That Boy (48 page)

The Piedmont?

“Did you know Phillip and I are having dinner there?”

“Um, uh no, we didn't. The View is a wonderful restaurant though. I'm sure you'll have a great time, dear.”

“This is for you,” she says, thrusting a box into my hand and deftly changing the subject.

I open it and there, surprise, surprise, is another charm. This one is a heart with little red stones scattered around the edges.

“Thanks,” I say, and before I can hug her, Mr. Mac hands me another box. I open it. It's a red capital N, for Nebraska football. “I love it,” I say, and give them both big hugs.

“Oh, JJ, I wish your mother were here to see you tonight,” she gushes and looks like she's going to cry. “You look just perfect.”

That's nice, but come on people, it's a
first
date. We probably don't need to go getting all emotional just yet. I know Phillip is going to a lot of trouble, but um, how 'bout we get past like the
second
date, before we go getting all teary eyed.

She gives me another hug, just as the nazi limo driver honks his horn again.

“That's my ride. And he's so polite. Um, do you guys know if I'm ever going to see my date? Did Phillip tell you where he's meeting me?”

“Oh, Doug, look at the time,” Mrs. Mac says, glancing at her watch. “We've got to get going.”

They hustle me out the front door and into the limo without answering my question.

I lean back in my seat, let out a big sigh and decide to have some more champagne. Is it just me, or are
all
the Mackenzies acting a little strange about this whole first date thing?

Is something going on here?

I feel like I'm missing something. It's nowhere near my birthday. And it's not like they are coming on our date,
surely,
he wouldn't have invited them. No. He said
romantic
. I must just be paranoid. They are simply excited that Phillip and I are finally together. And that's a nice thing. I wouldn't want to have in-laws who didn't like me.

God, there I go again. Actually thinking about marrying Phillip. Although, I guess it's not that big of a deal. I remember in high school always trying on a boy's last name, to see if it sounded okay. If it fit. Trying on a last name is very important because you wouldn't want to fall in love with some guy, only to find out that your name would end up something weird or all rhymey like Mary Barry, or worse, something gross like Jenny Tayla or Amanda Lick.

Okay, so let's see
. Just for fun.

Jadyn Reynolds-Mackenzie.

No. Too long.

JJ Mackenzie.

Jadyn James Mackenzie.

Not bad. Doable, I'd say.

All of a sudden, the driver stops the car. I look out to see that we are…....uh, where are we? I peer out the windows in all directions and determine that we are….
definitely
in the middle of nowhere.

Like all I can see is a gravel road and lots of corn.

Great, the limo driver is probably some psychotic serial killer, and now he's brought me out here to finish me off. Just as I'm thinking about my options, he startles me by lowering the window separating us. It's been up the entire trip.

Crap.

My purse wasn't big enough for pepper spray. Now what?

I smile at him sort of nervously. He smiles back and hands me a little box.

I open it and see that it's a cross charm.

I look outside again and realize that this is probably the exact spot where Phillip pulled off the road and yelled at me before his dad called us on the night my parents died. Well, actually, I may have yelled at him.

Hmm.

Not a particularly happy memory, but a strong one nonetheless. And definitely a time in my life when Phillip was there for me. He was my rock. I don't think I could have gotten through it without him.

I feel the car go forward, as the driver rolls the partition up.

Yippee. Maybe he's
not
going to kill me.

We drive for about half an hour. I can see that we are going back toward Omaha, and it even appears we are headed downtown.

Hopefully to the Piedmont and my date.

I look at my bracelet full of charms and think, this is nice and all, but doesn't it seem like a bit much for a
first date
?

Actually, it seems like a bit much for
any
date. Although, I don't think I could even categorize this as a date yet. Because technically, it takes two people to have a date, and I refuse to count the limo driver.

This has been more like a scavenger hunt.

Not exactly the romantic evening I had in mind.

Maybe this thing with Phillip isn't going to work out.

The limo driver pulls up to the Piedmont. The Piedmont is the coolest hotel in town. It's in an old historic building that was completely renovated. The doorman opens my door. I slide out and look around for Phillip.

Shit.

I don't see him, so I walk inside. I've never gotten to stay at this hotel, but if the lobby is any indication, the rooms must be beautiful. The lobby has a huge, high, old-fashioned tin ceiling. There are marble columns and crown molding that must be at least two foot thick.

A bellman walks over to me and hands me a note card.

What is this? And how the hell does he know who I am?

Just go with the flow, Jay, I tell myself, trying to stay calm.

I read the note. It says,
Go up the elevator to the 16
^th
floor
.

No signature. No heart.

I get on the elevator and see from the sign that the restaurant is on the 16
^th
floor.

I am telling you, if Phillip isn't there, I'm done with this date because I'm sick and tired of being on it alone!

The elevator doors open to a dimly lit hall that leads into the restaurant.

Still no Phillip.

Damn that boy!

Where the hell is he?

