This is the second chapter of my single dad romance. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter Two
After leaving the gym, I went grocery shopping, and now I was home, stepping out of the shower when my phone started ringing. Hoping it was Lucas, I’m just as excited to see it’s my best friend, Monique.
I’d met her four years ago when my town decided to show all of Game Of Thrones season 3 at the local theater. When you sit next to a girl for 10 hours, you kind of have to become best friends right?
I swipe to pick up the call, answering with, “I met a guy.”
“Tell me everything.”, is her only reply.
“I was at the gym and got caught staring at this guy doing pull-ups. So, of course, I took my smooth self over there and got his number.”
She snorts, “Right. Smooth meaning you made some corny jokes and he somehow still asked you out?”
“You know me too well.”
“So when are you going out? Wait, what’s his name?”
“His name is Lucas. Is that sexy or what? We both said we’d text each other tonight to figure out the details. Of course, I’m itching to text him, but I’m trying to wait him out. But there’s one little thing I did not expect…”
“Oh God, what?”
“I think he has a daughter.”
Okay, and?”
“And? What if he has baby mama drama? What if the little girl hates me?”
“Are you trying to screw the guy or marry him?”
“Hold up. Nobody is screwing anyone just yet.”
“I give it three dates.”
“You’d give it one if you saw his body and eyes.”, I give a dramatic sigh.
Monique chuckles. “Don’t worry about his kid unless things get serious. I’m sure he doesn’t go around introducing his daughter to every girl he dates.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Should I mention that I know he has a daughter?”
“Are you even sure the girl was his?”
“Oh, well no, not 100%, but they looked like father and daughter. I don’t know.”
“Just go out and have a good time and…”
I don’t hear the rest of what she says because my phone alerts me to a text and I take my phone away from my face to see who it was.
I look and scream, “THE SWEATER!”
“Uh, who?”
“It’s Lucas. Hold on.”
I tap open the text.
Sweater: I held out as long as I could. Please don’t change my name to Desperate.
I burst out laughing. “I’ve got to go.” I hang up hearing Monique say something about wanting all the juicy details.
Me: Don’t worry. Only my best friend calling stopped me from texting you first.
Sweater: Did you tell her all about how good looking I am?
Me: Yup. We were debating…
I delete that and start a new message.
Me: Yup. I told her all about your gorgeous body and beautiful eyes.
Sweater: You were typing something and then stopped. What did you delete?
I’m shocked by his question. I decide to just be honest.
Me: I was saying my best friend and I were debating how many dates it would be before you and me did the dirty, you know, based off said body and eyes.
I hit send with a flushed face. He’s taking a while to reply, so I take that time to change his name to Lucas. As soon as I save it, another message pops up.
Lucas: Well I’ve got to get in on this debate. How many did you both say?
Me: I won’t say who said what, but one of us said one and one of us said three.
Lucas: Hmm, I’ll take the middle ground and say two.
Me: LOL. There’s that confidence again.
Lucas: Hey, you’re the one who said one date.
Me: Why do you assume I was the one who said that?
Lucas: From the way you were watching me do pull-ups today.
Me: Whatever, We’re supposed to be planning a date, not talking about what WON’T be happening after it.
Lucas: I’ll give you three options for a date and you pick one. Cool?
Me: I like options. Make em good.
Lucas: 1) Dinner and I beat you in bowling
2) Dinner and a movie (your choice)
3) Dinner and go-kart racing (where, again, I beat you)
I take a minute to consider my options. I know I’ll be driving slower than my granny at go-karts, so that’s a no. I check the current movies out and there’s nothing I would bother seeing. So that leaves bowling.
Me: Dinner and bowling it is, but you pick the restaurant and bowling alley.
Lucas: I think I can handle that. How’s tomorrow night at 7 sound?
Me: Anxious to see me again huh?
Lucas: You have no idea.
Me: Ok, tomorrow then.
Lucas: Are you going to mention you saw me picking up my daughter?
I don’t really know how to respond. Do I say I was going to mention it, but figured it wasn’t my place or that I didn’t really think it was relevant right now, seeing as we’re not serious?
Me: I was going to wait for you to bring it up during our date. I figured if you wanted me to know, you’d tell me. But now that you brought it up… She’s beautiful.
Lucas: I would’ve told you during dinner, but I saw you leaving the gym when I picked up Bella, so I assumed you’d seen us. And thank you. She takes after me.
Me: Hehe. How old is she?
Lucas: Four, but she likes to make sure people know she’s four and a half.
Me: Too cute. Are you the dad dressing up for his daughter’s tea parties?
Lucas: Hell yes, Gotta impress Mrs. Fuzzy and Elmo.
Me: Well Elmo doesn’t wear clothes, so I’m sure you look better than him,
Lucas: Well when you see me without clothes, you can compare Elmo and me and tell me who looks better.
Me: You can take pictures in your birthday suits and I can judge now.
Me: Oh my God, that sounded so bad. Forget I texted that. Please.
I don’t get a reply for at least five minutes. I spend all of those minutes pacing the floor. I realize I never got dressed after the shower, so I reluctantly put the phone down and tug on some panties and an old gray shirt. I pick up my phone and head to the kitchen. Still no reply.
I get out the pasta, sauce, and ground beef to make some spaghetti. I’m putting the seasoning on the ground beef when my phone pings. It’s shameful how quickly I drop the seasoning to pick up my phone. But when I open the message, my eyes almost pop out of my head.
It’s picture after picture of side by sides of Lucas and an Elmo doll. My first instinct is to laugh, but it’s quickly swallowed as I scroll through the pictures. The first is a full body shot with Lucas and Elmo standing against the wall. Lucas has a barely there towel wrapped around his waist, covering the part of him I’d like to see most. Elmo has a wash cloth pinned around his waist. The little bit I saw of Lucas at the gym is nothing compared to this picture. Heat coils in my lower belly and shoots straight to my pussy. That man is sexy. No offense Elmo.
The next picture is a close up of a smiling Lucas’ face and Elmo’s black mouth and orange nose, and weirdly huge eyes. But it’s Lucas’ eyes that have me looking at this picture for longer than I should. The next picture is of their chests and abdomens. I immediately look past the half of the picture full of red fur and look at Lucas’ chest and shoulders. They’re both broad and toned. This close I can make out some of his tattoos. The ‘Bella’ written in beautiful cursive across his heart. The tree that’s growing out of his towel and spreads across his stomach, with what looks like crows perched on it’s branches. God, how I wish I could see the rest of that tattoo.
The final photo is of the bulge under the towel, or lack thereof in Elmo’s case. And what an impressive bulge it is. If only I could reach through this phone and snatch that towel away. I go through the pictures a few more times before finally replying.
Me: Elmo gave you a real run for your money, but in the end, I gave my vote to you.
Lucas: You took so long to reply, I thought your hands must’ve been busy.
I see Lucas has no shame. I like it.
Me: I’ll save that for later.
Lucas: Then my night is complete.
Me: Don’t worry, my hands will have recovered enough by tomorrow night to whip your ass in bowling.
Lucas: HA! We shall see. So do you want me to pick you up or would you rather meet me at the restaurant?
Me: I’ll meet you there.
Lucas: Ok. When I decide where we’re going, I’ll text you the name. I can’t wait to see you again.
Me: Sounds like a plan. See you at 7.
Lucas: Goodnight Cassidy.
Me: Goodnight Lucas.
ARI REAVIS 