She's Not a Fan

Chapter 13

Friday night arrived far too quickly.  Sarah rubbed her temples at the headache brewing as a result of trying to decide what to wear.  It was a ‘science experiment’ date.  What do you wear on a science experiment?  Same thing you’d wear on a ‘date’ date, she thought ruefully and rolled her eyes. 

She thought about cancelling and picked up her cell phone about a dozen times to do so.  Every time she hit the sports section of the newspaper and flipped through hockey articles without wanting to read them, and every time she changed the radio station when hockey updates started, she felt guilty and wondered why she would say yes to a date with a hockey player.  Masochistic or mean?  Not sure, but neither sounded very attractive.

And then she had to choose underwear.  Tattered cotton briefs or sexy silken panties?  And if she chose the sexy silken panties, then obviously, she had to wear the sexy lacy bra.  Because it matched.  Not because it was sexy and she was going to a drive-in movie.  Wasn’t there some rule about wearing sexy underwear on a second date?  With Mike.  A hockey player.  She grimaced.  Maybe she should wear the tattered cotton briefs and old cotton bra.  Maybe that would help with the whole dissuasion thing.  

Honestly, she thought.  Would Mike care?  Just put some damn underwear on. 

Sure, the sexy silken, lacy ones.  Because they matched.

She tugged on dark black jeans, and finally decided on a pale blue sweater.  It was flatteringly snug, but comfortable.  She added dangling earrings with three sparkling, pale blue stones, and a matching single blue, teardrop necklace, which flattered the V-neck scoop of her sweater.   She decided on low heeled and well-worn black leather boots, and grabbed a black leather jacket with a back that cinched in the waist and flared at the hip.  Helped with the illusion of curves, she thought with a smile.  With one last glance in the mirror, she ran to answer the doorbell.  

Just avoid any conversation about hockey.  Forget that she’ll be making a decision that could totally ruin his career.  Keep it light and easy.  No problem.  She wiped sweaty palms on her thighs.  Breathe. 

 Mike wore blue jeans that sat low on his hips and hugged muscular thighs.  A well worn, brown leather jacket showed off his broad shoulders.  She fleetingly wondered what underwear he had on and smiled to herself. 

“You look lovely,” he said as he leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers.  He leaned back and smiled before she had a chance to respond.

“Th-thank you,” she said, trying not to sound as dazed as she felt.  “Come in.  I’ll just get my purse.”  She threw her cell phone in her purse and hooked the strap over her shoulder.  “Ready.”

Mike waited while Sarah locked the front door and then guided her to the passenger door of an enormous black pick-up truck.  He opened the door and she had to step up to get in. 

No bucket seats.  Her heart rate skipped a beat. 

“I didn’t realize you were into monster trucks,” she said with a laugh when he settled into the driver’s seat.

He glanced over and grinned.  “I know.  It doesn’t blend very well, but it’s great for drive-in movies and icy roads.  Living out of town a ways, I needed something that could handle the snow.  Country roads aren’t always the first ploughed in the winter.”

She nodded.  “And you probably can’t just call in and tell them you can’t make it because of the weather.”  She froze.  Avoid hockey.  Avoid hockey. 

Mike laughed. “Yeah, it wouldn’t go over too well.  Although I’m sure Jake wouldn’t mind,” he replied.  Jake Quinn was the back-up goalie for the team.