I’m in the kitchen to greet her a few moments later. “Hi,” I say as I lean forward and give her a kiss.
“Hi, yourself,” she murmurs against my lips. “Hey, where is your sling?”
“I was sick of it. It’s been five days and I was tired of it restricting my movements. It had to go,” I say as I move my shoulder around like I’m a pitcher warming up.
“It doesn’t hurt?”
“Nope. It actually feels better having that thing off.”
Erin goes over and grabs a glass out of the cabinet and fills it with tap water. “So, what are we doing tonight?” she asks as she takes a drink of water.
“Well, I thought we’d go somewhere for dinner and then maybe bowling,” I say as I reach out for her hand.
“Bowling? No way! You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”
“Bowling isn’t strenuous. I only need one hand to throw a ball down the lane and my right arm is fine. Besides, my strength is coming back in my left arm and it doesn’t hurt as much to move it around. I’m on the mend, babe.”
“But you have a head injury.”
“And I’m not bouncing the bowling balls off my head, darlin’. I’ll be fine. I want to do something fun with you.” I stand right in front of her, link my fingers into hers and lean down to bring my lips to hers. “I promise I’ll take it easy.”
She sighs against my lips. “If I see one sign of you being in pain, we’re leaving, Jacob Andrew Stevens,” she says in her best stern librarian voice.
“I love it when you get all bossy. And you have a deal. If I misbehave, you can bring me home and punish me.”
She laughs against my lips and it sends zings of lust straight down south to my belt. I’d much rather throw her over my shoulder and carry her to my bed, but I know there’s no way she’ll go for that quite yet. Soon. Very soon. “Let’s go get ready for dinner then.”
Erin throws me an “okay” over her shoulder as she heads back towards my room. Oh how I wish she was heading back there to stay. I never, ever thought I’d be okay with that thought. But the image of Erin walking back to my room with a bag makes me happier than I’ve ever been. Now I just need to figure out how to make it a permanent image.
We opt to go to Slices Pizzeria for supper since our last outing to Laverne’s Steakhouse didn’t go so well with Lauren working there. If I’m being honest with myself, I could have troubles in just about every restaurant in this city and several around it. I’ve had my share of short term girlfriends and one night stands, but for the first time in my life, I’m actually considering changing that entire image. I might be actually considering my first major relationship with Erin. Okay, so I have been considering it for a few days now.
Technically, I’m probably already in one with her. I’m not seeing anyone else, and as far as I know, neither is she. Which, now, makes me think about Erin dating someone else. Does she think we’re in a relationship? That we’re monogamous?
“Hey, so I wanted to ask… I mean, I wanted to let you know that I’m not seeing anyone. You know that, right?”
Erin looks over with a curious look on her face. The wheels inside that beautiful head are definitely turning now. “Yeah, I guess I assumed you weren’t seeing anyone else. Why? Are you seeing someone else?” The panicked look on her face betrays her cool and calm exterior she generally tries to keep in place.
“Hell no! I just wanted to make sure you knew that I’m with you and you alone. That’s all.”
“Oh, okay. That’s good.”
“And you? Are you seeing anyone else?”
Erin laughs. “Uhhh, no. There’s no one else, Jake. I wasn’t even looking for a relationship when you came along.”
“Why? Why weren’t you looking for a relationship?”
“Well, they just never seemed to work out so well for me in the past. The guys I’ve always dated were more interested in establishing their careers or their schooling to make me much of a priority. I always said when it was time for my next relationship that I would make sure I was a priority in his life.”
“Do you feel like a priority in mine?”
She doesn’t answer me right away which makes me a little nervous and uneasy. “Erin, answer me.”
“I do. I just… I just don’t know how long it will last,” she says so quietly that I almost can’t hear her.
I pull into the pizzeria, throw my truck in park, and turn to look at her. “Erin. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t exactly had many relationships in my life. I’ve never done long term or serious. You are the first girl that has made me feel like I want to change that, and I want to be a better person for you. I want to try a real relationship with you and only you.”