Adam
To be fair, I have no idea why she agreed to meet with me after everything. But then also I have no idea, yet again, about what I am doing.
I have been a dick many times in my life when it comes to women, but leading Cora on for two times seems too crazy even for me. So what exactly do I want from this meeting?
I can't be in a relationship. At least not now. I don't want to be in a relationship. So I don't understand why my heart starts beating faster whenever I think about waking up next to her every morning or getting her coffee while she is still in bed. Or kissing every inch of her body. Or holding her in my arms. Or telling her about my day and listening about hers.
My head is scrambled. It has been ever since I saw her in that damn taxi with her damn heart pajama pants.
Luke would have loved her.
I have been trying to forget about her ever since getting back home. Nothing seems to erase her from my memory. Sometimes I think I can still feel her touch on me.
We agreed to meet at some burger place, because I had let her choose. I never go to places like that.
I stand an hour in my bathroom, completely naked, trying to decide my perfume. Then I stand another hour in my closet trying to decide what to wear. Good thing I started getting ready early.
It is a Saturday night. It's snowing already.
I wear my suit that is more to the casual side and look into the mirror.
"A suit to a burger place, really, my guy?" I scoff at myself.
I don't think I own even one pair of jeans.
I get out my white pants and drop at least 50 boxes before I get to my black hoodie.
It's snowing really bad outside.
She shouldn't drive when it's like this outside.
What am I? Her mother?
I am already calling her.
When she picks up, she sounds in a hurry.
"Oh my, am I late? Shit, this can't be, I am running out the door now, please wait for me, bye!" She blurts out.
"Cora, stop!" I laugh. It feels so good to hear her voice.
"Let me come get you, it's crazy outside! And you're not late." I say.
"No, don't be silly, I will be alright, I'm sure we live far away from each other anyway."
"Cora, text me your address please." I smile to myself.
"Thank you! I actually hate driving when it's bad weather out." I can hear her smiling as well.
My phone rings and it is a message from her with her address.
"Oh, look, only 22 minutes away. Damn, girl, you are rich!"
She laugh snorts into my ear and my heart smiles.
I am focusing on the road very hard, maybe a little bit too hard, because it's not even that bad outside, I just can't stop stressing.
I feel like I am going on my first ever Tinder date.
We will meet. We will eat shitty burgers. I will explain to her why we can't be together. I will call her a taxi. And I will go home to Vincent and my case. We will wake up tomorrow and go on with our lives.
Seems easy.
My palms are sweating. I am sweating.
I sit in my car and wait 5 minutes before I finally see her.
Her hair is flying everywhere because of the wind and her cheeks and nose are slightly red from the cold. Under her coat she is wearing a black and tight and long dress and high heel boots. She looks like that perfect girl in the movies when she is first introduced, only better.
She gets in my car and smiles at me. And it suddenly feels like no time has passed since we last met.
"Adam." She then says.
"You look wonderful." I say back to her.
"Oh, look, you do have hoodies! I was wondering if white shirts are the only thing in you closet. That is a lovely hoodie, Adam. Now where did you get that?" She keeps on talking and I keep on looking at her.
I am so fucked.
Now, what would they do in movies?
I take my jacket that I threw in the backseat and then quickly take off my hoodie.
"Why are you getting naked, Adam?" She is laughing.
How I missed her laughing.
"It's your hoodie now." I put it onto her lap and start the car again. She looks confused.
"Um, why?"
"Well, you like it, don't you?"
"Adam." She chuckles.
"That's what all guys do, right? I don't fucking know, Cora!" I look at her panicking.
"No, you are right. That's just silly. I'm sorry. Give it back to me, please." I try not to look at her.
Fucking hell, I am embarrassed. I am back at my first mock trial and I am standing there in front of everyone against stupid Josh who was always getting one grade better than me in everything.
"Well, my birthday is in two weeks, so let's just say that this is my early birthday gift." She puts her hand on my shoulder.
"You can never ever bring this up. Are we clear?" I say, giving her my "I am serious" look and she bursts into even bigger laughter.
Great! This is going just the way how I imagined.
I have to tell her that we can't be together but instead I am giving her my hoodie.
When we get to the burger place, it looks way too crowded and the music is way too loud.
"We can go someplace else." She says once she sees my hesitation.
"No, I hear that Cora really likes this place so I must like this place too."
We find an empty table and order drinks first. I am having a black coffee and she is having a cherry coke.
"You seriously can't be drinking coffee with a burger." Cora exclaims once I have ordered.
This blonde waitress Sarah, taking our orders, starts giggling.
"Sir, I can get you a beer or something more special maybe?" She is leaning closer to me.
"Why is she leaning closer to me?" I whisper to Cora, but she is just laughing.
Great, I am alone in this.
Can't she see that I am here with a girl already?
"I heard this big case you took this summer. You are my hero." She keeps talking and never stops looking at me.
It's been so long since I have been out and flirted with girls. I feel uncomfortable almost.
I want to tell her to go fuck herself.
I am a gentleman. I am a gent..
She then leans in so close to me that her boobs are almost into my face. I scoot back with my chair immediately.
"Would you mind just please stop talking and going to do your job?" I scold and she just giggles.
Cora coughs and this waitress looks at her like she is noticing Cora for the first time only now.
"What my fiancé wanted to say was, can you just shut up and go get us our drinks, please?" She says and oh my god she is so sexy. I might get hard.
"Of course, I'm sorry. I will get you your drinks." She storms off.
"Not bad, wife." I give Cora an intimidating smile.
"Na-ah, fiancé. Our wedding is in three months, asshole!" She playfully hits my leg under the table.
"Is this why this is your favorite place where to eat?" I shake my head in disbelief of what had just happened.
"Well, this is my first time coming here with Adam Hayes. The one and only New York's hero. What did you imagine would happen?" She puts her cheek on her palm and smiles.
"Say that again, please!"
"No way in hell I won't!"
We laugh.