A Life On The Edge

The Date

"You ready to go?" Eddie smiled as I staggered down the steps. "You alright sweetheart?" I nodded a little taken back by everything that's happened to me within the past 48 hours. "I hope lil ol' Carla Thornton didn't put a damper on our date." He said flashing me a concerned smile.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

"Come on now. What happened in there?"

"Let's not worry about it." I sighed taking a deep breath. "What did you have planned for today?" I smiled.

"I hope you didn't eat. I was planning on taking you out to dinner."

"Not eating has been a problem for me lately." I scoffed.

"Huh?"

"Starving." I sighed. He smiled down at me showing off his perfect teeth. His big cowboy hat shielded his eyes from the beating sun and I could only see his charming smile. "I'm excited." I smiled.

"Good. Because I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous."

"Oh, you shouldn't be. I'm sure I'll have lots of fun."

"Good." He chuckled and opened the car door for me. I sat in the passenger seat of his big white pick-up truck and tried to calm my mind. I tried to lull my brain into nothingness with the endless motions of the trees and the sound of soft country music playing in the background. But sadly all I could think about was Lyle, and Carla, and Sadie, and her father.

"Are you gonna be this distant all night?" he mumbled with a little tremble in his voice. It was cute seeing him concerned and nervous like this. I felt bad.

"I'm just not much of a rascal flats girl."

"Carrie Underwood more your speed?" he teased.

"More of a Miranda Lambert kind of gal." He gasped as his eyes widened with playful surprise.

"What! Riley listens country music? I didn't think it was possible for you to get any more attractive." I blushed. "I finished that book you love so much."

"What?"

"The Final decision."

"You actually read it?"

"For a girl who doesn't like to read I thought it had to be something special to have caught you eye." I smiled.

"Did you like it?"

"I didn't like how it ended." I giggled.

"Why?"

"I don't know, I guess I just expected more. And did she end up with Daniel of not? And whatever happened to that Connor boy?" I giggled at the confused look on his face. "What's so funny?" he grumbled.

"You're cute." It was his turn to blush. "I didn't expect you to get so into it."

"I liked it...I like you." I didn't say anything. I bit my lip and got lost in the lyrics of Kings of Leon. He pulled up to the restaurant and acted like the perfect gentlemen. He opened the door for me. He pulled my chair out for me everything, it was weird. "Why do you look so confused?" he asked. "Something wrong with the food?"

"No, I...you're really sweet."

"I didn't say anything."

"I know it's just...you've been really nice to me all night."

"Just treating a lady the proper way she should be treated is all. You aint never had a man treat you right before?"

"Most of my boyfriends have been...damaged."