One True Love

Chapter 11

Joining her outside, I smiled as she was leaned up against the edge of the building, looking off in the distance towards my truck. Her long brown hair was blowing softly in the wind and I wondered at this moment if she could look any more beautiful than she did at this very instance.

Making my way towards her, I slipped behind her, careful not to make too much contact with her, at least not yet. Once I was close, in a low voice I whispered, "Are you ready to go?"

Startling her, she turned around and it was then that I realized how close she was to me. I felt myself take a deep breath as her brown eyes were staring into mine, a smile spreading across her face.

"Where are you taking me, Austin?," she asked

I laughed, "Well, that's for me to know and you to find out," I said as I started walking towards the truck and motioned for her to do the same.

Once we were at the truck, I went to her side and opened the door. Not being sure if she liked this or not, I must admit that I was hesitant at first, but it's how I was raised and so I acted on instinct. Seeing that she was safely inside, I walked to my side of the truck, put the key in ignition and reached my right hand over the seat looking behind me as I pulled out of the apartment complex.

Feeling her eyes on me, I turned towards her and smiled once I was out of the parking space, letting the truck sit idle for a moment...."Ashley," I said.

Propping her head up with her arm against my passenger door, she said, "Austin?"

I smiled, "You look really beautiful tonight."

Seeing that smile creep back on her face, she looked down at her lap and back at me..."Thank you Austin, now I must ask you a question."

Taking a left hand turn out of the parking lot, I glanced towards her, "Let's hear it, you know you can always ask me anything."

Hearing her take a deep sigh, she glanced out the window, not meeting my gaze...."Is this a date?," she asked

Smiling, I found myself reaching for her left hand. Causing her to look at me, I squeezed it tightly and caressed it with my thumb, "That's a decision you will have to make."

***

Feeling his skin against mine as we rode silently in his truck, I held his grasp tight as I leaned against the window. Trying not to be too obvious, I found myself glancing in his direction. If I was being honest with myself, I had never seen him look so good. Yes, we had been out a few times before but he always wore t shirts, jeans and sandals. Tonight, the mint green button up fit him very well and I wondered why he was dressed so nicely.

Catching my eye, he squeezed my hand again and simply asked, "What?"

I laughed and then smiled, sitting up straighter in my seat, "Nothing, nothing at all. I'm just trying to figure you out."

He laughed, "Baby, I'm a puzzle that can never be solved."

Laughing, I found myself looking away. Had he just called me baby instead of my own name? Was he trying to tell me something?

Brushing it off, I came to the realization that in the South it's common for guys to call girls baby and for it not to mean anything at all. Remembering back to May, I thought of when Scotty told Lauren Alaina "I love you baby" during the Idol finale and Gabi almost freaked out. Granted, they weren't a couple at the time, but she was crushing on him pretty hard. Yes, it was just something they said, no big deal.

***

Pulling into the restaurant parking lot, I had decided to start the evening by having dinner at Poole's Diner. While it wasn't the fanciest or most romantic restaurant in town, they still had good food and it was not Bo's. Besides, I was on a college student's budget and I hoped that she would understand.