A Bridge of Her Own (16 page)

Either way, it made Jane feel self conscious and maybe a tinge jealous. Yikes! Jealous, she just met this guy, ugh.

“Jane!” Gabe called leaving the group “let’s dance” he grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor.

She felt simultaneously thrilled and terrified at the same time. Lacey was right, he liked her back! There was an upbeat song she recognized from the radio playing. Once on the dance floor they stood facing each other and Jane froze.

“Okay?” Gabe asked concerned.

“I suck at dancing” Jane whispered embarrassed.

“That all?”
Gabe grinned and held out his hand.

She took it and he placed his other on her hip and pulled her too him. She could feel the heat coming from his hand through the material of her dress. She placed her other hand on his shoulder. He was very firm for his lanky build. She could smell his cologne and it smelled really good, kind of earthy and masculine. He led them to the music and Jane caught Lacey’s eye over his shoulder and tried not to giggle as she yet again gave her double thumbs up. Gabe followed her gaze and saw Lacey who though caught tried to play it off and talk to the guy next to her.

“Hmm I’ve earned not a single but a double thumbs up, that has got to be a good sign” he remarked.

Not sure of how to respond Jane nodded. Once the song was over they headed back to the group. Gabe did not let go of her hand and his friends noticed. He received cat calls and pats on the back. He hung his head and
apologized to Jane saying his friends were so embarrassing and he would not be surprised if they serenaded her with either the ‘lost that loving feeling song’ from Top Gun or the old elementary school fall back ‘kissing in the tree.’

Lacey came to their rescue “Oh grow up and leave them alone, it’s late. Who wants to go grab food?”

Chapter 2
1

Food ended up being a very popular idea. The debate began with where to go and location won out as they all headed to a local dinner within walking distance. Once there the lights seems extra bright in comparison to the dim bar and dance club. Jane and Lacey hit the ladies room to perform a quick hair/make up check.

“So has he asked for your number yet?” Lacey asked.

“No, is that bad?” Jane said feeling suddenly insecure.

“Please, I’m sure he will. He is totally into you.” Lacey assured her. “Let’s go, I’m starving.”

Jane sat down next to Gabe and ordered a Belgian waffle and a cherry coke. Gabe went with a Western Omelet which Jane secretly hoped was light on the onions. While they waited, Gabe took out his cell phone put his arm around her and snapped a picture of them.

“Going to text that picture to your mom, dude?” Matt called out from the other end of the table.

“No bro, just wanted a pic to go with the number” then looking at Jane, “if she’ll give it to me. That is I would completely understand why she wouldn’t, given I hang out with the likes of you.” He raised his eyebrow and said “So, what do you say? Can I call you sometime?”

Jane felt the color rush to her cheeks as all of the eyes at the table were suddenly on her. “I’d like that.”

“Whew” Gabe exclaimed pretending to wipe sweat of his brow “that would have really blown if you had said no.”

She gave him her number, then he texted
her the picture so she would also have his number. She sipped her cherry coke as she tried to decide if the feeling in her gut was hunger or butterflies or maybe even a combination of the two. It didn’t help that every time Gabe wasn’t looking Lacey was either mouthing ‘Oh My God’ or winking at her.

Once the food came and Jane dug in and then she knew for sure it was butterflies. While they ate, Lacey kept everyone rolling with stories from her job as a temp. Who knew stuffing envelopes could be so funny? Once Jane finished her waffle, she was struggled not to yawn. Didn’t matter how excited she was to meet Gabe, she was tired. Not fair she thought and contemplated ordering coffee.

Gabe picked up on it and asked “Sleepy?”

“I’m
sorry, I don’t usually stay out this late.”

“No worries, it’s really late for me too” he said stifling a yawn.

Lacey was the only one asking about an after party.

“Lace, I’m beat. Let’s call it a night” Jane pleaded.

“Did you drive, or could you use a lift?” Gabe asked.

