First Kiss

Chapter II: The Double Date – Dad’s Version

“As good as your mom’s story was, I’m sure she left out a few things,” Gus said while laying down on the other side of Ginny. It was a small bed so there wasn’t room for all three so Kristina slid off and sat on an exercise ball.

“Well,” Ginny said, “she hasn’t actually told me about the kiss yet.”

Gus looked at Kristina and cocked his eyebrow.

“I told her about the double date,” Kristina explained.

“Oh, right,” he nodded his head. “Your mom’s first kiss.”

“So did you run after her and kiss her?” Ginny asked.

“We’ll get there, we’ll get there. But first, I need to tell you my side of the story because I’m pretty sure your mom left out a few things about the date.”

Grandma wasn’t thrilled that I was spending so much time with a girl who had a boyfriend. Not only did we work together but we started hanging out together. A lot. I owe your mom’s boyfriend a big thank you for coming home less and less often. Lucky for me, he went away to school. I’m not stupid, I took advantage of the opportunity. I mean, when opportunity knocks, you open the door.

While what’s-his-name was away at school, I went to the same school as your mom. I even took a couple of the classes she was in just so that we could study together. But she’s a bit of a nerd so I didn’t last too long in those.

That was the last straw for your grandma. It was one thing to hang out after work together it was an entirely different thing to take math classes. That was a bit too much for her so she decided to come up with a plan to end my infatuation once and for all. Bless her heart, it backfired.

As it happened, Jen happened to be in town visiting her mom. She had recently gotten engaged and came to town to work out some wedding details with her mom. While visiting with them, my mom told Jen and her mom about my love woes. And they came up with a plan. If it went as mom expected, I would have to drop this silly infatuation and start dating girls with wife potential. All I had to do was make an announcement at work – in earshot of Kristina – that I was going on a date. If Kristina became upset I was going on a date with someone then she might be a little jealous. If so, I probably would be safe enough to tell her how I felt. But if she did not get upset, which is what mom expected, then I was to move on and let it go. And definitely not waste anymore money and time on math classes.

Mom didn’t trust me to be a reliable gauge of Kristina’s reaction so Jen stopped by work. She hugged me and vaguely led my coworkers to believe there was a romantic interest. I am a horrible liar so I kept quiet as much as possible. I was also nervous because what if mom was right and I was going to have to move on?

The results surprised us all. I couldn’t tell by her reaction if she was jealous or not but by the time Jen left the store a double date was arranged. Jen assured me this was a good sign. A very good sign. Mom just shrugged her shoulders.

Before the date, Jen came over to my house and helped me prepare. She told me what to wear and how to style my hair. We went over our story a few times because I really didn’t want to lie. I really didn’t want to lie to your Kristina or play this childish charade.

“Look,” Jen said, “don’t think it as a lie. Think of it as a joke. We’re just joking around.”

I looked at her. “If I look at her, I’m going to tell her the truth. I can’t help it. It’s just going to come spilling out.”

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, tell her how you feel. Let it all come out. That’s what we all want anyway, right? Fish or cut bait?”

I glared at her. She won this round. “Fine, I just won’t look at her.”

She returned my stare. “That’s weird. You’re going to act weird tonight, aren’t you?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I knew this was a bad idea.”

“No, we got this,” she grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “You got this. If you really like this girl then its make-or-break time. Do what you gotta do and trust me.”

I looked at her. “I’ve really missed our pep talks. You are such a good cheerleader.”

She shrugged it off. “I know. I’m thinking of quitting school and just becoming an influencer.”

I nodded. “Does your mom know?”

She shook her head. “Shut up. This is about you tonight.”

I took a deep breath.

“Ready?”

I thought about it and knew the only answer was yes. So, I nodded my head. “You might want to take the rock off though.”

“Oh,” she said and looked at her engagement ring. “Right.” She slid it off and looked around the room for a safe place to put it.

“Here,” I said and took it from her. I walked into by bedroom and put it on my nightstand. When I returned, I said, “Ready.”

When we arrived at the restaurant, Kristina and Carson were already waiting at the hostess stand. Jen leaned close to me and whispered, “I bet I know which couple we are eating with. You’re right, I can tell from here he is oozing buffoonery.”

I smiled at the validation and confidence booster.

We walked over to them and made introductions. Carson, of course, noticed Jen because everyone notices Jen. Especially guys like him that exceled in noticing beautiful women. But when he realized he didn’t have a shot with her he moved onto other leggy distractions. We were led to the table and Jen made up some claustrophobic excuse so that Kristina and I had to sit across from each other. I wasn’t very happy with Jen about that because it was going to make it difficult not to make eye contact with Kristina. But Jen is kind of an evil genius like that.

My mind was trying desperately to think of some way to start the conversation but the only thing I thought of went something like ‘Jen and I are on a sham date. She is actually engaged to this great guy. We came here to break the two of you up if possible so that I can date Kristina.’ But I didn’t think I should say any of that at the moment so I remained quiet.

Kristina started the conversation ending the awkward silence. Jen and her did the obligatory getting to know you quiz. Meanwhile, I could not read anything on the menu. Everything seemed blurry and I think I had forgotten how to read for a moment.

I managed to rally when I heard Jen mention school and that she was studying nursing.

“Jen has a cheerleading scholarship,” I blurted and looked at Jen. I wanted to bring up the fact that she had confessed she might drop out of school to become an influencer but that would have involved more words than I could string together right then. Instead, I looked down at my menu again trying to force myself to see clearly.

