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“That’s actually really funny,” I agree. “Did your parents do that on purpose?”
“Nah, I doubt there was much thought put into that. At least on my mother’s side,” he lifts his shoulders like it’s nothing, but I can tell that there’s more to the story.
“Oh,” I mumble. I want to slap myself over that. You’d think I’ve never had a man look at me before. But I feel so much more attracted to this one than I have ever been to any of the other men who ever showed any interest in me. Hence, the problem of my virginity. I dread the fact that I am still saddled with it just as much as I dread finding someone to rid me of it.
“So, how do I measure?” Zach leans down and into me, startling me out of my thoughts. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire. How does he know what I was just thinking about?
When I just stand here staring at him, he tries again. “Am I good enough?”
“Good enough for what?” I finally find my voice.
“For dinner with me,” he teases, and I let out a sigh of relief. I need my head examined.
“Yes,” I finally smile back, and we both turn toward the street at the same time. “Where to?”
That’s a good question too because it’s Friday night and most of the good places are bound to be packed.
All of a sudden, my hand is being grabbed by Zach’s much larger one. He starts walking toward the parking lot, dragging me behind him, but then changes his mind and walks back to the entrance to the bar.
“Zach,” I chuckle nervously. “What are you doing?”
Just as he is about to open the door, it is being pushed open, about to hit us both in the head.
“Oh shit, sorry, man, didn’t know you were there.” I recognize one of the bartenders from inside. He takes a cigarette and lighter out of his pocket and tries to step around us.
“Hey, dude,” Zach calls out. “Can you do me a favor?”
The guy watches us with apprehension. The unlit cigarette is now hanging from the corner of his lips, lighter ready to make some fire.
“Depends on what it is.” The cigarette moves when he speaks.
Zach points to me. “I just met this girl tonight, and I really like her. I want her to trust me I won’t do her any harm. So here it is. If you ever see anything on the news about her missing,” he points to me again. “Please let anyone know she was last seen with Zach Cavanaugh of Schaumburg, Illinois.”
I turn my face and bury it into Zach’s arm to muffle the laughter that’s threatening to burst from out of me.
“Her name is Hunter,” he tells the bartender. “And I’m Zach. Are you going to remember that?”
“I guess,” the guy shrugs, but you can tell he thinks we’re both crazy.
“Will this help?” Zach takes something out of his pocket, and my eyes about fall out of my head when I see he’s handing the guy a fifty-dollar bill.
“For sure, dude,” the man’s face breaks into a smile, and I shake my head in awe.
“Good deal,” Zach nods in appreciation. “Zach,” he points at his chest and repeats his name again. “Hunter,” he points at me.
“You got it,” the bartender puts the money in his pocket and lights the cigarette. With that, he’s done with us and our crazy.
Zach turns us back around, and we walk toward the parking lot once again.
“Zach, that was…” I start laughing. I can’t find the words. Hilarious? Goofy as hell? Confusing?
“Crazy as fuck, I know,” Zach finds a better description for what just happened. “But I want you to trust me when I say that I won’t hurt you.”
We stop walking when we reach an old Jeep Wrangler. It is black and the paint seems to flake off in places.
“I want to take you home with me.” His green eyes bore into mine, making my breath hitch. “We won’t do anything that you don’t want to do, I swear on my life,” he promises, then waits to see what my response to his non-invitation is.
“I’d love that,” I whisper despite myself. Because this is crazy, right? Do people go off with strangers like this anymore? In today’s day and age?
