Without Doubt Read Free Page A

over to me and raises her eyebrows at me so I say
my name, “with a friend,” she says hurriedly, blushing profusely.
“Maybe… Ok, yes. Can I call you tomorrow?” She pauses and sighs.
“Please don’t do this right now. I’m serious.” She looks like she’s
getting frustrated, but she’s not mad. It actually seems like she’s
trying not to laugh. “I won’t get home until 2:30 in the morning;
you get up too early. I’ll just call you tomorrow morning.” She
listens for a minute and then sighs loudly before replying, “Fine,
you win, I’ll call you as soon as I get home. Promise.” She listens
for just one second before turning her face away and whispering
(but I can still hear her), “I know what you’re doing and it’s not
funny, so stop. No, I’m not saying that. Stop. Goodnight. Bye.” She
slides her phone back into her apron then stands and walks to the
counter where she starts to prepare a Cup Noodles. “Sorry about
that.” She sucks in her bottom lip and just looks at me.
    “ Boyfriend? And what the
hell are you doing?” I ask, pointing to the noodles. I’m hoping
like hell it wasn’t her boyfriend and a little disgusted at her
choice of a meal.
    “ That? No, that is a long
story. And I’m making a quick dinner. Don’t judge.” She speaks
slowly as she removes her gaze from me and starts pouring hot water
into the Styrofoam cup.
    “ I have time,” I state
boldly as I reach my hands behind my head and stretch my legs
out.
    “ But I don’t. Is there a
reason you waited to follow me back here, stalker?”
    “ Stalker?
Ouch.”
    She just lifts her dainty eyebrow and
slightly cocks her head.
    “ I thought you should know
that I found out your name.”
    “ That’s all?” she asks
innocently, clearly not believing a word I said.
    “ Uh, no. That’s not all.”
I rub my hands down my face and lean forward on my elbows. This is
going to be my first time asking a girl out on a date ever and it’s not
sitting well with me. The situation fits me like last year’s sports
coat. In other words, it doesn’t. “Can I take you out, Ava? Maybe
for dinner one night next week?”
    She smiles softly at me and it lights her
face up tremendously; not that she needs any brightening; she’s
beautiful. “Thank you for asking, Declan, but I can’t. I appreciate
the offer, though.”
    “ Can I ask why you can’t
go to dinner with me?” I’m not really sure how to handle this
situation. I never expected to get shot down the one and only time
I asked a girl out. I’m not going to take no for an answer, but I
don’t know how to proceed without being a pushy prick
either.
    “ I’m sure you’re not used
to hearing the word ‘no,’ but I really can’t. I don’t date and
dinner is classified as a date in anyone’s book.” She drops her
head, folding her hands and twiddling her thumbs.
    “ I don’t date either, but
I want to take you out. Go out with me?” I ask, giving her my
well-practiced sexy smirk but not letting go of the skepticism I’m
sure is shining brightly from my eyes.
    She laughs. I’m tied in knots stressing out
over losing this battle between her and I and she’s laughing.
    “ Oh my! You really haven’t
ever been turned down before, have you? I’m sorry for laughing;
don’t take it personally. I don’t not date like you don’t date, I
really, really don’t date. Ever. I’m extremely busy, Declan. I have more
responsibilities than you have ever thought of having. I don’t have
time to date.”
    “ Well, that’s a shame,
Ava.” Unable to handle the fact that I can’t convince her, I stand
and cross the room to stand directly in front of her. I lift her
chin up to look down into her eyes before speaking. I hear her
breath catch as our eyes meet and I take extreme caution to keep
control of myself. “You need to eat healthier,” I say, borderline
embarrassed that those were the words my brain chose to spit out of
my mouth. Nevertheless, I continue. “Those