prospect both excited and terrified him. As much as he’d dated, he’d never dated anyone for real, so it would be uncharted waters. Still, he figured Kate would be the perfect instructor. The challenge would be to not give anything away, until he was ready.

  The night of Kate’s date came and he was ready. His car had been fully restored to its former lack of glory, and they passed it on the way to her car. Kate patted it affectionately as they passed, as if it were an aged dog.

  “Where did you store all the pieces?” Reed asked as he climbed into her car.

  “Roman stored them at his work, a small mechanic shop on the north slope.”

  “I still can’t believe you stripped my car,” Reed said, his tone one of admiration. “The neighbors were coming over every day questioning what had happened. I even had a cop stop by.”

  He marveled at how comfortable their conversation was. It would be so easy to just reach out and touch her hand, to feel the softness of her skin. He wondered how she would react if he just leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He swallowed as heat flooded his skin and looked out the window.

  “Is our whole date tonight intended to make fun of my car breaking down?” he asked. “Or just the invite?”

  “The whole date,” she admitted with a smile. “How are you at driving go-karts?”

  “Really?” he asked. “It’s not enough that you dismantle my car? Now you want to humiliate me on the racetrack?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  He laughed. “How do you know I’m not great?”

  “Because your car does zero to sixty in the time the earth revolves around the sun.”

  “Hey,” he protested. “It does better than that—marginally better, but better.”

  “We’ll see your driving skills soon enough,” she said smugly.

  “I take it you’ve done this before?” he asked.

  “A little,” she said.

  “How many times is a little?” he asked suspiciously.

  “A lot.”

  “I may surprise you,” he said.

  “I hope so,” she said.

  Their eyes met and she smiled. He smiled in turn and looked away. It would be so easy to tell her in that moment, but after planning his date, he knew the moment he wanted to tell her what he felt and finally pull her into a kiss . . .

  “Just wait and see,” he said softly.

  Her smile widened and she pulled onto the freeway, heading east towards the edge of town. Their conversation shifted to the melting of the ice cube, which took much longer than it should have, even with nine girls armed with hair dryers. Unfortunately, it was not quite frozen in the center. The ice became thin and suddenly broke, splashing freezing water on several of the girls, leading a round of laughter. When Kate was finally able to lift the rose from the ice, the girls had cheered.

  “I think they’re all in love with you,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many asked about your schedule.”

  “It’s rather full,” he replied.

  Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion, but he did not clarify. She hesitated, but whatever she was about to say she kept to herself. A moment later they pulled into the parking lot of the go-kart racetrack.

  When they got out Reed had to resist the urge to reach out to her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She smiled shyly, her hands twitching as if she too felt it, and she put her hands in her pockets. But like two magnets struggling to be one, they walked close to each other, allowing their shoulders to touch with every step.

  They walked in and Reed was surprised to find it empty. He’d expected a crowd, but the only one present was a young man at the counter. Dressed in greasy overalls and a grungy t-shirt, he was hunched over the desk. He looked up at their entry.

  “Roman?” Reed asked in surprise.

  “Hey, Reed,” he said with a smile. “Glad you could make it.”

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  Roman gestured to the place. “I work here. I said I was a mechanic—I didn’t say of cars.”

  “And you let him demolish my car?” Reed asked.

  “I didn’t always do small engines,” he said.

  Kate gestured to Roman. “Marta said her cousin knew about cars. When I talked to him about the track he suggested we kidnap your car.”

  “You didn’t have to tell him that,” Roman said in an aside.

  “I can’t be mad,” Reed said, “you already wiped the slate clean.”

  Roman grinned and walked around the counter. He opened the back door, leading them onto the track, which proved to be a complex figure that turned in and back on itself, even going over a bridge and curving back to go under. Lit by large halogen lights, the track glowed.

  “Our grand reopening is this weekend,” Roman said. “I’m supposed to be testing all the karts and I asked if I could have a few friends help. The owner was kind enough to say yes.”

  “So we have the track to ourselves?” Reed asked.

  “Just you two,” he replied, picking up two clipboards with release forms. “Sorry, but everyone has to sign. You ever done this before?”

  Reed nodded and took the paper, signing as Roman reviewed
the rules. Three laps on the track, no contact between the carts (but a little was okay), and watch the warning lights. He added to be careful on the turns and take them slow if they were uncertain. Then he picked up two helmets, using one to point at the two gleaming carts at the starting line.

  “These are the best I have. I prefer the blue one, but red is just as fast.”

  “He can have blue,” Kate said, taking a helmet. “He’ll need the advantage.”

  Reed laughed as he donned his own helmet and tightened the strap. Then he climbed into the blue kart and buckled up. He felt a familiar thrill as he settled into the seat and called out to Roman as he was walking away.

  “Alcohol and gas mixture? Or any nitrous?”

  Roman raised an eyebrow, as did Kate, who swiveled in her seat to stare at him.

  “Alcohol and gas,” Roman said. “Looks like you do know a thing or two.”

  Reed grinned and turned the key to start his kart. Then he nodded his readiness. Kate did the same and they pumped the gas, revving the engines. Her pealing laughter echoed over the sound of the engines and both looked to the lights positioned above the track.

  “Racers ready?” Roman’s voice came over a speaker.

  Reed nodded, and in his peripheral vision he watched Kate do the same. A signal pinged and the red light changed to orange, the lights moving down towards the green. Reed tightened his grip on the steering wheel and released the parking brake. The anticipation mounted as the lights continued to ping, three seconds, then two. He glanced at Kate and saw her looking at him, her eyes bright with amusement and excitement. Then he looked to the lights and they turned green, and both karts leapt across the starting line.

  Chapter 5

  They raced up the first stretch and into a turn, putting Kate on the inside as she steered into the curve. Reed hung with her, accelerating around the outside and into a short straightaway. Then the track banked left. As Kate slowed for the turn Reed punched it, pulling on the brake as he drifted around the corner, his tires squealing.

  He grinned as he swerved past her and into the lead, the tight turn pushing him several feet ahead of Kate’s kart. Over the squeal of tires and growling engines he heard Kate shout, but he was already gone. Accelerating into another drift, he swerved around the corner and sped away, leaving Kate in the dust.