The Stolen - Jason Pinter [117]
"You have no idea," I said.
"How's Curt doing?" she asked.
"He's going home this weekend. I sent a few Olsen
twins movies to his apartment as a joke. Figured if Ashley
and Mary Kate can't cheer him up, the guy's hopeless."
Amanda smiled. "You're a true friend."
"He's lucky to have me," I said. "So you came here
because you wanted to talk about things? About us?"
"Not so much talk," she said. "I had an even better idea.
I hope you're okay with it."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"I'm going to take you out tonight. Dinner and a movie.
There's an Italian place on Eighty-Third that's supposed
to serve the best gnocchi in the city."
"Wait," I said, "this sounds an awful lot like a date."
"I could be coy and play hard to get, but what's the point?
Henry Parker, I would love to take you out on a date tonight."
My heart swelled. It was probably from the huge emotional swing, but suddenly I found myself hugging
Amanda, pulling her as hard as I could into my chest.
Then her hands were on me, pushing me away. Confused,
I stepped back, looked at her.
"Are you kidding?" she said, smiling. "This is a first
date. You don't get to hug before the movie popcorn."
"Wait, a first date?" I said. "Was I imagining, you know,
our whole relationship?"
"Uh-uh. But when I thought about it, I realized we'd
never really gone on an actual first date. Meeting when you
The Stolen
333
were on the run for your life and all. So I thought let's go
back, start where we never got the chance. Dinner and a
movie, sport."
"Shouldn't I pay, then?"
"This is the twenty-first century, Henry, get real.
Besides, I think I make more money than you."
"I can't say no, can I?"
Amanda smiled "Do you really want to?"
"Not in the slightest."
"Just a date," she said. "Then we'll go from there."
"Just give me one more chance," I said, "and I promise
it will be worth it."
* * * * *
(r)
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2003-8
THE STOLEN
Copyright (c) 2008 by Jason Pinter.
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