Outside the Lines by Hatvany Amy

Author:Hatvany, Amy [Hatvany, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2012-02-07T06:00:00+00:00

November 2010

Eden

When I wasn’t working during the two weeks after my first date with Jack, I was busy fighting off daydreams about him. How he kissed me. How he called the next morning to tell me he couldn’t stop thinking about me. I hadn’t fallen for anyone so quickly in a long time, so part of me held on to the small fear that he might be too good to be true, but as the days passed, I grew more and more comfortable with the idea that I might have met my match.

We talked on the phone almost every night when I got home from work and saw each other almost every day, sneaking in a quick lunch or drink around our work schedules. At each date’s end, he took me in his arms and we kissed so passionately my lips were sore the next morning. I kept wondering if he’d invite me back to his apartment and what I’d say if he did. I was sort of an old-fashioned girl in that sense—I waited for the guy to make that move and usually followed my personal no-sex-before-four-dates rule. (Yes, Ryan had been an exception, but tequila shooters were involved the night I met him so I pled not guilty by reason of intoxication.)

Georgia was appalled at this rule, but no matter how much I might’ve wanted to climb in bed with Jack, I was going to wait for him to suggest it.

“You just don’t want to get rejected,” Georgia said accusatorily.

“Damn right I don’t,” I told her. Since my failed romances in my early and midtwenties with Wyatt and Stephen, I’d created all sorts of guidelines around my relationships to minimize my chances of getting hurt. I didn’t date artists. I broke it off immediately with anyone who made a promise and didn’t keep it or any man whom I caught lying. I didn’t expect perfection, but I did expect honesty and follow-through. So far, Jack was hitting the mark.

My mother was thrilled, of course, that I was dating again. “When do we meet him?” she asked during one of our Friday morning check-in phone calls. “Can you come for dinner next week?”

“It’s a little early for that,” I said. “Let’s make sure I don’t scare him off first.”

“Now, why would you say that? You’re wonderful.”

“You’re my mom. You have to say that.”

“I do not. If you were horrible, I’d tell you.”

I laughed. “Gee, Mom. How comforting.”

She sighed. “I want to meet this man.”

“How about we wait to see if we last until Thanksgiving? If we do, I’ll bring him to dinner.” The holiday was only three weeks away, and with how well things seemed to be going with Jack, I was almost positive he’d agree to have a holiday meal with my family.

“Perfect!” She was immediately appeased, and I hoped Jack didn’t mind my making that kind of promise. We hadn’t discussed where our relationship was going or how serious it was, but if how he kissed me was any indication, we were definitely on the same page.

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