Past (Start of Summer, the DATE)

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Michael

Michael: 7 days to go.
Lauren: Really, asshole? A countdown?

Michael: 6 days to go. I bet you can't wait to see me.
Lauren: I'm already regretting this.

Michael: 5 days to go. OMG! What am I going to wear?
Lauren: I thought I told you not to contact me for a week.

Michael: 4 days to go. Seriously though, what do you want to do?
Lauren: Not go on a date with you?

Michael: 3 days to go. I'm getting pretty fucking excited to see you.
Lauren: Shut up.

Michael: 2 days to go. Just thought I would remind you, in case you had forgotten.
Lauren: Who is this?

Michael: 1 day to go. I'll call you tomorrow.
Lauren: I'll be busy.

Michael: I'm calling you in 5 minutes. You better answer. You promised me a date.
Lauren: Fine!

Even though she asked me not to, I texted her every day, several times a day, for the week leading up to our date. She replied with smartass answers every time. If ever there was a sign that we would connect as well as we did, that should have been it.

"Hello?" She answered on the first ring.

It had just hit eight in the morning, and even though it was summer, my body had gotten used to getting up at six for a morning run and training. I skipped the run. I had no training. I sat with my phone in my hand until it seemed like a decent hour to call.

"Hey, pretty girl," I replied. I tried to hide the nerves that had taken over from just hearing her voice.

"What time should I pick you up?"

"Oh." She sounded surprised.
"I thought you were just messing with me. I didn't know you were serious about taking me out."

I had no idea how she got to that conclusion.

"Nope." I faked airiness in my tone.
"I'm completely serious. So?"

"Um."
I waited.
And waited.

Finally, "I have to work. But I finish at five-if you want to pick me from there? But honestly, you don't have to. I mean-"

"Five? I'll be there."

Silence.

"Lauren?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really looking forward to seeing you again." Truth.

*****

I showed up to her work fifteen minutes late, just to prove that I hadn't been sitting around waiting to leave.

She sat on a bench looking down at her phone. She probably assumed I wouldn't show.

Valid.

She stood up and walked towards my car.
She'd changed out of her work uniform and into tight fitting jeans and even tighter tank.

Fuck. Her body was out of this fucking world.

"Quit the eye fuck, Bradford." She said, taking a seat and pulling on the belt.

She had fire.
"You know what I like about you?"

"My tits?"

My eyes rose from her tits. "Huh?"

She laughed once.
"Jesus, this isn't awkward at all."

I laughed with her, pulled away from the curb, and started driving to the restaurant.

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