Broken Promises

Chapter 12- The Date

I woke up to a buzzing noise followed by a notification that appeared on my phone screen. "New Assignment Guidelines." From Western State Online university. I groaned at the thought of more work, but knew it wasn't an option to give it a miss considering my circumstances. It was 7am. Too early for my liking, but I got up anyway and put running gear on. I needed a coffee. I locked the door and walked off my driveway, I felt the morning sea breeze fly past me, my hair blowing wildly as I took slow strides into a jogging pace. I found myself standing on the footstep into the coffee shop, holding it open for an elderly woman behind me. "Thank you dear." She says.
"No problem." I smiled back at her.
I let her go in front of me to order, "no, you go ahead." I waver her on. She smiles and nods at me. I see his face behind the nice lady, and I can't help but smile to see him there. I stare in wonder at this guy, thinking I'm bloody asking for it. I ignore the voice in my head that's saying he'll probably hurt me and listening to the one that says 'Go on Kate, you need to let loose.'
I step forward and he eagerly returns me a generous smile.
"What can I get you today? Usual?" He asks politely.
"Yes." I say, feeling at ease. This guy already knows what coffee I like. I am a regular customer though I think to myself. I'm pulled out of my mind boggling when I hear a muffled, "HELLO! Earth to mystery girl."
"Oh, right," I said embarrassed. I felt my cheeks go red. "Here you are." I handed over the money.
"Nah its on me." He says. It took me a moment to realise. I argued against it, but he was so stubborn about it.
"It's on me." He repeated and smiled back. "Now let me serve the rest of these people, I'll talk to you in a bit."
"Ok." I say, and move to the side.
It seems like forever staring at him waiting to be done, but then he calls me up.
"Here's your Flat White, Mystery girl."
"Thanks," I say, trying not to melt when he says those words to me. DAMN KATE. What is this boy doing to you?
"I'm looking forward to tonight. You're still okay to go, right?" He questions, patiently awaiting my answer.
"How could I forget." I say. Thinking that sounded so cheesy but who even cares at this point. I couldn't get this guy's persona out of my brain. It was glued in there.
"I will see you at 6, have to deal with the big guy." He says pointing out back, he must've meant his boss.
I waved at him as I walk out the door, and take a sip of my coffee as I look over at the ocean. I can smell the scent of salt water and it takes me somewhere else.

5PM; an hour before Tom arrives.

I have already started my next assignment, this time it's about what meals a child needs to grow and be healthy. Not too bad, but still annoying. I pull myself away from work mode and realise it's 5:30 and I still need to shower and choose my outfit. "Crap." I said to myself.
After my shower I stand there in my dressing gown and take the towel off my head to dry my hair. I didn't know where Tom was taking me, so I just wore a thin strapped black dress that loosely fell down and stopped before my knees. I wasn't a fan of makeup, so I just washed my face and tied my hair in a ponytail. I put hoop earrings in, and shoved on black leather boots, I did tempt towards heals, but I didn't know what we were doing, so I chose accordingly.
I heard a knock at the door right on six. I ran to the door, mostly because I was excited, but I was also so nervous. I opened the door and I was nearly blown off the place where I was standing. Jeez did this guy have a body. I mean, he wasn't like extremely fit, but I could bet a million bucks he had abs under the white collared shirt he was wearing. He held his jacket over his bicep, but chucked it over his shoulder as he moved closer to me. "Hey you."
He says, a newfound glint in his eye, I hadn't noticed that before. "Correct me If I'm wrong, but I thought I was mystery girl to you."
"Ahh, ok. Yes you are right. Mystery girl."
I giggle a little.
"Come on in." I say. "I just gotta grab my bag, I'll be back in a second."
"Okay." He replies.
It took me a while to find it as I forgot where I placed it, but after lifting up some pillows off of my bed, I found it.
"Got it!" I yell out to him.
"Ah good. Was getting a little impatient." He says.
"You work at a coffee shop, thought you'd be able to handle impatience." I tease.
"Not with you, mystery girl." He says smiling.
He isn't joking. What is this guy doing to me? I thought. You are so far in, you aren't going to be able to get out, an inner voice says to me. Shut up!
"You alright there?" Tom says.
"Yes all good."
"After you, Kate." My name rolls off of his tongue so effortlessly, but there's so much meaning behind it. It scares me a little, yet comforts me in so many ways.
We walk out to his car and he holds the door open for me to climb into his ute, slams the door and jumps in to the driver's seat.
"Nice car." I tell him.
"What ? This old thing?"
"Yeah, I like it."
"Are you saying you like my ute? My pickup truck basically?"
"Well yeah? A car's a car. I've actually always wanted to get my hands behind the wheel of one of these things. I love being high up. It makes me feel like I'm in control.
"You are something else Kate." He says a smirk rising on his lips.
"Is that a good thing? I ask him.
"Yes,!" He chuckles to himself. "Definitely a good thing."
"So where are we going?" I ask curiously.
"You'll see, mystery girl."
My heart thumps inside my chest. Hearing "mystery girl" escape his lips makes me crumble. I wasn't sure I liked how he made me feel. A good person. He was a good person, he was so attractive, but he had a nice personality as well, and I thought to myself quietly, I am in the deep end. I can't get myself out of this easily, he's wrapped himself in my mind. Butterflies kicked themselves inside my stomach.