Cameraman, Swing the Focus

Chapter 22

"Did you maybe want to," Nicole pursed her lips before biting them, "want to go on a proper date?"

Z pretended to think about it for a moment, tapping her chin and making humming noises. "Yes, I think I'd be okay with that." Nicole tried to control her grin and she wildly thought of restaurants that didn't have children's games on the place-mats. Her and Brendon's eating habits had really gone downhill lately. "Have you tried the Thai place down the road?" Z asked before she'd come up with a better idea.

"No, but I've been meaning to." She'd never heard of it. She wasn't too worried though, food was rarely bad enough to be inedible to her. "Tonight?"

Z nodded, bobbing her head up and down and then side to side in an unsure gesture. "Like seven-ish?"

"Deal." Nicole watched as Z left, feeling excitement bubbling under her skin at the prospect of a date with Z. She closed the door behind her and flopped down on the couch. Barely a few seconds later, Brendon burst into the room like a tornado.

"Hey, how was your night? Want to come to the movies?" He asked all in one breath, not pausing for an answer between questions as he fell to his knees and started looking under the furniture. Nicole figured it was better not to question his behaviour.

"To answer both of your questions, I can't, because I have a date to get ready for." Brendon paused his, whatever he was doing, to poke his head out and grin at her.

"Very nice!"

"Yours was good I take it?" She barely turned her head on the cushion to be able to see him, although it was mostly a view of his ass as he crawled on the floor. She winced and pinched the bridge of her nose, still feeling like an aspirin would hit the spot.

"Well I get to see him again, so finger's crossed I don't manage to fuck it up."

Nicole laughed, restraining herself from making a jibe at him since he seemed genuinely nervous, and she had a similar emotion about her own date later.

"If you manage to scare him away, he's not the right guy for you." She felt like a fortune cookie, but it seemed like the right thing to say in the moment.

Brendon huffed in exasperation and seemed to give up his search, sitting back on the floor. "I don't think that's how any of this works," Brendon said sardonically. "I'm going to shower. If you decide you want to change your mind and come with, I expect you outside in ten."

Nicole rolled over to shove her face between some pillows and must have started to drift off, because the next thing she knew, Brendon's hand was resting lightly on her back. "Hey, maybe don't suffocate yourself while I'm gone." She groaned and pushed herself up to face him.

"Good luck on your date."

"You too." He winked at her with some nerdy finger guns before leaving.

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Nicole was standing outside of the restaurant feeling like a right fool. She'd gotten there a solid ten minutes early, and it hadn't even occurred to her until then that she had no way to contact Z, or to know if she was still coming. The air was cool on her exposed legs as she pulled the jacket she was wearing fruitlessly tighter around herself. She'd managed to find a pair of tights to go with the outfit, but the way the wind cut through the thin nylon made it feel nonexistent. 

A cab pulled up to the curb and Nicole tried not to stare hopefully while it came to a stop and the person inside paid the driver. She felt instant relief flood over her at the sight of Z emerging from the back seat. The other woman caught sight of her, a slow smile lighting up her face as she checked out the outfit Nicole was wearing.