Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [70]
In a mere twinkle, it seemed to Katy, it was intermission. “Can we get something?” Addison instantly begged, swinging Samantha’s hand.
Katy put off the question momentarily, standing to let others in their row pass. Meanwhile, Addison was skipping impatiently from toe to toe. Katy turned and glanced toward the lobby.
Erin offered, “I’ll take the girls. I need a drink myself.”
“All right, but stay with Erin,” she warned the children, and Addison nodded.
“You want something, too?” Jake asked.
“No thank you. I just want to sit and drink in the splendor.” Katy slid back into her seat and Jake climbed over the one next to her and plopped himself down in it. They shared an armrest and spoke about the performance and the costumes. She glanced down at the orchestra pit. “I was nervous about tonight.”
“That’s understandable. So how does this story end, anyway?”
She spent the next several minutes insisting that he had read far too few books in his childhood and spent too many hours getting into trouble.
At the end of the intermission, Addison squeezed into the row, stepping on Jake’s feet, and he reached out a hand to stay the little one. “Can I sit with Erin?” Addison asked. Katy drew in a ragged breath. Addison begged, “Please.”
“Me, too.” Samantha echoed.
With a shrug, Katy changed places with Erin and trailed Jake back to his row, sliding in beside him. And that’s when the afternoon really became enchanted. When the glittery carriage rolled onto the stage, pulled by white-wigged men wearing tights and doublets, she felt like she was living inside the fairy tale. Her shoulder pressed against her prince’s, she allowed her guard to melt away for one afternoon and indulged in what it might be like to be Cinderella, or at the very least, an outsider.
When the performance ended, Jake whispered, “We’ll walk you to your car.” Behind them, Erin kept up a charming dialogue with Addison. Katy was having too much fun to replace her guard. There was always tomorrow. She had until midnight before the spell ended. While Jake opened her door, Erin moved around the back of the car with Addison.
Jake whispered, “I wish this didn’t have to end.”
Her pulse quickened. She felt the same way, reluctant to ruin a magical afternoon.
He kept his voice low. “I know I don’t have any right to ask, but I’d like to take you to dinner tonight. To tell you my story. You did say I need to have more interest in stories with happy endings.”
“You’re twisting my words.”
“Please say yes.”
She started to protest. “No. I—”
But he wouldn’t have it. “It’s not a date. Just two old friends. We’re all dressed up.” He winked.
She didn’t want to remove Lil’s dress just yet. Until midnight, and then I’ll get back to reality. “All right. I need to take Addison home first.”
“I’ll drop Erin off at her dorm and pick you up at your castle, say around seven?”
She smiled. “Okay.”
Jake stood statue-like, watching Katy back her car out of its parking spot and steer it toward the garage exit. “Good job!” Erin exclaimed.
He let out a sigh. “I can’t believe she said yes. Did you see her, Erin? She’s so”—he shook his head unable to express his feelings—“and she’s giving me another chance.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I can’t believe it.”
“You’ve got it bad.”
He grinned. “I know.”
They walked past a row of cars and stepped into an elevator. “You think she considers this a date?” he asked.
Erin’s brows knit together. “What did you say to her?”
“I asked her to go to dinner”—he inwardly groaned as he recalled his exact words—“as two friends.”
“That was lame.”
He flashed Erin a frown. “It just popped out. While I was begging her.” Erin’s mouth gaped. “You begged, too?”
They stepped out of the elevator and went toward his truck. “I guess it’s not a date. But it’s a chance. She’s giving me a second chance, right?”