It Started With A High Five

5. The Carnation

I smile and grab my purse and carnation from the room. I motion that I'll meet him out on his side and say, "I'll be right out."

I lock the doors and turn off the lights in the courtesy area. When I walk around to meet him outside the door to the cashiers side of the count down room, he's standing there with a relaxed look on his face holding the silly vest they make us wear.

"I'm ready." I say quietly as I rock on my feet. Feeling a little nervous and guilty for wanting to spend this 5 minutes to my house alone with this guy.

Purse on my shoulder and carnation in hand we walk to his car. It's a two door red Chrysler. Nothing special but it's clean. He opens the door for me. I wasn't expecting that action. I've never been this close to him before he smells nice. Clean and masculine without being overwhelming like some guys.

As I sit in the car and he shuts the door I reach over and unlock and open his door for him. Out of habit. He gets in and smiles at me.

"Kyle told me you did that when you went out last week. I wasn't sure if I should expect the same thing since this isn't a date."

I smile back, "It's a habit." I shrug my shoulders. "When I was younger, I watched a movie where a guy was going on a date and the girl reached over and unlocked the door for him. It intrigued me and decided that I would do the same when I was older. Now, it's just what I do."

He started the car and pulled out before speaking again. "Is it weird I kind of know where I'm going? Kyle told me where you live. Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone I was giving you a ride home. People gossip like crazy at work. That's why I keep to myself."

Suppressing a smile, I responded, "Only if you don't drive by alone and uninvited." Then I did a little laugh. "The gossiping is why I only talk to Cari. We just clicked when we met. Neither of us care for the crap most of the people in there talk about."

He laughed too and assured me he isn't like that.

I asked him about the girl he was with in the store. "Not to be nosy, but is the girl you were walking with last week your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, but to be honest, she's been getting weird lately. Not answering my calls or texts until the next day. Then someone she goes to school with said she was cheating on me. We kind of broke up when I brought it up but she keeps calling me now. I don't know what to think. She showed up at the store unexpectedly. After I said hi to you and she took a look at you, she asked if I was cheating on her with you."

"Seriously? We said 'hi'. How old is she. That is a little immature. And maybe she just can't answer from class or work."

"No she always found time to text me. Usually, she texted me first since she leaves for high school earlier than I have to get to my college classes. Even in class she's weird."

"How do you see her in class?" I ask confused.

"She takes college classes and we have one together. That's how we met."

Now it makes sense. "So, you asked her outright about the cheating and you feel like she lied to you?"

"I do. And that's why I tried to break up with her. I hate cheaters."

And in my mind I did a happy dance. This boy wasn't planning on trying to cheat with me or starting something that I couldn't allow to happen. Not that I think so highly of myself that everyone wants me, but history has taught me guys can be pigs. He was already done with the relationship and now she was having a hard time letting go after her own mistakes.

I tell him, "So she cheated, tried to accuse you of the same and won't let go? Sounds about par for the course. My ex cheated on me with anything willing to fall into bed with him. After 3 years you would think he would know what he wanted. It gave me a complex when I found out. I haven't been on more than 3 dates with any one person since May. I don't trust people. Now it's September. I've actually enjoyed being single and hanging out with my friends."