Third Date (21 page)

The reality is that I’m Morgan, the shy, smart girl who is meant to be with a guy like Grant. I’m sure Grant was a very serious student in high school, just like me. He told me he never played sports but was on the debate team and student senate. That’s the type of guy I’m meant to be with, not someone like Brad.

“I’ll stop by tomorrow night then,” Brad says, rousing me from my thoughts. “I’ll bring dinner since you’re doing me a favor letting me check out the apartment.”

“Sure. Bring whatever. Just not sushi.”

He makes a face. “Sushi? Ugh. No. I hate sushi. I was thinking Angelo’s Pizza. It’s in—”

“Bloomington.” I nod. “I know Angelo’s. It’s my favorite pizza place.”

He smiles. “Good. Then it’s a date.”

I give him a look, scolding him for calling it a date, but he’s drinking his beer and doesn’t notice. And Grant didn’t hear him because he’s too busy talking. But maybe Brad’s comment wasn’t implying anything. People say ‘it’s a date’ all the time. It doesn’t have to refer to a romantic date.

The evening continues and Brad gets to know some of our coworkers. He’s friendly and outgoing and can talk about anything, and by the end of the night he’s got the attention of the entire table.

Around 9, Grant and I get up to leave. As he’s getting his coat on, he asks, “Did you decide on a time for Brad to come see your place?”

“Yeah. He’s stopping by after work tomorrow.”

“Good.” As Grant helps me with my coat, he looks over at Brad. “Hopefully it’ll work out and you won’t have to keep searching for a place.”

“Yeah, that’d be great. See you at work tomorrow.”
 

We leave and I look back to see Brad watching me. He smiles and I smile back, but then feel guilty as Grant takes my hand and leads me out the door.

My whole life I’ve been waiting for a guy who I actually like to show interest in me, and when one finally does, I end up with two. When it rains, it pours.

The next day I’m more excited than I should be about meeting up with Brad later. I swear, I’m doing everything possible to get him out of my head and to stop these feelings I can’t explain, but nothing is working.

Paige is having lunch with Brad today as part of her mentor duties. When she gets back, I try to get details from her without sounding overly interested.

“Did you have a nice lunch?”

“Yeah.” She takes her coat off. “We just went to a sandwich place.”

“How was Brad?”

“He was great. I got to know him better and I really like him.”

“What did he say to you?” I was sure he would’ve told her something that would cause her to figure out that ‘Boston Guy’ is Brad. But if she knew, she would’ve told me as soon as she got back.

She opens her purse to get a mint out. “Um, I don’t know. He talked about his family and his old job. That type of stuff. Why?”

“I just wondered. Grant and I went out last night with some people from work and Brad was there, but I didn’t get to talk to him much.”

She gets her lipstick out. “I was thinking of setting him up with a friend of mine but I wasn’t sure if he has a girlfriend. I told him about my friend, but he didn’t seem very interested. And then some girl called him while we were having lunch. I saw her picture pop up on his phone when it rang. It was a blond girl around our age, so I’m thinking that was his girlfriend.”

It
has
to be his girlfriend. But last night he said he was single. Why would he say that? To get me to date him? Or to get some other girl who was there last night to date him? Does he date multiple girls at once? What if he really is the same old Brad I knew from high school? The guy who slept with the entire cheerleading squad. What if Boston was all some act?
 

My enthusiasm for tonight begins to fade as I consider the fact that Brad might be some jerk who plays Mr. Nice Guy just to get girls in bed. And I invited him to my apartment! Even worse, my boyfriend did!

I think about canceling but even with my suspicions about him, I still want to see him. And I want to know the truth. I need to know if the blond girl is still his girlfriend and if they were dating when I saw him in Boston.
 

Later that afternoon, I realize I’m getting upset over nothing. I’m not dating Brad. I can’t act jealous over something that’s not mine. Brad has every right to have a girlfriend. Back in Boston, I basically told him I never wanted to see or hear from him again. I can’t be mad at him for finding someone else.

When I get home from work, I quickly clean up the apartment. Brad arrives at 6:30 with a large pizza from Angelo’s and some bottles of soda.
 

I show him to the kitchen. “You can put it over there on the counter.”
 

