Ella let her lead the way, obviously he knew where she lived. But she didn't know that. "I try to be a gentleman when I can, honestly.. there's not a lot left," he joked playfully, he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, hit breath hitching in his throat for a moment when he saw most of her shoulder as he flannel slipped. His eyes followed her collar bone as she walked past him. God what he would do to get his lips on her. He blinked, then swallowed, then quickly started walking up to her, mind out of the gutter for now Joe. New York was crowded, and stuffy, and gross. But it was home. And it truly did house some of the best book shops in the country.
Joe watched his shoes get scuffed by the sidewalk as they walk, glancing at her slightly when she struck up more conversation.
'Oh shit.. I still haven't told her my last name,'
Joe raised an amused eyebrow her way, "did you say Facebook?" He laughed, "I've got a stalker," he teased playfully, eyeing a couple of people they walked past on there way downtown.
He watched in amusement as she physically degraded herself, "it's not weird don't sweat it," he chimed in, "I think we're all guilty of looking up people we meet once and a while, but, unfortunately this Joe doesn't have Facebook," he smirked, "I just, never found it necessary, besides I can read, social media, it's a mind clot," he shrugged.
He listened to her intently, realising they were nearing her apartment. He smirked, 'she's so close, but I'm not a murderer, I just protect people, and it's not my basement, it's Mr Mooneys..'
"Ouch? Should I be offended?" He questions playfully, nudging her elbow with his.
"No, I mean, yeah.. I just prefer books, people are complicated, and tiring, and a little annoying, unless you meet the right one of course," he smirked gently, "besides I don't have a basement," he said quickly, "I'm joking, I'm not- sorry bad joke," he muttered. Crossing the street with her as he stopped at her building, he wouldn't walk her up, not yet, "I'll text you, Saturday at eight, I can pick you up," he smirked.
*
Joe was a mess, he was rummaging around for his missing black sock. Then he kicked his toe on one of his bookshelves, not to mention he hadn't even had the chance to shave yet.
Was this the universe giving him bad dating karma, so he killed a few people.. he wasn't a monster.
Joe hopped over to his phone on the counter as he pulled his pants up, "shit, I'm going to be late," he groaned. He fished around for his belt as he tucked his dark blue dress shirt in. Ethan had already messaged him seven hundred times. He ran into the bathroom, finding a slightly rusty razor, "agh, five o clock shadow it is.." he mumbled to himself, throwing the razor on the edge of the sink. He stopped for a moment, eyeing the cat statue, it was still laying in his bathroom sink, waiting to be cleaned, he groaned quietly, fishing out Ella's box from the ceiling, throwing off the lid and gently placing the cat statue inside, out of instinct he picked up the underwear, 'do I have time.. no- no! Dammit,'
He internally groaned, throwing everything back in, and sliding it back into the roof tile. Then looked down at his feet and realised he was still wearing one sock.
'Fuck it'
Joe found his black leather shoes and slipped them on, luckily his jeans were covering the fact he was now not wearing socks at all.
He ran into the kitchen grabbing his keys and phone, before running back to his bedroom, spraying some deodorant on and running back to the lounge. Patting himself before he was all set to go. God why was he so nervous.
He headed downstairs, the keys to Mr Mooneys vintage Buick in hand. He was to old to drive it anyway. He fumbled with his phone, sending Ella a message.
"Hey- ran into a little trouble but on my way! Sorry,"
Joe.
