Jordyn didn't wake until early afternoon, when the sun finally woke her from a peaceful sleep. She hadn't slept that long in a long, long time and it was good to do it once in awhile.
Nick called to verify that they really were going out that night and that he hadn't imagined it. Jordyn couldn't help but smile when she thought about him, he was hard to be and stay mad at for very long. Not that she was ever really mad at him, just frustrated. But, on the phone that day he actually did sound a whole lot better....he sounded happier.
Jordyn started to get ready at about 7 that evening. She showered, curled her hair a bit, put on some make-up and then opened her closet doors in her bedroom to try to find something to wear.
She threw a ton of outfits onto the bed and floor but nothing seemed to suit her. "God, I wished I just went to the mall and found something earlier..," She mumbled as she dug around, trying to find something.
She didn't know why, but this....was date even the right word? Well anyways, this "date" was seeming to mean more than any other time that they had been out together. That made her stop in the middle of throwing things out behind her....they were actually beginning to get a little serious with one another. Which, wasn't all that weird or anything....but it was all the same. He'd once professed to her that he didn't think he'd ever get married or get "seriously" involved with anyone else.....but he seemed pretty damn serious with her sometimes.
Jordyn groaned and pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she caught a glimpse of the clock; 7:43. 'Great...,' She thought as she looked at the pile of clothes in her floor and on her bed.
She finally found something to wear that suited her for that moment, at least. She shed her sweatpants and t-shirt and slid the knee-length, spaghetti-strapped dark red dress over her head. She grabbed some strappy black high heels and slid them on her feet just as there was a knock at the door. She grabbed her purse and skidded to a stop just by the door and checked her appearance in the mirror, for once...she thought she looked good. She pulled the door open and her jaw nearly dropped, she'd seen Nick dressed up and stuff but he looked enticingly good this night.
Nick looked up and a smile crossed his face, "Wow...you look...amazing."
"You do too...come on in.," She replied, opening the door wider.
He stepped inside and Jordyn had a chance to check him out. He was wearing black dress pants and a button down, wine colored shirt that he actually tucked in along with black dress shoes. He was wearing wire-rimmed glasses and his hair was neatly "messed" up. He looked good. "I don't think I've seen you wear glasses before..."
"Really? I just wear them sometimes....my eyes aren't bad enough that I need them all the time."
"Ohhhh..well, you look good in them."
He smiled, "Thanks...where'd you get that dress?"
"I....I don't remember, actually. I just dug it out of the back of my closet...why?"
"It's a very good choice."
She smiled, "Well thanks...it was a last minute choice."
Nick leaned down and kissed her lips gently, "Well...a very good one, I think."
"Well good, you ready to go?"
"Sure am..."
"Where are we going anyways?," She asked as she locked her apartment door behind her.
"Dinner."
"Well, duh...where at?"
"Dinner."
She rolled her eyes as he took her hand, "Niiiicck...come on...tell me."
Nick shook his head, "Nope..not yet. I'm making up, remember? So it's gotta be a surprise and it's gotta be good."
"What if I told you I didn't like surprises?"
"Then I guess you'd be out of luck."
Jordyn laughed, "You're no fair."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Nick drove, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, on the interstate out of Tampa. As they continued driving, trees became more prominent and the lights of the city faded away. Jordyn didn't think she'd ever been this far out in the 'country' before but trusted Nick, and trusted that he knew where he was going.
Nick glanced over, and smiled, "You think I'm going to get us lost, don't you?"
"How'd you know?"
The smile was still there, "I can see the wheels turning in your head, and no, we're not lost. This place is a little out of the way, but I think you'll love it."
"What kind of food?"
"What are you in the mood for?"
Jordyn laughed, "Nick! You can be so vague...just don't tell me I got all dressed up for a midnight picnic in a swamp?"
"Ummm...no. You're going to be glad you dressed up."
"Okay...still vague."
"Yeah, yeah, I know...although, a midnight picnic isn't such a bad idea.."
"Yeah, just not in a swamp."
"Well, duh.."
They continued to talk until Nick finally pulled into a small town. "Where are we?," She asked.
"Just outside of Orlando...."
"Where and when did you find this place?"
He smiled, "I just decided one day, Brayden was a toddler and wouldn't calm down for anything, that I was going to just drive. Being in the car always puts him to sleep, so I got in the car with him and just drove around. I found this one day..I've never just done that before....so one day, I came back and found this little restaurant called 'Blu's'...the atmosphere is just great...it's kinda dark and stuff and there's a dance floor and stuff...it's great..."
"It's dark? Like...romantic?"
"Yep...very romantic, although at the time I really wasn't in the mood to be in a romantic place...but it was still nice, and whenever I went it was at night."
"Ohhh...."
He smiled, "You still don't think I know what I'm doin', do you?"
"Well...now that you mention it..."
"Hey!"
She laughed, "Sorry...couldn't resist."