When it became apparent I wasn’t going to contribute anything else to the conversation, Jen continued. “What about you?” she asked Kristina.

During the whole conversation, Jen kept nudging me and kicking me under the table to get me to join in. But I refused. Not only could I not read but now their voices sounded muffled. Am I having a stroke? I thought.

But my hearing came back just in time to hear Jen ask, “Accounting? You’re taking accounting classes?” She knows my general aversion to anything math related.

I looked at her and then down at my menu. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We study together,” Kristina said. “He does pretty good in class.”

I’m man enough to say I blushed a little at that compliment. I could tell Jen was winding up for more.

“Do you know what you want?” I asked cutting her next remark short. Of course, I knew what she wanted. She was going to have a salad. It was basketball season after all. Whether or not she dropped out of school, for now she still had to worry about staying in shape to physically do her cheerleading.

That was when Carson opted out of our group and went to the bar to watch the game. That is also the moment when Jen starting nudging me hard enough to leave bruises. I was so sore for a few days afterward from all the abuse.

The waiter came and took our order. I could tell Kristina was a little embarrassed to order her burger and fries after Jen ordered her salad. So, I also ordered a burger and fries.

With Carson away from the table, I was able to relax a little bit and join in on some of the conversation. As long as I could look at Jen. I still absolutely could not look at Kristina or I would say too much. Buffoon or not, her boyfriend was only a few feet away from us. It would go against every code of conduct I have to confess my love to another guy’s girl when he was in the same room. I am just not that type of guy.

While we were waiting for the checks, Jen excused herself to use the restroom. I knew she was up to no good.

When we were alone at the table, Kristina decided to seize the opportunity to grill me. “Why are you being weird?” she asked.

“I’m not being weird, you’re being weird,” I replied and winced. That made no sense.

“You’ve hardly said anything to me all night,” she continued.

“I’ve said a lot,” I looked around the restaurant willing Jen to return. “Jen and I have probably bored you to tears with all our stories.”

“You have talked to Jen just not to me. Even now, you’re not looking at me. She maneuvered her head to try and make eye contact. Did I do something to tick you off?”

I finally had to look at her but I had to fight hard not to say anything. There was so much to say. So much I wanted her to know beginning with you’re dating the wrong guy. But I just couldn’t do it.

And then Jen returned and I let out a sigh of relief. I hadn’t caved under pressure. I smiled at her because her plan did not work.

The waiter brought our checks over and I grabbed Kristina’s. There was no way I was going to let her pay for this weird date.

“You don’t have to buy my dinner,” she said annoyed.

“I got it,” I tried to force myself to sound casual but I know I failed.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

I stood up and Jen leaned close to me. She whispered, “You are a much better date then hers.” I smiled.

We walked over to the bar where Carson was watching the game and flirting with the female bartender. What an absolute idiot, I thought.

Jen and I left the restaurant. “What an idiot,” Jen said when we were outside.

“I know, right?” I agreed.

“Not him,” she said. “You. You blew your chance. If ever there was opportunity knocking, that was it.”

I turned back to the restaurant and saw Kristina walk out by herself.

“This is your second chance,” Jen said. “Go to her now.”

I nodded my head and started walking to her. But Carson came out and they talked a little bit. I wasn’t close enough to hear but she walked with Carson to his car and got in. Jen walked over to me and we watched the car drive away.

“I’m sorry,” Jen put her arm around me. “For what it’s worth, I did like her. You do have good taste in women.”

I snorted and nodded. “Great.” We stood for another moment.

“Want to go get some dessert?” she asked and I nodded my head slowly.

We went and got some shakes at Sonic and finally caught up with each other now that I wasn’t worried about saying too much.

Finally, she said, “I really need to get to my mom’s house. Now that I’m done with my date with my boyfriend, I need to go plan a wedding with my fiancée.”

I laughed. “C’mon, let’s go.”

We were almost to Jen’s parent’s house when she remembered her ring was at my place. I turned the car around and headed to my place. She spent the time on the phone texting her fiancée. When we pulled up to my place she said, “I need to come in and use your potty.”

“Again? You went at the restaurant,” I said.

“Fun fact,” she said. “I did not actually use that public facility. I just couldn’t.”

“Yeah,” I said knowing her slight germ-phobia with public restrooms. “I didn’t think that tracked.”

We walked in and I retrieved her ring while she used the restroom. That’s when there was a knock on the door.

“It was mom,” Ginny whispered.

“Yes, it was,” Gus nodded. “I opened the door and there she was and she looked…”

“Beautiful,” Ginny said.

“Like a mess,” Gus corrected.

“Hey,” Kristina said. “I just broke up with my boyfriend.”

“The jerk,” Ginny said.

Gus smiled and high-fived his daughter. He looked at his wife and continued. “I could tell she had been crying and I just wanted to scoop her up in my arms and comfort her.”

“Aw,” Kristina and Ginny whispered the same time.

“But just then, Jen came out of the restroom asking about her ring,” he continued. “Your mom pushed a pint of ice cream into my hand and said something about a school assignment she had forgotten about and turned to leave.”

“She thought you were dating Jen,” Ginny explained from her mom’s previous story.

“Yeah, she did,” Gus nodded. “I quickly looked at your mom walking away then at Jen.

“Third and final chance, idiot,” Jen said. “Go get her.”

I tossed the ice cream to Jen and ran out to catch up with your mom.

“And then you kissed?” Ginny asked.

“Well, not quite yet,” Kristina said and slid back on the bed causing Gus to stand up on the other side. “But we are getting there.”