“I got some drinks. I don’t know what you like now, but in high school you always drank root beer so that’s what I got you.” He hands me the bottle of soda.
 

“Thanks. And yes, I’m still drinking root beer.”

His signature cologne wafts my way as he walks past me to get his own soda from the counter. He has just a basic t-shirt on but it’s a thin fabric and hugs his body, stretching over his broad shoulders. It makes me wonder what he’s got going on under that t-shirt.

Maybe that’s all this is. Pure physical attraction and nothing else. That would explain why I can’t stop thinking about him. The guy’s totally hot. Even hotter than Grant. Any girl would have a hard time getting him out of her head.

“Paige said you had a good talk at lunch,” I say.

“Yeah. She’s nice. She said you guys are good friends.”

“We do stuff outside of work sometimes. Go out for dinner or drinks during the week. She’s married so she’s usually busy on the weekends.” I reach into the cupboard to get some plates.

“She was trying to set me up with one of her friends.”
 

I turn around with the plates in my hand and find Brad right in front of me, mere inches away.

He’s so much taller than me that my eyes are on his massive chest. I look up at him. “And what did you tell her?”

He locks his eyes on mine. “I told her I wasn’t interested.”

I think he’s trying to tell me something with his tone and the way he’s looking at me and his close proximity. I think he’s telling me he wants this. Us.

This is my chance to tell him I want the same thing. But do I? I don’t know. I still don’t know if I can trust him. I don’t know if he’s really changed or if Boston was just an act. As I’m thinking that, an image of the hot blond pops in my head.

“You’re not interested in Paige’s friend because you have a girlfriend.” I go around him and walk to the table.

He meets me over there. “A girlfriend? I told you last night I didn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Then who was that girl at your mom’s house?” I instantly regret saying it. Now he knows I was stalking him.

“What girl?”

“I don’t know. Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

He puts his hand under my chin and inches it up, forcing me to look at him. “I don’t have a girlfriend, Morgan. I swear to you, I don’t. Okay?”

“Paige said she saw a girl’s photo on your phone.” Again, I regret saying it after I blurt it out.

He lets go of my face. “For someone who has a boyfriend, you’re certainly interested in the women in my life.” He smiles and waits for me to respond but I keep quiet. He explains. “The woman on my phone—the one you saw at my mom’s house—is my cousin, Jill. Her husband is in the army and stationed overseas. I’m helping her with some things that need fixing around her house. She has two little kids and she doesn’t have a lot of money so I’m helping her out to save on repair bills.” He gets out his phone. “I can call her right now if you don’t believe me.”

“No. Don’t do that. I’m sorry for even mentioning it. It’s none of my business.”
 

Well, that ended any hope for a future romance. I acted like a jealous, possessive girlfriend and we’re not even dating.

“Let’s eat.” I take a seat at the table. “The pizza’s getting cold.”
 

During dinner, Brad tells me about his new job and asks me some stuff about the company. Then when we’re finished eating, the topic of Grant comes up, which I was hoping to avoid.
 

“Grant seems like a nice guy.” Brad gets up and takes his plate and mine to the sink, then sits down again.

“Yeah, he is.”

Brad laughs. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say about him? He said you’ve dated for a month. So tell me about him.”

“He likes running, art museums, foreign films, sushi. What else do you want to know?”

Brad stares at me, his arms crossed over his chest. “You don’t like any of those things.”

“That’s not true,” I say, defensively.

Brad continues to stare at me.

I sigh. “Okay, it’s a little true, but we don’t have to like exactly the same things.”

“Yeah, but the two of you must share a few common interests or you wouldn’t be dating.”

“Well, obviously.” I look away and try to think of a way to get us off this topic.

“So what are they?”

“What?”

“What do you two have in common?”

Nothing pops in my head. I try to come up with at least one thing. “We both like pizza.”

Brad laughs. “Everyone likes pizza, Morgan. What else?”

“We’re both from the Midwest. He’s from Omaha.”

“Um, okay. Anything else?”

“I think he likes milkshakes. I let him taste mine and he seemed to like it.”

“So you don’t have much in common with this guy. But you like him, right? He makes you happy?”

