She smoked in the car on her way home from work Friday afternoon. She smoked again out back on her patio before getting in the shower. Elise knew she would still be a hot mess by the time Danny came to pick her up for their date in 2 hours, but she didn't dare risk the chance of smelling like cigarettes around him. She was aware of how irrational she was feeling, but Elise was scared to death of doing anything to fuck things up with this man she barely knew. But why?
Would it really be the end of the world if they didn't hit it off? If they found they had nothing in common? Continued on with their separate lives, seeing each other briefly in passing at work for who knew how long? Months? Years? Always wondering what could have been? The heavy ball in the pit of her stomach said it would.
She tried not to sweat as she dressed after her shower. Elise chose a red sweater and skinny blue jeans. Everyone always said red seemed to make her green eyes even more dazzling as well as bring out the natural red highlights of her auburn brown hair. Though she still felt a little self-conscious wearing them, Elise would have been lying if she said she hadn't chosen them on this particular occasion to show off her ass. She curled her mid-back length hair in big, loose curls and pulled it back on one side with a large clip with tiny little silver rhinestones on it. She applied her make-up more deliberately than usual, pausing at her lips, the final touch.
Elise couldn't help herself from thinking about Danny's lips. Her own reminded them of his, in a way, as she stared at herself in the mirror. Not too big, Not too thin. Just right. She finished with the lipstick and took a deep breath, continuing to look herself over in the mirror, secretly hoping some wise, subconscious part of her brain would suddenly make itself known and give her the best pep talk she had ever had. Elise resigned herself after no magical genies or shoulder angels popped up after a couple of minutes. She made her way to the living room and waited on the couch.
"Hey, Elise," she opened the door 20 minutes later. Reading a book while she waited to calm her nerves proved to be an effort in futility. She was fairly certain she couldn't remember a single word she had just read.
"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn.
"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."
"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter.
"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room.
"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.
"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."
"Yah," she laughed softly.
"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.
"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"
"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.
"Which one?" he asked, turning to get it for her. She indicated her black pea coat to his left and he helped her slip it on.
"Thanks," she replied bashfully. For some reason, he was surprised by his manners, thoughtfulness, whatever you wanted to call it. She wasn't complaining, though. Elise only hoped it wasn't just part of an act to win her over. She deserved someone genuinely nice, didn't she?
They ended up talking for hours. They talked about anything and everything. It had taken Elise a surprisingly short amount of time to relax once they started chatting at the restaurant. By the time they left, it was nearly 10 o'clock.
"How about a walk?" Danny suggested as he helped her with her coat once again. "Or are you ready to call it a night?" he made an anxious-looking face. Elise wondered if he realized his brow was furrowed in an almost scowl, deep in thought, it seemed.
"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"
"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."
"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly.
"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."
"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.
"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town.
"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.
