We didn’t jump up to leave as soon as the show was over. Instead, we sat and watched the roadies tear down and drunken people file through the doors.
“Did you have a good time?” I asked. I hoped I wasn’t yelling even though my ears were still ringing.
“I did,” she said, looking at me with the giant smile I liked so much. “Can you believe he actually stopped the show to have everyone sing happy birthday to his singer?”
“I know,” I agreed. “I’ve been to a lot of concerts but I have never seen one where a birthday cake, complete with lit candles was brought on stage.”
She continued to smile as she looked around. “Oh, look!” she said, pointing to the front of the stage. “All the musicians are signing autographs now! How cool is that?”
I watched her as she continued enjoying everything going on around us. She was so easy to be with. So easy to talk to. Never had I thought I would be taking a girl on a date to something other than a charity function during the season. Never. I wasn’t sure what to make of it quite yet. But I was certainly enjoying myself.
After about ten more minutes, she finally said she was ready to go. We made our way back the way we came. We only ran into a few people. A couple of them seemed to recognize me, but no one bothered us. Once we got back into the car, I put my arm around her, not on the back of the seat but actually around her, and pulled her to me. When she snuggled in, I could feel my face break out into a grin.
“Can you take us to a Whataburger?” I asked the driver.
“Yes, sir,” he answered, glancing up in the rearview mirror.
Addison looked up at me. “Why are we going to Whataburger?”
“Adam couldn’t find any decent restaurants that are open this late on a Thursday night,” I explained. “And I am starving. The one bad thing about Dallas is that not a whole lot is open twenty-four hours except for fast food.”
She started giggling. “There are a couple things open. Just nothing around this part of Dallas.”
“Nothing that can give us any kind of privacy from the public, anyway,” I said and I kissed her on top of her head. We stayed that way until we went through the drive-thru and got our food. Then we broke apart so we could eat on our way. Miraculously, I remembered to order my food without onions. Just in case.
When we got to her place, I asked the driver to wait while I walked her to her door.
“I had so much fun tonight, Jason,” she said as we walked up the walkway. “I’m so glad I finally agreed to go out with you.”
“Me too. I like you, Addison,” I said. “I’d like to take you out again. And again. And again. Until you’re sick of me.”
She smiled shyly as she pulled her keys from her small bag. “I’d like that.”
I watched as she unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Um, do you wanna come in for just a minute? I get kind of nervous walking into an empty house.”
“Empty? Isn’t there a babysitter here with Jaxon?”
She smirked and bit her bottom lip like she was nervous. “Um . . . no. School is out tomorrow for a teacher workday or something, so he spent the night at Mick’s house.”
My eyebrows raised up. I wasn’t expecting this turn of events. “Uh . . . yeah. Ok. I’ll make sure you get in safely.”
“Thanks,” she said and I followed her through the door.
I flipped on a few lights and looked around. Mostly I was wasting time, trying to get those nerves under control. We both knew what the end of a date meant. And we both knew Jaxon being gone changed things a lot.
After ensuring there were no monsters in the closets or burglars in the living room, I made my way back to the front room where she was standing. She was looking at me nervously, twisting her fingers in her hands.
“How is that cut on your thumb, anyway?” I asked.
She looked down at it. “Oh, um, it’s actually a lot better. Just a little line now, see?”
She lifted her hand up to show me, and that’s when my nerves made way for resolve. I grabbed her hand and walked toward her quickly, dropping my mouth to hers and kissing her with no hesitation.
When her hands came up to my shoulders, I knew she wanted it as much as I did. And it didn’t disappoint. Her lips parted and I slipped my tongue inside her mouth. Her tongue was as soft and perfect as I remembered. Her breath still turned me on. She was just . . . perfect.
I moved my hands so one was on the back of her neck, the other on the small of her back, pulling her closer. When her arms wrapped around my neck, I swear I felt my knees start to weaken. She was sweet and salty and soft and hard all at once. I really, really wanted to move my hand down to her ass, but I knew I would have a much harder time slowing down if I did.