Cuffs and Kisses

Chapter 14 - Fletcher

Heather

Fletcher got my number from Ali and texted me Saturday morning. 

I re-read his message over and over this morning, making sure that I have the right time. 

Maybe: Fletcher

Hey, it's Fletcher. I can pick you up around 10:30 tomorrow if you'll be awake by then. It takes about 30 minutes to get there and I figured we could get brunch.

Me

Sure!

Fletcher

Can't wait ;)

Fletcher arrives early to pick me up. Thankfully, I'm already ready. I was goofing off watching Hulu and transferring items from my normal purse to the tan crossbody bag I would be using today. 

I glance in the mirror one last time to double-check my outfit. I decided on a floral-print orange romper with trumpet sleeves. The lace-up front gives me the opportunity to make it a little bit sexier. I leave the string slack before tying it in a bow, so that it gives a subtle view of cleavage. My mom's necklace glints in the light that has trickled in through the open window. I'm also wearing a pair of gold, medium-sized hoop earrings with my hair down and wavy. 

I slip on a pair of brown suede ankle boots before walking out the door to 

Our conversation is comfortable on the car ride over. 

"How do you like Idaho?" He asks. 

"It's not too bad."

"Moving here senior year must really suck," he says. 

I nod my head. "Yeah, it does."

"Did you leave a lot of friends at home?" He asks. 

"My best friend Mac." For some reason, Ryder pops in my mind, too. I cringe at the fact that even on a date with another guy, I feel like I can't free my mind from him. Despite the fact that he and I are way over. 

I take control of my mind and push Ryder out of it, although I still feel his lingering presence in the back of it. 

"We've gotten to Facetime plenty of times since I've moved here, but it's never the same," I say. Fletcher nods in understanding. 

"What do your parents do?" I ask Fletcher, eager to get my mind away from what lay behind in California. 

"They're in real estate," he replies. "They work together at the same real estate office. It's not too exciting to me, but it's supported them and my sister and me."

"Older or younger?" 

"She's four years younger. She'll be starting high school next year. I can't believe that she's even gotten that old." Fletcher seems to go off into a daydream then, which leaves me in silence. "Want to listen to music?"

"Sure." 

Fletcher flicks on the radio to an awful country station. I don't want to say anything, but Fletcher glances over and sees my facial expression. Without another word, he scrolls through the stations until he stops on one that plays modern hits. The familiar strains of a Halsey song come on and I relax in the seat. 

Six more songs and two short commercial breaks pass until Fletcher parks the car in a lot behind another strip mall. This one has a couple of cute boutiques and a bakery and café called The White Tulip. He walks around the car to open the door for me and offers his hand to hold as we walk to the bakery.