Back To You (gxg)

Part 23

"So...when can I actually take you out on a real date?"

Riley asked me this quietly the Wednesday after our beach trip, when we were both in the office. She was in my cubicle, pretending like she was showing me something. She leaned against my desk, facing me.

I looked up at Riley and said, "Anytime you want."

She bit her bottom lip slightly and then smiled at me, "I was nervous for some reason that you weren't going to want to do that. So, I'm really glad you do."

"And why would you think that I didn't want to do that?" I chuckled.

"It was just my anxiety trying to trick me, as always." Riley said, "But I'd love to take you out to dinner this weekend. We can go somewhere a bit further away...I know that might be necessary, since you're not really out."

"Are you sure you're okay with that?" I asked Riley, "I feel bad. It won't be like that one day, I promise."

"Jenny, it's fine." Riley reassured me, "I'll make reservations for us somewhere."

"Okay." I nodded, "It's a date."

Riley winked back at me and said, "It sure is."

It was just Marie and I eating lunch together that day- Danielle and Demarcus went out on a lunch date together- which I thought was sweet. Riley was seeing her mom, per usual.

Even though it was just Marie and I in the room, she asked me softly, "How is everything going with Riley?"

"Really good." I said, "Thank you, by the way- for not telling anyone about us."

"I would never." Marie said, "You know- to me, now that I know about the two of you, it's so obvious that Riley likes you. But to someone that doesn't know about the two of you, I don't think that they would be able to tell."

I felt myself blush as I asked, "How is it obvious?"

"You should see the way she looks at you." Marie said, "I now notice it, at least."

"But you don't think anyone else would?"

"I don't think so." Marie said, "I'm glad things are going well though. I love to hear that."

Riley texted me that night that she made plans for us on Friday night at 7:30 PM at a really nice farm-to-table restaurant that I had heard of- even though it was over a half hour away.

We decided that I would drive to Riley's house, and she would then take us to the restaurant. Just in case I wanted to stay at Riley's afterwards. Possibly overnight.

Johnny was coming to my apartment to hangout with Stephanie, and they were both going to watch Sunshine.

"Johnny loves cats." Stephanie said, sitting with me as I was getting ready, "He's excited to meet Sunshine."

"Good." I said, "I'm glad she will be getting all the love. I feel bad leaving her two weekend nights in a row."

"She will be just fine." Stephanie said, and then she smiled and asked me, "Are you excited for tonight?"

"Definitely." I said, "I'm really looking forward to it, actually. I am always looking forward to seeing Riley."

"You two are really cute together." Stephanie, "It was nice seeing it in action last weekend- even though you're not open about it. You should have seen her when the guy on the beach, Vince, was trying to talk to you. She looked super jealous. That's why I wound up getting his attention."

"I knew you did that on purpose." I laughed, "I appreciate it, Steph."

On my way to Riley's, my mom called me. I didn't exactly feel like talking, but I answered.