"How could you not like Grey's Anatomy? It's probably the greatest show on t.v." Jocelyn rolled her eyes at the statement. She and Miles had started with simple introductory information before they somehow slipping into a debate about the show. She learned he owned his own paint store, was 31, and clearly had poor taste in T.V. shows.
"Now that's an extreme overstatement. It's not even that good." She shrugged. She'd tried to watch the show a million times but it never interested her.
"Maybe it's just a bit too mentally stimulating for you." Miles joked as he pat her hand in faux sympathy and she felt her jaw drop in shock. Although they had only talked for a brief period of time so far, Jocelyn could already tell Miles was a total sweetheart despite his brute-like stature.
"I'm sorry! I-I shouldn't have said that." His cheeks took on a bright red color and he dipped his head in embarrassment. Jocelyn felt the smile drop from her face and she rushed to console him.
"No. No. No. You're fine, Miles. I'm not really upset, hey, it's fine- it was actually a funny remark." Jocelyn spoke softly as she searched his eyes for any hint of regret. "I'm not upset, I promise."
"Okay. I'm sorry I got so worked up. I just get like that sometimes." His voice was softer now and timid- a direct juxtaposition to his frame.
"It's fine, Miles. You don't have to apologize." She smiled softly. It made her upset that he felt the need to apologize so often but it keyed her in to some deeper issues he may possess.
Before they could say anything else, a bell interrupted them and the staff announced that the bar would be closing within the next 10 minutes. Jocelyn pouted as she realized the bartender was probably gone by now and she would have to find a gas station to pick up some liquor for the night.
"Wait!" She called as Miles silently got up from the table. Picking up her purse, she scooped up the cards careful to not let them slip from her hands. "Maybe we can hang out again some time?"
Miles looked shocked and Jocelyn felt her stomach knot in nervousness.
"Uh, yeah, sure." He ran a hand through his hair as he nervously watched her. Jocelyn nodded for him to follow her as she headed towards the exit- her fingers cramping from holding all the cards. The sight of a garbage can caused her to make a beeline and she eagerly dumped them inside.
"Whew. Okay, here." She pulled her phone from her purse and pulled up an empty contact form before passing the device to Miles. He tapped away before it was passed back to her and they both made their way out the bar.
"I'll walk you to your car." He muttered as he pushed his hands into his pockets. Jocelyn finally took in his outfit- a cream sweater with black jeans. It was oddly fitting for what she knew about him so far.
"I really enjoyed our time together." She slightly bumped her shoulder against his. Miles picked his head up and smiled brightly at her.
"I enjoyed it as well." They made it to her car seconds later and Jocelyn found herself not wanting the night with him to end.
"This might be a bit straightforward but do you want to come back to mine? We can have a couple drinks and just get to know each other some more." She blurted out before she lost the courage. Shifting on her heels as she awaited his answer made the time seem even longer.
"Y-yeah, sure. I'd love to." Jocelyn sent him her address before climbing inside her car- Miles closing the door behind her. As he walked away from her car, Jocelyn felt a smile bloom on her face and she did a little happy dance in her seat.
Pulling from the parking lot, she made a note to stop for liquor as she only had cheap wine in her cabinet. Her eyes lit up as she found a little hole in the wall liquor store that was still open. Sending a text to Miles that she'd stopped, she also asked what kind of liquor he liked.
For herself, she went for grey goose and got some peach juice for her chaser. Her phone buzzed and she saw Miles had replied to her message.
'Anything you get should be fine. Thank you.'
She smiled at his politeness before grabbing some whisky in case he liked dark liquor more. Minutes later she was once more on her way home, the black bag of liquor sitting in her passenger seat.
...
Just as she scanned her badge to get into the parking garage, a call interrupted the voice of Nicole Bus blaring through her speakers.
"Hello?"
"Hey, what section should I park in?" Miles questioned. Jocelyn made her way up the spiraling parking garage and kept an eye out for people and cars.
"The 5th, on the east side." She instructed as she pulled to a stop for a car to pull from its parking spot.
"Got it. Thank you, see you soon." He dismissed before the call dropped and her music began playing once more.
Jocelyn followed the black car up the levels, her eyes recognizing the vehicle as an Infiniti Q60- a car that was supposedly only revealed as a prototype. She blew a whistle at the money someone needed to possess to have such a vehicle while a part of her wondered why someone with money like that would be in a middle class apartment complex.
"Uh nm! You better not." She pouted as she watched the sleek vehicle pull into her normal parking spot. Stopping just behind it, she wanted to get out and tell the person to move but she kept going- finding a spot two cars over.
'I'm here. Wya?'
She sent to Miles as she cut her car off. A knocking at her window made her jump and she placed her hand to her heart as she realized it was just him.
"Jesus. You're trying to give a girl a heart attack." She joked as she stepped from within the vehicle. Miles immediately took the bag from her hand and closed the car door for her.
"Sorry about that- wasn't my intention." He smiled softly down at her. Now standing within inches from him, Jocelyn noticed the slight smell of some masculine cologne and she unconsciously took a deep breath of the scent.
"Was that you that came up in front of me?" She questioned as they began making their way towards the elevator.
"Uh, I think so." He rubbed the back of his neck and Jocelyn rose an eyebrow at the action. Owning a paint shop couldn't have been the most lucrative of business, especially not enough to afford a car like that; however, Jocelyn knew she'd have to wait to question it.
"Well, you took my unassigned assigned spot." She bumped their shoulders as they waited for the elevator. Miles smiled down at her and Jocelyn once more felt butterflies fill her stomach.
"I was wondering why that car just stopped behind me." He chuckled. "Didn't know it was because I'd taken your spot, love."
The nickname made her breathing hitch and she bit her lip to hide the smile that threatened to bloom. Miles was slowly becoming more comfortable around her and she loved the idea of him feeling safe enough in her presence to be himself.
"Next time I'm gonna take a key to it if I find it there again." She jokingly threatened as they filed into the elevator. Miles threw his hands up and his eyes went wide.
"Woah there, no need to be so aggressive. Next time I'll be sure to steer clear of your unassigned assigned parking spot." Sarcasm dripped off the last part of his sentence and Jocelyn rolled her eyes at his mocking.
"Good. I'd hate for the only Q60 prototype to be littered with key scratches." She chirped before crossing her arms. The energy in the elevator shifted and a chill ran down her spine. Peeking at him, she found Miles staring at her blankly.
"So you know cars, huh?" He questioned softly, his eyes now avoiding hers.
"Well not really. I just remember all the hype about the new Infiniti prototype and hearing my dad gossip with his friends about how cool it was." Jocelyn nervously wrapped one of her twists around her finger as she spoke.
"You don't really care for luxury cars?" He questioned before once again running a hand through his hair- his hand then coming down to push his glasses up slightly.
"Nope. If it gets me where I need to be smoothly, then I love it. Hence my old ass Mazda." She chuckled as she attempted to regain that sense of humor back. Miles smiled lightly- his body easing from its rigid stance.
"Oh, don't say it like that. It's a nice car. I like Mazda's." Jocelyn laughed at how forced the sentiment was and soon enough Miles joined her. It was clear he liked the finer things when it came to cars and Jocelyn would never imagine him liking anything with the Mazda logo.
"It's a piece of shit. You don't have to pretend to like it to spare my feelings." They stepped from the elevator and Jocelyn began the tedious process of searching for her keys in her purse.
"You said it, not me."
——