Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 17147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
“No, you’re perfect.”
“You keep staring.”
“I enjoy spending time with you.”
“You know, this date is not going the way I thought it would.”
“It’s only just started, but I’m intrigued. How did you think it would go?”
“I don’t know. You’d talk about nothing but football. Stuff like that. I judged you even before I got here. I’m sorry about that.”
He rolled his eyes, playfully. “Don’t worry about it. The only thing I want to talk about is you.”
“I’m not good with talking about myself. Besides, you’ve got me curious about you, Theo West, star player, who wants to date me. So, what are your plans for the future?” she asked.
“Ugh, don’t you get sick and tired of people asking that?” He was growing tired of his parents, the counselors, teachers, all of them wanting to have a suitable answer.
“Agreed. My mom is the best though. She told me to let her know my plans and she’d work around them.”
“You love your mom?”
“Totally. She’s the best. She’s a rock, even after everything with my dad. I know she still misses him at times, but she’s never once let me down.”
“She sounds amazing. Maybe one day I could meet her,” Theo offered.
“That’s a giant leap from one date, right? Meeting a parent?”
“You can meet both of mine. I don’t mind.”
“Theo, what’s really going on here? Aren’t guys supposed to be terrified at the idea of meeting parents?”
“You’ve clearly watched too many movies. I want to go on a date with you. Actually, scrap that, many dates. Lots of dates.”
“No, that’s impossible.” She took a bite of pizza, but couldn’t help but smile.
“Why is that impossible?” He reached out, pushing a curl of hair off her face.
She didn’t push him away, but he didn’t press for more. Taking another slice of pizza, he waited.
“You’re supposed to enjoy being the party animal. Sleeping with random girls. Doing crazy stuff that no other eighteen-year-old should want to do, but wish they could. You could get away with everything.”
He chuckled. “You think I’m a crazy jock?”
“Aren’t you?” she asked.
He sucked on the straw of his drink, waiting. “First, you really need to watch a whole lot of different movies. I think I should start over. I’m Theo West. I’m a football player. A really good one. I also get straight As in all of my classes, and I’m not looking to get a football scholarship, but I wouldn’t mind because I love the game. I’m not obsessed with it. I do enjoy horror movies and hard rock music, which drives my family crazy. I enjoy spy novels, and while we’re at it, I make a mean lasagna. It’s the only thing I can cook, and whenever my family gets sick, I tend to cook it for them even though they can’t eat it. Also, I like you, Ruby James. A lot. A whole lot. So much so that I decided to break the mold of my football lifestyle and take you on a date. I’d love for this to work, even though you are being somewhat judgmental. I will grant you, I love looking at your ass and have been admiring it for years.” He finished with a bite of his pizza.
Ruby was red-faced. “Oh.”
“I’m not just some dumb jock now, huh?”
“No, you’re not.”
“Want to kiss my cheek in apology?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ll give you the same.” He watched her take a deep breath, and he didn’t even check her tits out. A giant leap forward for him. “I’m Ruby James. I guess you can say I’m a bit of a nerd. I like eating lunch in the library and studying. I have good grades. A couple of As and Bs but nothing too bad. My dad left when I was young, and he does keep in touch, but I find it hard to communicate with him for what he did. I’ve never been on a single date before. I love romance. You can mock if you wish, but you’ll never get another date out of me. Also, I like pop music and country. I’ve never listened to a single heavy metal song, and I cook with my mom. We have several days in one month where we make things in advance, so we don’t have to order takeout. This is the first pizza I’ve ever eaten that wasn’t my mom’s. Also, I don’t think you’re a dumb jock, not anymore.”
“See, turned your thoughts around in one date. How is it?” he asked.
“How’s what?”
“The pizza?”
“It’s good but not as good as hers.” He watched her swallow some more. “Maybe one day, if we’re still dating, you can come and try some.”
“Now that, I’d like.”
Progress.
****
Three hours later
It was late, but tomorrow was the weekend. The main light was still on so Ruby knew her mother was waiting. Their date was … amazing. They ate pizza, and after they shared pieces of themselves, it seemed to go a lot easier.