This is good. I need to move on, and Daniel’s a great guy. So why does my heart hurt so much?
I drive back to campus to finish my math lab hours. Between students, I text Caroline and tell her I have a date tonight. I’m glad it’s a text when she sends an excited Squeeeeeee!!!!!!
Time drags, and I’m getting more and more nervous. Daniel texts and gives me the choice of a rom-com or an action movie. He seems surprised when I picked the action film and tells me it starts at seven forty-five, and he’ll pick me up around seven-twenty since I work until seven. I’m thankful there are few students waiting for help, and I get to leave ten minutes early.
When I leave the campus, my stomach is a mess of nerves and fear. I reassure myself that people go on dates all the time. Daniel is not an ax murderer. We’ll be in a public place. But when I walk in the door, Caroline tosses her afghan to the side and hops off the sofa.
“Where have you been?”
I squint my confusion. “Working. Like I always do on Tuesday afternoons.”
“We have to get you ready.” She drags me to my bedroom. Caroline seems more nervous than I am. I didn’t think that was humanly possible.
“I’ve been on dates before, Caroline. Calm down.” I really need her to calm down. She’s freaking me out.
Her eyes widen. “Dates? You mean those encounters with that beady-eyed science guy last year?”
“He wasn’t beady-eyed.”
Her head shakes in short bursts. “Oh, he was beady-eyed all right. He doesn’t count.”
“He most certainly does count!”
“Not like this. Daniel is normal.”
I could argue that I’d had three normal dates other than the physics major I’d gone out with last spring, but I don’t see the point.
Caroline deems all my clothes “hopeless,” and loans me a pink sweater that she says looks good with my complexion and dark hair. I draw the line at her putting on my makeup and fixing my hair.
“For God’s sake, at least take out your ponytail.”
Releasing an exaggerated sigh, I pull out the hair band and fluff my hair. “Better?”
“I wish you’d wear your hair like that all the time.”
“One step at a time, Caroline.”
Caroline hands me a plate of pizza rolls she heated up, since I haven’t eaten since my partially eaten bagel at Panera. I’m brushing my teeth when the doorbell rings.
Caroline’s eyes fly open. “He’s here.”
“I swear to God, Caroline, if you don’t calm down, I’m going to slap you. One of us has to be calm, and it has to be you.”
She takes a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m calm.” Barely. She opens the door and invites Daniel in. “So what do you crazy kids plan to do tonight?”
Daniel smirks. “We thought we’d go see a movie.”
I grab my coat off the chair and try to settle my nerves. Why am I so nervous? “Don’t mind her, Daniel. She’s scheduled for her lobotomy next week.”
“Very funny,” she grumbles.
Daniel and I walk to the parking lot, and I stuff my shaking hands into my coat pockets. He stops next to a pickup truck and looks at me apologetically. Most of the guys back home drive trucks, but the guys here at Southern tend to drive cars.
“Sorry it’s so tall. It comes in handy with construction.” He shrugs and opens the passenger door.
I have to step on the running board to climb in. Caroline wanted me to wear a skirt, but I refused because of the cold. Now I feel justified with my decision.
On our way to the movie theater, Daniel tells me about his day and about working for his dad in Lebanon, Tennessee. He’s doing all the talking, and I’m grateful. The pizza rolls aren’t settling well in my stomach.
After we purchase the tickets, Daniel gets some popcorn and a drink, and we find a seat. Since it’s Tuesday, the theater is only half full. We’re early enough that we have a few minutes before the movie starts.
Daniel takes a handful of popcorn. “So are you still tutoring Tucker Price?”
My breath catches. I really don’t want to get into this with Daniel. “Yeah.”
“That must be a bitch.”
My mouth parts and I gasp at his rudeness. “It’s against the rules and unethical to discuss the people I tutor.”
He scoffs. “Come on. Price lives his entire life seeking attention. You can’t tell me that he doesn’t expect you to talk about it. Hell, I’m surprised he hasn’t begged you to.”
Tucker may live an attention-seeking life, but that’s not the Tucker I see. I refuse to share details of our time together. The Tucker I know seems vulnerable. I almost laugh at the thought, but I still feel protective of him. “It doesn’t matter whether he wants me to talk about it or not. I’m not going to.”