“We would love a lift!” Lacey shouted.

“Please ignore her, we drove” Jane said shaking her head “I’m parked over by the bar we met at"

“Me too” Gabe replied “Matt and I can walk you to your car.”

He held her hand on the walk back. Lacey and Matt walked ahead of them. Lacey barefoot swinging her heels from her hands as she walked. Matt informing her she may catch the plague from germs on the sidewalk. From that point on Lacey kept trying to touch him with her feet. Gabe and Jane, laughing as Matt, ran from Lacey to avoid the plague.

Once at Jane’s car, she blanked on what to say. Would he kiss her in front of his friend? What should she do or say? Lacey, suddenly and somewhat suspiciously exhausted, got into the car and was sound asleep. With his friend waiting off by his car, Gabe pulled Jane into his arms and gave her a long hug.

Into her ear he murmured, “I really didn’t even want to go out tonight, but man, I am really happy I did and that we met, Jane.”

He pulled away from her and opened her door for her. Once she was in, he patted the top of her car before walking back over to his friend.

“Drive safe!” Jane called out to him.

She grimaced instantly, feeling as though she could have said something cooler. He turned back towards her and grinned. Once they were out of the parking lot, Lacey popped right up and smiled.

“You owe me so much for taking you out. Man, he was really cute. Tell me everything I may have missed from the beginning.”

Jane spent the whole car ride home revisiting every look, touch, and word spoken with Gabe for Lacey. Ronald greeted them at the door loudly protesting his empty water dish. After filling it, she floated into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and passed out, thankful she could sleep in.

#

Jane’s eyelids fluttered as patch of sunlight moved right over her eyes.

She prayed for clouds to block out the sun, pulled her blanket over her head, and went back to sleep. The smell of coffee an hour or so later finally roused her. Lacey was flipping through the TV line up, coffee in hand, sprawled out on the sofa. Jane went to make herself a cup. Then she picked up Ronald and plopped down with him into their armchair.

“Man, last night was a good night. Do you think Gabe will call you today?” Lacey asked, not looking away from the TV.

“I hope so,” Jane replied, inhaling the glorious coffee scent. “He was really nice and all as far as I can tell, but I still feel kinda silly liking a guy I met at a bar.”

“Please.” Lacey started looking at her. “It’s not like you sucked face all night and never even found out his name. Yeah, ‘cause that was me last month. It would be nice to run into that guy again, though. He was a kick-ass kisser whoever he was.”

They ate toasted bagels topped with cream cheese and watched reruns.

“So, what’s on tap today?” Lacey asked.

“I have crazy laundry to get through, and I promised I’d run by my parents’ house to show my mom how to print pictures with her new camera. Wanna come?”

“Got nothing better to do,” Lacey answered, standing.

One perk about apartment living: multiple washing machines. Jane was able to do three loads and Lacey two loads, all at the same time. Once their clothes were cleaned and put away, they headed to Jane’s parents’ house.

Her parents still lived in the house Jane had grown up in. She usually saw them twice a month or more depending on how busy she was. Jane’s dad was out front mowing the lawn. Every year he got closer to retirement, the more preoccupied he seemed with their curb appeal. Today, for example, he was practicing cutting the grass in a diamond shape pattern with the lawn mower. He waved as the girls pulled up but continued his task.

“I see your dad is still working on having the best lawn on the block,” Lacey observed.

“Isn’t your dad into bird watching now?” Jane replied, eyebrow
raised.

“Touché,” Lacey giggled. They entered through the side door and dropped their purses on the kitchen table. Jane called out.

“Mom, where are you?”

“We’re in the living room,” her mother said.

“We?’ Jane mouthed to Lacey as the girls made their way to the living room.

Jane came to an abrupt stop in the doorway once she realized who was with her mom. Lacey, not expecting the halt, plowed into Jane sending both girls stumbling into the room.

“How graceful,” Mrs. Martin observed from her perch on the loveseat.

