The Bad Boy

Chapter 154

Harry's P.O.V.

I sit down on one of the couches in the lobby of Stephanie's apartment complex and rub my palms up and down the thighs of my jeans. I watch the receptionist lady at the desk and listen to her fake fingernails tap out something on the computer, the same thought of "please let her show up" replaying in my mind.

This is getting somewhat ridiculous. I've been waiting for almost an hour. I'm going to find her.  I glance at my phone on the way to the elevator, and see the time reads 7:00.  That means I got here almost an hour too early...

I sigh and shake my head. As I turn to walk away from the elevator, it dings and the doors open. Out steps Stephanie, looking more beautiful than I've ever seen, but that could be just because I haven't seen her coming towards me in a long time. She's wearing what looks like a dress but it has shorts instead of a skirt, these hippie style sandals and a ring of black flowers pushed onto her hair and I've never been so relieved to see her in my life.

She smiles carefully. "Hi." She stops in front of me, hands clasped in front of her.

"Hi." I say, feeling an idiotic grin crawl across my lips.

"So." She says, mirroring my face.

"So." Is all I can think to say.

"Uhm...do you want to go somewhere, or just stay here and stare at me?" She asks, quietly.

I nervously chuckle, snapping out of my trance. "Oh, yeah, right. Dinner. We should do that."

"Yeah, maybe." She laughs. "Where are you taking me?"

"I thought we could grab something to eat, have dinner in the park, and then go ride the sea glass carousel." I explain the plans that had so conveniently left my mind when I saw her.

"The what?" She asks.

"You'll have to wait and see." I smirk.

She cocks one of her eyebrows. "Is that so?"

"Yeah." I laugh. "Are you ready to go?"

"Sure." She says and we start towards the door.

Once we're out on the sidewalk she asks, "Where are we getting food?"

"I read some really good reviews for this Mexican food truck near Central Park, so if that's okoay I thought about going there?" I ask.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Stephanie says. "I learned to always look at online reviews before eating at any food truck from this awful story the receptionist at my work told me." She laughs.

"Oh yuck." I wrinkle my nose.

I don't like this. It's so awkward between us. I feel like I've thought that about a million times before, but now there's an uncomfortable silence eating at the space between us.

Stephanie's P.O.V.

I hate this. We're not even talking, just walking down a sidewalk full of couples in love, while we don't speak and are surrounded by a cloud of awkwardness.

"I hate this. We're not even talking, just walking down a sidewalk full of couples in love, while we don't speak and are surrounded by a cloud of awkwardness." I say, not one to keep my thoughts to myself.

Harry's shoulders practically slump with relief. "Thank god, I feel the same way. I'm glad you said that."

"Can we just not be awkward? We used to just be able to just sit and be completely comfortable with each other, and neither one of us would need to say a thing. Let's do that, okay?" I suggest.

"I'm willing to try if you are." He agrees.

Thankfully, we arrive at the food truck before our new agreement can be broken by the crushing weight of our silence.

"What're you thinking about getting?" Harry asks as we step into the short line.

"I'm going to go with the 4 tacos. And I definitely want one of those fresas con whatever things." I say, pointing to a picture of a big cup full of sweet cream, strawberries, and whipped cream."

"I figured." He laughs. "Let's get our food and then we can come back and get desert to eat while we walk to the carousel."

"Okay." I say as we step up to the window to order.

Harry orders for the both of us and then pays, even after I offer to. Then we walk over to a bench and sit down, our thighs touching.

I take a bite of my taco and am amazed at how awesome it is.

"Good?" Harry asks.

"YES!" I answer.

"I figured, you kind of did a little moan." He laughs, taking a bite of his food.

"Really?" I ask, shocked. I must've done it subconsciously.

"Yeah, don't be embarrassed. It was cute." Harry smiles a little.

I can't help but do a little "Awwwwww" in my head.

We finish the meal in our first completely comfortable silence in a long time. I've never felt so relieved.