I mean, I'm not complaining, but I have been on this whole scavenger hunt date extravaganza thing for over two hours now, and I
still
haven't seen my date.

Okay, so maybe I'm complaining a bit, but I can't help it.

I want to
be
with him.

The maitre de is obviously expecting me because he says, “Miss Reynolds, please follow me,” and he leads me to a big, cozy, leather wrapped booth.

And guess what?

Phillip is actually here!

He sees me, give me a big grin, and stands up. He kisses my cheek sweetly, then lets me slide into the booth before him.

Finally! Some manners! Much better than the horn honking, bossy, nazi limo driver I have been spending my time with.

“You're late,” he says.

I give him an angry look before he kisses me again.

He is teasing me, I think.

Phillip looks very handsome. He's got on a dark brown suit that matches his eyes. Under the suit, he's wearing a light blue shirt and a really cool brown, blue and orange tie. And I will admit, when I got here, I had my panties in a bit of a wad and was kinda irritated at Phillip. But the minute I looked at him, it all melted away. I'm pretty sure that means I do love him.

“You look incredible,” he tells me.

And I'm pretty sure he means it because his eyes are just riveted on me.

It makes me feel both nervous and powerful at the same time.

I think I could get away with just about anything in this dress.

Hmm. Maybe I'll give it a try.

“Well,” I tell him, shaking my head, “I have been having
quite
the date without you. How
did you ever
find a limo driver that was a former male dancer?
He was so cute
. It was like having my own mini bachelorette party before our date. It was really nice of you to let me get that out of my system before we get too serious. Thank you
so
much!” I say very sincerely and very full of shit.

“The limo driver
danced
for you?” Phillip asks in disbelief. For a second, I see a little jealousy cross that cute face of his.

“Isn't that why you hired him?” I ask innocently, trying to control my smile.

“NO,” he says angrily, but then sees my smirk, grabs me, kisses me again and says, “You are so full of shit. I can't believe I just fell for that.”

I laugh.

It's good to know I can still get to him.

“Seriously then, I suppose I should thank you for the limo ride, even though I didn't like that you weren't there. And let's see, the incredible roses, and the spa, and the bracelet, and the dress…”

“I think the dress was for me,” he interrupts. “You look…beautiful, incredible, sexy…
everything
.”

Phillip keeps beaming at me. This dress feels practically magical. It may very well be, based on the way he's looking at me.

It's like he's mesmerized, he's hypnotized….

Hey, that reminds me of a song.

Oh! I know!

Why this car is automatic, it's systematic, it's hyyydddrroomatic, why it's greased lightin'.
My mom and I loved to watch the movie
Grease
. My friends always thought Danny Zuko was so cute, but I preferred Kenickie. Which isn't a big surprise, now that I think about it. I mean if Phillip had to play one of the T-Birds from
Grease
, he'd definitely play Kenickie. But
only
because of how he looks, as in he was hot, cuz let's face it, Kenickie was kind of a jerk, and Phillip is
so
not.

The waiter comes over and pours us champagne, so I shove the movie and Kenickie to the back of my mind.

“You know, Phillip, I really should eat something before I drink any more.” I barely get the words out of my mouth, when another waiter starts setting an array of appetizers on our table. Phillip has obviously planned out this portion of the date in detail as well.

I immediately dig in.

I mean, I do it gracefully.

“You know,” I say between bites of crab cake, “your sister has us like practically married already. I thought we were going to try to keep this a secret.”

“Did you really think Mom could keep this to herself? After the plotting the two of them have been doing? They're already congratulating themselves.”

“I know. I just don't want them to get the wrong idea about us. I mean, its been a week. We don't even know for sure what's going on yet.”

“We don't?”

“Well, I mean we're having great fun and all, but...”

“Here,” he says, interrupting me AGAIN and handing me another little box.

Another charm.
Fabulous. Can't wait to open it.

I'm sorry, but I've had about enough of these little things.

But still, I try to look surprised and pleased as I open the box.

Oh, crap. Now I feel bad for thinking that.

Awwhh, I really do love this charm. In fact, it's my favorite. It's a little princess crown with pink jewels on the tips of the crown's points.

Phillip raises his champagne glass in a toast, “This charm is my way of promising to always treat you like a princess.”

Okay, so the princess crown and what he said makes me melt a little, but come on!

I have about had it with all the romance.

This is
so not Phillip
! He's a take me to Hooters, watch football, play darts, go jogging with kind of guy. Not this mushy sap.

What has
happened
to him?

So being the blunt girl that I am, I say, “Okay, Phillip, what gives? What's with all this romance stuff? I've had almost as much as I can take. This is so not you.”

He smiles sweetly, “Well, I just wanted tonight to be a night that you would never forget. I wanted it to be
very special
.”

Very special?
There are those pesky words again.

“Have your previous boyfriends ever done anything like this?”

“I think you already know the answer to that, Phillip,” I roll my eyes at him, “
and
,
no
, they have not.”

So I add the charm to my bracelet and eat another crab cake.

The waiter comes over.