My energy in the morning is out of this world. I call Jay, and we discuss restaurants. He tells me the name of the hotel he would be staying at. I sigh with relief to find that it is not one of Kit's hotels. He asks me to choose a restaurant. I choose a restaurant that is in the same building as the hotel. It is a fancy five-star restaurant that is a little bit out of town.
I search for videos on how to apply make-up perfectly. I learn about banana powders, concealers and setting sprays.
I try on different clothes, until I decide on a red flared off-shoulder dress.
I take my father's car keys and rush to the store as soon as they open. I get my make-up sets. Then my bank balance writhes in disapproving pain.
When I get home, my parents are already awake. I help my mother clean the house, then we cook lunch. I get to my room to prepare for my date night, while I think of how to ask my parents to go out.
My mother knocks twice and then she opens the door. Her eyes widen.
"You look beautiful Harriet," she gasps.
"Thanks mom, but you look disappointed."
"I thought that you would help me wash the windows before you go to work next week, but that's okay."
What is it with parents testing the limits?
"Oh!" I stand in place.
"No, it's fine. I will do that myself." She turns around, and I can't shake off the feeling that I'm in trouble.
"How about tomorrow?" I follow her.
"I have already started. It's fine." I feel the hurt and judgment in her tone, but I decide to deal with the guilt later.
I go back to my room to continue with the preparations.
When the cab pulls over at the restaurant, I thank the driver, I close the door, and I notice Kit talking to a few men next to the door of the restaurant. They are all wearing black suits with white shirts and black ties. They seem to be in deep discussion.
Kit raises his head, I duck behind the cab, and pretend to clasp my shoe, the cab drives off and Kit notices me. He smiles and waves. My heart drops, and I'm unable to comprehend why I feel guilty.
He walks towards me.
I wish that he could unsee me. This is the reason why we need time machines.
"Hi, you look so, you look so..." He exhales.
My nerves got the better of me, I even forgot that I dressed up.
"Hi Kit." I try to sound as enthusiastic as I can.
He pulls me in for a hug.
"Were you trying to hide from me moments ago?" He smiles teasingly.
"Why would I do that?" I look in the direction of his friends. My internal self is praying that they call him back and leave.
"And you are a little jumpy. Were you spying on me?"
I wish that was the real reason. Stalking him sounds like a much more reasonable reason than the real reason I'm here.
"Are you ok?" He asks, getting concerned.
"Yep." I reply.
"What are you doing here? Are you on a solo date or meeting someone?" He asks.
"I'm meeting someone."
"You are? Who? I'm your only friend."
I laugh, and the mood finally gets lightened a little.
"Who are your friends? They look older than you." I change the topic.
"We were discussing business deals."
"That's impressive. You are always working. Let me not keep you away from them then." I walk away, before realizing that I am moving in the opposite direction to the door of the hotel.
"No, we are done. We were just talking about this and that, nothing important. Where are you going?"
"Uhm..." I turn around.
"Let me not keep you from your date. You kids have fun. Where is your date anyway?"
"He is already inside." I hope.
"You have a boyfriend already? You are my spirit animal."
My mind is blank, and I can't think of a comeback. Which is good, because I don't want to prolong this. Kit might end up meeting Jay, and he is mad at him.
"You are awfully quiet. Have fun. Tell him that you are the most important person to me, and if he ever hurts you, he will regret it. I'm still going to confront Jay, don't worry." He speaks while walking me to the door.
I smile and wave goodbye when I am inside.
I take out my phone to call Jay, but I find him I notice him seated already. The lady leads me to the table.
When he sees me, he beams, and then he gives me a hug that I longed for at the soccer stadium. My eyes get a little teary.
"It's good to see you," he says after pulling my chair.
"You wanted to see me?" I immediately say to him.
"Yes, I would like us to talk."
"I'm here."
"I got scared. I am really in love with you. Then I got scared that I might get distracted."
"I love you so much," I say to him.
"But?"
"There is no but." I knit my eyebrows.
"Does that mean you forgive me?"
"Yes."
"I missed you." He holds my hand.
"I missed you too."
We talk about his friends, his family and my family. He asks me about my parents reaction to my course changes. I tell him that they are furious, and then he tells me that they would come around. After eating, we head to his hotel room.
We cuddle, while watching a movie. After the movie, I give him a peck on the lips when we reach the door, he gives me another peck. Then we kiss again, this time, it gets a little more intense. We move in the direction of his bedroom without breaking the kiss. I feel my limbs getting wobbly. He carries me, and my hands are in his soft hair. He drops me on his ridiculously large bed, and then he takes his t-shirt off in a second. He kisses me, and we slowly move closer to the headboard.
We break the kiss, with so much difficulty. He sits with his back against the headboard. I sit on top of him, facing him. I feel a bulge below the lowest part of the lower abdomen, I moan. He chuckles, then we continue to kiss.
His hands slide under my dress, and he moves them up, touching my bare back.
"Jay," I whisper. "We have to stop."
"Yeah." He says without breaking the kiss.
We continue to kiss, with no one between us willing to break the kiss. I decide to be the reasonable one, and then I let go.
"You are right." He breathes. "We were going to go a little too far."
We lie on our backs, we are silent, and then we finally recover.
"Let me take you home." He gets up and puts on his shirt.
"You rented a car?" I glance at him, and then at the car.
"Yep, I intend to stay for a little while. While I spend some time with you."
I exhale, and I feel an involuntary smile forming at the corner of my lips.
He drops me off a few houses from home. We kiss, and then I get off.
I carefully unlock the door, take off my shoes and prepare to tip toe to my room.
The kitchen light gets switched on. My mom and I both scream.
Mom's midnight snacks.
"You still eat midnight snacks?"
"Yes."
"Why don't you put them in your room?"
"So that I won't hear people who sneak back into my house?" He glances at the shoes in my hand.
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time."
"When you will be out at night, just call to let us know. That's all."