Chained Read Free Page B

cologne smelled very expensive, not like my vanilla-blackberry Target perfume.
     
    I was so nervous that my palms were sweating, and I hoped desperately that Travis didn't notice.  He escorted me to a booth in the corner, and bowed with a flourish as I sat down.  I couldn't help laughing. 
     
    The server brought our drinks, and I sipped my ice water, trying (and failing) not to stare at the man across the table from me.  His eyes were the sort that were perfect for either brooding or soulful stares.  His hair was the kind that looked effortlessly messy, and probably hadn't taken him an hour to fix, like mine had.  There was a little dimple in his cheek when he smiled.  He looked up from his menu to see my gaze, and grinned.  “What?”
     
    I blushed and dropped my eyes to my own menu.  “Oh, nothing.  What do you usually order here?”
     
    “Honestly, I've never been here before.  A friend suggested it.  I don't get out much.”
     
    “Oh, because of your job?”
     
    Travis smiled, and nodded.  “they keep us busy over there, for sure.”
     
    “I can't even imagine what it must be like, seeing all of those tiny little babies every day...”
     
    This seemed to make Travis happy, and I gladly listened to him talk about his job as we waited for our food.  I was amazed by his stories.  It almost made me want to go into the medical field...me, who passed out at the sight of blood.  His voice was smooth, almost hypnotic.  He was even more charming in person than online.  I couldn't believe my luck...that I, Ms. Nobody Special, was talking to such a man, let alone on a date with him.  My life looked brighter than it ever had before.
     
    “So, what do you think?”  The question startled me out of my thoughts.  I looked down at my half empty plate of noodles and egg rolls.  I had barely even tasted it.
     
    “Oh, it's great!”  I exclaimed, a little too loudly, and took a long sip of my water to hide my embarrassment.
     
    “You are so adorable when you blush,”  Travis commented laughingly, which made me blush even more. 
     
    I mumbled something incoherent, and stuffed half an egg roll into my mouth.
     
    “So what about you?”  Travis asked.  “How did your interview go?”
     
    Oh, that.  That job interview already seemed weeks ago and half a life away.  “It went good, I think.  I'm supposed to hear back from them in the next few days.”
     
    “I'm sure you will get it.  I can't imagine anyone that wouldn't be charmed by you.”
     
    I shook my head.  “Pretty sure you're the only one that thinks that.  To almost everyone else, I'm nothing worth noticing.”
     
    “I can hardly believe that.”
     
    I nodded emphatically, my mouth still full of egg roll.  “It's true.  You know, I've never even had a boyfriend before?  Seriously, nobody even notices me, except the dorks and the band geeks, and most of them had never even heard of acne cream.  I'd barely even talked to a boy before I signed up for that site.”
     
    Travis laughed.  “Well, it is their great loss then.”
     
    The evening continued, much in the same vein.  I felt more beautiful, and wanted , than I had ever felt in my life.  At one point Travis picked up my hand in both of his own and started tracing the lines in my palm with his fingers.  I felt like my hand and arm were on fire, a tingling heat that raced up my skin straight to my heart.
     
    “Well, it's getting pretty late,”  Travis said, and I realized with a shock that it was nearly 9:00, and the restaurant was winding down.  We were almost the only customers left.  “I bet they're going to kick us out pretty soon if we don't leave of our own volition.”
     
    I felt a pang at the thought of this night ever ending, but he was right.  I should get back home before I got fussed at for not being there safe and sound when my parents went to bed.
     
    Travis paid for our meal and stood from his seat, roses in one arm and the other held