Danny! But it was impossible. The scent of his cologne remained strong in my nostrils. I couldn’t shake his presence. It was exactly what Danny had intended.
Danny would not ruin my good time with Greg, I vowed.
The movie, a big-budget action-adventure, was perfect for a first date. Neither romantic nor scary, there were enough plot twists to hold my attention.
Greg and I shared a large bag of plain popcorn and individual water bottles.
“Don’t you want butter on it?” I asked while standing at the concessions stand.
Movie popcorn wasn’t movie popcorn unless slathered with butter.
“Please, no,” Greg answered. “Elizabeth, do you understand all the chemicals in that stuff? You shouldn’t pollute your body with that crap. It’ll give you cancer. Melted organic butter would be different.”
Once we consumed the popcorn, Greg tentatively reached for my hand. I had grown accustomed to Danny’s confidence. He would never be tentative about taking my hand. He wouldn’t be tentative about taking any girl’s hand. Danny would just take it. It would never cross his mind that a girl might not want him to.
Greg’s hand felt warm, but not quite right. His fingers were shorter and stubbier than the ones I was accustomed to holding. They were rough from calluses.
Unlike Danny, Greg worked with his hands. He repaired his truck. He worked at Donnelly’s organic garden. Physical labor, not sports, was part of Greg’s life.
Argh!! I had to stop comparison Greg with Danny!
Different did not mean bad. I had to get it through my head that men’s hands feel different from one another. It was no different than having twinkling sapphire eyes or soft brown ones. Both should be considered equally good.
Then why did I sit in the theater longing for twinkling sapphires?
Danny had certainly messed with my head. Why did everything lead to thoughts of him? I knew the answer, and it made me cross.
Eventually I became accustomed to Greg’s hand. It was nice, I decided. I smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek, a soft, quick kiss. He smiled and squeezed my hand.
Instantly I regretted it. What did Greg think by this act? Did he assume I had feelings or expectations that as far as I knew I didn’t have?
This was not a dilemma when I kissed Danny’s cheek. If Danny thought it might mean I wanted more, so be it. He would have been right.
Danny! Danny! Danny! Get out of my head! I wanted to scream.
Later, Greg and I returned to Donnelly after dessert at the organic bakery near the theater. Greg insisted on walking me to my door. I did not invite him inside my room. That would send a message I was not ready to send. Instead, I agreed to see Greg again, and he pecked my cheek good-night.
Greg’s kiss did nothing to me. It was pleasant but tentative. There was no steam and my heart rate remained constant.
I was spoiled. I only knew Danny’s kisses, ones that sent me soaring to the moon and back, kisses that left my heart wanting to leap out of my chest. I needed to get over it. Otherwise, I would set myself up to be disappointed for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER 22 - ELIZABETH
Tuesday a small group of us gathered at The Cellar to enjoy a low-keyed evening.
“Dance with me Eli,” Danny said, his request more a command than a question.
I rose and followed him to the dance floor. “This is a slow dance,” I pointed out giving him ample opportunity to back out.
“That’s why it’s perfect.” Danny glanced down at my boot cast.
“Good point.” I wasn’t capable of dancing to a faster beat.
Danny hooked his arm around my waist and took my hand. My pulse quickened. As Danny pulled me closer, my heartbeat increased even more. The light scent of his cologne was intoxicating. I shivered.
Danny’s smile met mine. His entire being lit up, and he pressed me even closer as the next song began. Danny leaned into me, and inhaled a sharp intake of breath.
“You smell nice, Elizabeth,” he whispered.
Danny would not ruin my good time with Greg, I vowed.
The movie, a big-budget action-adventure, was perfect for a first date. Neither romantic nor scary, there were enough plot twists to hold my attention.
Greg and I shared a large bag of plain popcorn and individual water bottles.
“Don’t you want butter on it?” I asked while standing at the concessions stand.
Movie popcorn wasn’t movie popcorn unless slathered with butter.
“Please, no,” Greg answered. “Elizabeth, do you understand all the chemicals in that stuff? You shouldn’t pollute your body with that crap. It’ll give you cancer. Melted organic butter would be different.”
Once we consumed the popcorn, Greg tentatively reached for my hand. I had grown accustomed to Danny’s confidence. He would never be tentative about taking my hand. He wouldn’t be tentative about taking any girl’s hand. Danny would just take it. It would never cross his mind that a girl might not want him to.
Greg’s hand felt warm, but not quite right. His fingers were shorter and stubbier than the ones I was accustomed to holding. They were rough from calluses.
Unlike Danny, Greg worked with his hands. He repaired his truck. He worked at Donnelly’s organic garden. Physical labor, not sports, was part of Greg’s life.
Argh!! I had to stop comparison Greg with Danny!
Different did not mean bad. I had to get it through my head that men’s hands feel different from one another. It was no different than having twinkling sapphire eyes or soft brown ones. Both should be considered equally good.
Then why did I sit in the theater longing for twinkling sapphires?
Danny had certainly messed with my head. Why did everything lead to thoughts of him? I knew the answer, and it made me cross.
Eventually I became accustomed to Greg’s hand. It was nice, I decided. I smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek, a soft, quick kiss. He smiled and squeezed my hand.
Instantly I regretted it. What did Greg think by this act? Did he assume I had feelings or expectations that as far as I knew I didn’t have?
This was not a dilemma when I kissed Danny’s cheek. If Danny thought it might mean I wanted more, so be it. He would have been right.
Danny! Danny! Danny! Get out of my head! I wanted to scream.
Later, Greg and I returned to Donnelly after dessert at the organic bakery near the theater. Greg insisted on walking me to my door. I did not invite him inside my room. That would send a message I was not ready to send. Instead, I agreed to see Greg again, and he pecked my cheek good-night.
Greg’s kiss did nothing to me. It was pleasant but tentative. There was no steam and my heart rate remained constant.
I was spoiled. I only knew Danny’s kisses, ones that sent me soaring to the moon and back, kisses that left my heart wanting to leap out of my chest. I needed to get over it. Otherwise, I would set myself up to be disappointed for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER 22 - ELIZABETH
Tuesday a small group of us gathered at The Cellar to enjoy a low-keyed evening.
“Dance with me Eli,” Danny said, his request more a command than a question.
I rose and followed him to the dance floor. “This is a slow dance,” I pointed out giving him ample opportunity to back out.
“That’s why it’s perfect.” Danny glanced down at my boot cast.
“Good point.” I wasn’t capable of dancing to a faster beat.
Danny hooked his arm around my waist and took my hand. My pulse quickened. As Danny pulled me closer, my heartbeat increased even more. The light scent of his cologne was intoxicating. I shivered.
Danny’s smile met mine. His entire being lit up, and he pressed me even closer as the next song began. Danny leaned into me, and inhaled a sharp intake of breath.
“You smell nice, Elizabeth,” he whispered.
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