A few moments later, he pulled into a parking lot and parked near the front entrance. They got out and he took her hand as they walked up to the front door. From the outside, the restaurant looked like just a normal building, but once the door was opened it was completely different. The lighting was dim, not really dark, but held an ambiance about it that didn't make it seem at all dingy or anything but very....romantic. Candles sat in the middle of each table, making the walls seem to move with each flicker of each flame.
But what caught Jordyn's eye, was that the entire restaurant was empty. She had noticed other cars, but there hadn't been that many. She looked up at Nick questioningly but he didn't seem alarmed or anything.
The hostess walked up then and smiled, "You're table is ready, right this way."
So things were just getting even more confusing for Jordyn as she was led to a table just for two near the back of the restaurant. Nick pulled out her chair for her and then sat across from her as the hostess placed their menus in front of them, then left them alone.
"Nick? I think I'm a little confused..."
He looked up, a smile playing on his lips, "Why are you confused?"
"Did you happen to notice that this place is empty?"
He nodded, "Uh huh..."
"So I'm guessing that you had something to do with that?"
"Pretty much..."
"Nick...."
"What? I can't help it if I wanted you all to myself tonight..."
She smiled, "You're really trying hard, aren't you?"
"I thought if I flattered you that I'd be in your good graces."
"You are in my good graces, but you didn't have to do all of this..."
"I wanted to make this special.."
"It's very special, thank you."
"Not a problem at all."
They ate a nice, relaxing dinner which seemed to be a change for them both. It was kind of nice having the whole place to themselves, no one was around to really bother them unless they needed a refill on a drink or something else. Everyone left them alone, which was a change for Nick. He was used to people being all over him most, if not all, of the time.
"So....since you're famous and all, is getting a restaurant to yourself easy?"
He smiled, "Somewhat. It makes it easier, we'll say."
"Oh...okay."
"Jord, really, this isn't a big deal."
"It is to me. I've never had a guy shut down a restaurant for me before."
"Well, now you have."
"And I appreciate it very much..."
"Well good...so...am I out of the doghouse?"
"Nick, you were out of the doghouse a long time ago.."
"Really? When?"
"When you actually called me."
"You didn't think I'd call?"
"Well...you were in a mood, that's for sure...so I really didn't know.."
Nick sighed and sat back, "I'm sorry you saw me like that..."
"It's okay...really...are you feeling better?"
"I feel a ton better.."
"Well good..."
They sat around talking for another good half an hour before finally leaving the restaurant. Jordyn couldn't believe it was almost midnight, "We did shut that place down...they must be exhausted."
"They'll be alright...they got paid.," He said taking ahold of her hand.
"Yeah, I guess so.....so now where off to?"
"Ummm...I dunno..."
"How about we go back to my place....and hang out."
He smiled, "That sounds perfect."
Once at Jordyn's apartment, each got comfortable. Jordyn changed into her pajamas and Nick got as comfortable as he could. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a wifebeater underneath and took off his shoes, claiming they hurt his feet.
Jordyn handed him the remote saying, "You find something to watch..."
Both relaxed as Jordyn snuggled in his arms, him wrapping an arm around her shoulder. For a long time, Nick hadn't felt comfortable even touching a woman who wasn't his mother...but with Jordyn, he felt completely.....new....like he was reinvented or something.
He paused on a late night talkshow and they just kind of paused there, not really wanting to talk but not really wanting to move from their positions on the couch either.
Nick groaned and rubbed at the crick that was beginning to form in his neck, "It's getting late...I better head home..."
She sat up and looked at him, "Are you sure? It is late."
He smiled and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips, "And just what are you suggesting Ms. Jordyn?"
She laughed, "Nothing! I'm just saying that you could umm...stay here...instead of driving home..."
"Really? You're sure?"
"Well, I don't know about you but I am not going to be doing anything other than sleeping..."
"Well me neither, geez....we're two rational thinking adults."
"Exactly..."
"Alright then...I'll stay."
Nick stripped down to his boxers and wifebeater and watched as Jordyn crawled into her bed. He got in carefully beside her, not knowing whether to stay on 'his' side of the bed or reach over and touch her. Truthfully, he wanted to cuddle and snuggle and all that mushy stuff, but he didn't know if she wanted that or not.
Jordyn reached up and turned off the light, engulfing the room in darkness.
"Nick?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you....would you...you know......hold me? I know that sounds stupid....but....yea.."
Nick smiled at the way she stumbled over her words and scooted over in the bed, pulling her back against his chest. She was tense for a moment but then relaxed in his arms. One of his hands raised to play with a strand of her hair, twirling it around in his fingers.
"This is nice....," She murmured tiredly a few moments later.
And it was. It was more than just nice. It was absolutely perfect. Nick just nodded against her skin and then gently kissed her neck, watching her sleep in the dark.
Absolutely perfect.
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