“Why are you asking me that? It’s kind of personal.”
 

“I just want to make sure you’re happy.” His tone turns serious and a little concerned. “It’s important to me.”
 

“Brad, you barely know me. I don’t know why—”

“Morgan.” He picks up my hand and holds it as he looks me in the eye. “Are you happy with him?”

I don’t answer because I’ve never really considered if I was happy with Grant. Truthfully, I would probably describe it more as being content, not happy.
   

I pull my hand back from Brad’s and get up from the table. “We shouldn’t talk about Grant.”
 

Brad watches me as I go to the sink, but he doesn’t ask me any more about Grant.
 

“Do you want to see the apartment now?” I ask him. “There’s not much to see but you can go check out the bathroom and bedroom.” I lead him into the hallway and he takes a quick look at the bedroom and then the bathroom.

“It’s nice,” he says as we walk back in the living room. “There’s plenty of room.”

“They have an outdoor pool in the back of the complex and there’s a small fitness center in the main building. It’s not bad for the money.”

He looks around once more. “I like it. I think I’ll call tomorrow and see what units are open. Is it weird for you if I live here?”

“Of course not. Why would it be?”

We both know why but neither one of us admits it.
 

“No reason. Just thought I’d ask.” We walk back to the living room and he picks up his coat from the back of my couch. “I need to go. I’m sure you have stuff to do.”

“I don’t have anything to do. You can stay if you want. I have some movies or we could watch whatever’s on TV.”
 

“What about Grant? If you were my girlfriend I wouldn’t want some guy over here.”

I shrug. “He won’t care. And this way you’ll get a better feel for the apartment.”

“All right.” He sets his coat down. “I didn’t want to go back to my mom’s house this early anyway. She’ll make me watch her murder mystery shows followed by those home shows she likes.”

I laugh as we sit down on the couch. “I like your mom. She’s sweet.”

“Yeah, she’s always trying to do stuff for people. She told me you stopped by a few weeks ago and offered to help her out.” He puts his hand on mine and I feel my heart race. How does he do it? A simple touch of the hand and my heart goes on overdrive. “I really appreciate you doing that, Morgan. Most people wouldn’t. In fact, I don’t anyone who would do that.”

“I know she’s not in good health and I just wanted her to have someone she could call if she needed anything.” I turn on the TV, taking my hand back so my heart can return to normal. “What do you want to watch?”

“Find a movie. Pick a comedy. Old, new, doesn’t matter.”
 

I flip through and stop on a British sitcom.
 

“Let me clarify,” he says. “You can pick any comedy as long as it’s not British. I don’t get their humor.”
 

I smile. Grant and Brad couldn’t be more different.

I flip through the channels and find a movie, but Brad and I don’t really watch it. We’re too busy talking, and before I know it, two hours have gone by.

“I should go,” he says getting up from the couch. “I didn’t realize it was so late. But thanks again for letting me stop by.”

“Thanks for the pizza.” I walk him to the door. “Tell your mom I say hi.”

“I will. See ya, Morgan.” He smiles, and it’s a friendly smile, not a flirtatious one.

Tonight Brad was testing me, seeing if I really wanted to be with Grant. And when I didn’t give him any indication I was breaking up with Grant, Brad just treated me like a friend. He didn’t try to flirt with me or kiss me or make any kind of move. And I respect that. He’s not the type of guy who tries to steal some other guy’s girlfriend.

I felt sad when Brad left tonight. I’m never sad when Grant leaves. That should tell me something, but instead it makes me more confused. Even though our dates haven’t been all that great, I don’t think I should give up on Grant yet. I still have feelings for him, but I’m starting to wonder if maybe those feelings are based more on the friendship we’ve developed rather than love. But is that really so wrong? To be friends with someone and then fall in love later? Most people would say that’s a good thing.
 

And as for Brad, I don’t know what it is we have together. We’re becoming good friends and we definitely have chemistry. But even if I wasn’t dating Grant, I’m not sure if I’d take things beyond a friendship level with Brad. As much as I like him, part of me still doesn’t trust him. Part of me still sees him as that guy from high school. I know he’s not that person anymore. I can tell he’s changed. But I’m still afraid to be more than friends with him.