Next to her sat Jane’s ex-boyfriend, Wyatt Huntington III.

“Oh um, sorry,” Jane mumbled looking down at her sweatpants tucked into Ugg boots and the faded cookie monster t-shirt she sometimes slept in.

It was the perfect look to run into an old boyfriend, she thought. She could tell by the look on her mother’s face that she felt the same way. Wyatt looked very respectable in pressed beige pants and a crisp white oxford.

“Mom, you should have called and let me know Wyatt was stopping by.”

“Darling,” her mother sighed. “Wyatt stopped by so unexpectedly.” She then turned to him.
“Though it was such a welcome surprise.”

Lacey was not thrilled to see Wyatt and coolly sat in an armchair and stared at him. Jane had met Lacey first in college and then Wyatt. Lacey had actually introduced Jane to Wyatt. Lacey had also been Jane’s first real friend. Before that, Jane’s only real companion was her mother. Her father Mitch, traveled quite a lot for work when she was little, her mother was never interested in entertaining other children so Jane had few friends.

“Hello Wyatt, in town for a visit?” Jane said quietly.

“I’ve just moved back. I will be beginning an internship with a firm downtown next week.” He replied.

Lacey sat in a wing chair, abnormally silent, and watched the exchange like a spectator at a tennis match. It turned out Wyatt had stopped by to leave his new contact information with Jane’s mom to pass along to her, assuming her parents still lived there. After some time, he stood, excusing himself as he still had quite a bit of unpacking to do.

“Jane, I would love to get together some time to catch up,” he said, getting up. Jane’s mother looked thrilled. “Mrs. Martin, Lacey, it was a pleasure to see you both.”

“Jane, why don’t you walk Wyatt out?” Her mother said, motioning her to follow him.

She nodded and followed him to the door.

“I am truly sorry I surprised you,” he began. “I only meant to drop off my number but your mom—”

“No,” Jane interrupted. “It’s fine. Don’t apologize.”

He gave her a stiff hug and then was gone.

Jane shut the door then leaned against it in an attempt to let her brain process what had just happened.

“Jane!” her mother called from the living room, snapping her back to reality.

“Coming, mom.”
Lacey was giving her a “holy crap, did that just really happen” look when she reentered the room.

“Wasn’t that a lovely surprise?” Mrs. Martin gushed, smoothing her sweater. “Pity you weren’t more presentable. When I opened the door, well, you could have pushed me down with a feather when I saw Wyatt. What a nice young man and an internship downtown.
How impressive.”

“Alright mom.
Where’s your camera?” Jane said happy to change the subject.

Jane got through her lesson as fast as possible. Lacey and Mr. Martin shared a pitcher of lemonade as he watched the golf channel. After promising her mom she would call and let her know when she heard from Wyatt and then kissing her dad on the cheek, she and Lacey bolted.

Chapter 22

Once in the car, Lacey said, “Oh my God, what are you thinking?”

“I have no idea what just happened,” Jane replied. “I mean I was there, but I just don’t think my brain believes it. I just figured once we broke up that was it. I would probably never see him again. I am really surprised he is doing an internship here. I just figured he would want to be in a bigger city. And stopping by my parent’s house? Kinda weird, right? And could I have looked worse?” Jane went on.

“Hush, you look adorable,” Lacey objected.

“Thanks, babe. It’s just not a look I would have chosen to run into an ex in.” Jane replied.
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz
. “Hey Lace, grab my cell. I think it’s buzzing.”

Lacey pulled Jane's smart phone from her purse and confirmed “Yep, looks like a text. Want me to read it?”

Jane nodded.

“Hi Jane, its Gabe from last night…” Lacey read. Jane’s mouth dropped open, and Lacey squealed.

“Keep reading!” Jane pleaded.

“I wanted to know if you would like to go out sometime. How is your schedule this week?” Now it was Jane’s turn to squeal. “Wow, he’s texting you the next day. He must really like you,” Lacey said.