The next morning Carrie woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. It was 11:08am...she didn't mean to sleep that late.
She leaned over to grab the phone, " Hello? ", She said groggily.
" Carrie? ", It was Howie.
" Yes? ", She said.
" Did I wake you? ", He asked a little embarrassed.
"Oh, no ", Carrie lied.
" Well, " Howie paused, trying to get his words together, " Would you like to go out tonight? ". Carrie smiled to herself, thank God he couldn't see her.
" Sure, when? " .
" Um, How about 7:30pm? ", he said.
"That sounds great ", She sat up in bed, " Where? ".
" Oh, no you don't ", Howie said with a smile in his voice, " That's a surprise ".
"Ooo, I am all excited now ", Carrie said laughing.
" Me, too ", Howie said sincerly...he really was. They said their good byes and hung-up.
Howie sat in his bedroom trying to set up his little night of romance. He got up and went downstairs, then heard a knock on the door. It was his buddy, A.J. , who smiled his goofy smile and walked in eating an apple.
" Hey D! What's up? ".
" Nothing really ", Howie sat down on his couch.
"Well, " Aj plopped down a big cushy chair across from him, " Want to go somewhere tonight? ".
"I can't ", Howie looked up at him, knowing what A.J. was gonna say after he told him he had a date. " I have a date ". He smiled, waiting for A.J.'s predicted reply.
" Oooo! The D'ster's got a girl! ". Howie smiled...he was right. " Who? ", A.J. asked with arched eyebrows.
" Someone I met late last night at a coffee shop, she's really sweet " , Howie thought of Carrie's face, she was so cute.
" Well, that's great ", A.J. said, " But, now I am alone tonight ", He lifted his finger to his eye and made a "sniff sniff " sound. Howie laughed,
" What about all those girlfriends of yours? ". A.J. stood up taking another bite of his apple.
" friends...that's all they are, they want to be more, but they are " he paused, " So not for me! ", he said in a valley girl voice.
" Well, I am sorry ", Howie said.
" No your not! " Aj laughed, " Your too excited about getting booty! ". Howie looked up at him with that smiling ' I can't believe you just said that ' look.
" I am not! ". A.J. sighed.
" Face it 'D, your a slave to the sex, but who isn't? ", A.J. said.
"For your information I happen to be very attracted to this girl's personality as well as her body ".
A.J. laughed, " Well, isn't that just sweet ", He said in a high-pitched voice.
Carrie got out of bed and put on her robe. She walked out to her kitchen and started making her some hot tea. That's when the phone rang again, she picked it up.
" Hello? ".
" Hey ", it was Penny her roommate, who was currently visiting her parents in Georiga.
" Hey, man, how's Georgia? "
" It's ok, Mauro's being so annoying! ". Carrie laughed.
" He always is! ". They talked for a while and Carrie told Penny all about Howie. " So, when are you coming back? ", Carrie asked.
Penny sighed, " I'll probably come back tomorrow or early the next morning ".
" Alright ", Carrie said. She said good-bye and hung up the phone.
After taking a shower Carrie decided it was time to pick out a great out fit. She opened her closet door and searched through the rows and rows of different clothes. She was an extreme fashion fanatic, she always had been. She finally decided on a gray knee-length skirt, which had slits in both sides, and a navy blue tank that circled around her neck. Since it was going to be night, and it may get cool, she grabbed her leather pea coat (which she loved) and laid it out to take along.
She pulled up her long, wavy brown hair into a messy, sexy updo', which she was pretty impressed with how it looked. She glanced at her clock, 7:00pm, she decided to sit and watch a little T.V. in her living room, while she waited on him.
Howie adjusted his sweater, " Should I leave the top unbuttoned or buttoned? ", He thought to himself. He was at her apartment. He hadn't been this nervous in quite sometime. He opened his car door and walked up the stairs. " A 13 "
He said out loud as he looked on each door. There it was. He could hear the TV, he took a deep breath and knocked.
Carrie quickly turned off the TV and checked herself in the mirror one last time. She opened the door. Howie stood there in a black sweater, it was obviously really expensive and a pair or nice khaki's. Carrie smiled, he looked really good! Howie was speechless, he stood there trying to finds the words to describe her when Carrie spoke first.
" Hey...I am all ready ".
" Great ", Howie said as Carrie closed her door. They went down the stairs and walked over to Howie's car.
" Nice little Corvette ", Carrie said.
" Thanks ", Howie said opening the door for her, " Do you like cars? ". Carrie sat down.
" Oh, yeah, my dad knows just about everything there is to know about them, so I just picked up what I could growing up ". Howie got in and started the car. " So, where are we going? ", Carrie asked. Howie looked at her.
" You'll see ", He smiled.
They went to a great Japanese steak house, the kind where the chefs cook right in front of you. They talked about just about everything, and Carrie found her self falling for Howie a lot faster than she thought she would. Everything was so great about him, his beautiful brown eyes, and perfect smile. He was the sweetest guy she had ever met. Howie was feeling the same way. He was wrapped up in her every word, watching her as she spoke...what was going on? He had never felt so dazed by a woman.
After the wonderful dinner Howie suggested they go take a walk in the park. Carrie agreed that it would be nice. She stepped out of the car and shivered, she had forgotten her leather jacket!
" Are you cold? ", Howie asked with concerned eyes.
" No, I am ok ", Carrie said.
" You don't really think I am gonna let you get away with that are you? ", Howie said. He took off his sweater and wrapped it around her. Carrie could smell the sweater and smiled at the scent. Underneath Howie was wearing a tight white under shirt and Carrie tried not to be obvious on how she noticed how hot it was. They walked around in the park and talked some more. Carrie looked down and noticed Howie was holding her hand. It made her stomach turn and she felt safe.
