Once I got in for the night, I started working on more of my dress designs. I kept having trouble with one of the prompts I'd been given from my classes: "Unconventional wedding".
Maybe it was because I'd been so unlucky in love all my life; I didn't know. I started by trying to draw a lace design for maybe a train or some gloves. After about ten failed attempts, I decided it was time to eat some ice cream while watching one of my favorite comfort shows for a few hours.
I checked the time. Zack was probably just getting home from Jiu Jitsu. Knowing his schedule, I grabbed my phone from the counter and sent him a text to see if we could hang out after my date with Austin.
[Text - Alex]: Hey. So, I won't be available Saturday for obvious reasons, but if you want, we can have a movie night when you get off shift Monday.
[Text - Zack]: I have the graveyard shift all next week. Maybe we can do lunch instead?
[Text - Alex]: Sure! See you then.
[Text - Zack]: Yeah, just send me a time and place.
The date was in half an hour. I took a quick shower and tried to figure out what to wear. Austin had told me to meet him at his place because he wanted the evening to be a surprise, which was sweet, even if it made planning an outfit a bit of a guessing game. I ended up going with something nice but casual—versatile enough for a casual bite, a upscale restaurant, or a walk in the park.
When I arrived, we walked down to the parking garage and got into his cherry-red Ferrari.
"Where are we going?" I asked, sliding into the passenger seat.
"Sorry, Alex. You're just going to have to trust me," Austin said with a smooth smile.
"Fine." I tried to hide my slight disappointment—I'm not huge on surprises—but I hoped whatever destination he had planned would make up for it.
We drove for a few more minutes until we arrived at our destination.
"My favorite local pizza place: Pizza π."
"Pizza π?"
I was surprised. We weren't too far from downtown Central City, and knowing I'd grown up in the area, I assumed I would have heard of it before.
Austin glanced at me, suddenly looking a bit unsure. "Yeah, is that okay? We could go somewhere else if you want."
"No! It's fine," I reassured him. "I was just surprised. I've actually never been here before."
"A coworker of mine—someone who's from the area—suggested it a few weeks ago," he explained. "It's become one of my favorite weekend spots."
After looking at the menu, I asked, "Mac'n'Cheese pizza? That sounds interesting."
"Tell you what," Austin said with a grin. "How about we get two small pizzas? One mac'n'cheese, and one less intimidatingly new style of your choice. Then we can split both."
"Sounds like a plan." He went ahead and ordered after I asked for the second option to be a simple Hawaiian BBQ while I found us a table in the corner.
A few somewhat awkward minutes later, one of the waitresses walked over to our table and asked, "One small mac 'n' cheese, and one Hawaiian?"
"Yep. That's us. Thank you!" I said, as I took one of the plates. Austin then reached over to take the second one and set it on the table.
I picked up a slice of Hawaiian, taking a bite and enjoying the sweetness of the pineapple.
Austin looked at my plate, raising an eyebrow in mild judgment. "I don't think I've ever seen someone willingly put fruit on their pizza before."
"You do know that tomatoes are a fruit, right?" I asked, smirking across the table.
He blinked at me in shock. "Since when?!"
"Since always. They have internal seeds. Avocados and pumpkins are also fruits."
"Well, consider my mind blown." Austin laughed, but as the moment settled, his smile faded a bit too quickly.
He fell quiet, staring at me across the table. He wasn't really looking at my face—his eyes were scanning over me in a way that felt quiet and calculating, almost like he was inspecting a new purchase rather than listening to me. A faint prickle of unease crept up my neck.
"Hello?" I asked, waving a hand in front of him to break the trance.
"Huh? Sorry. What did I miss?"
"Not much. I just asked what you were thinking about."
"Oh, nothing, really. I suppose I need to get better at leaving stress at work. I have a bad tendency to take it all home with me, and everywhere else, for that matter."
"As someone who works from home, I can totally relate," I said, leaning in slightly across the table.
"Speaking of which, what started your passion for interior design?"
"I loved dollhouses as a kid. And not the ones you typically see where it's all about the dolls, and not the house itself. I remember there was one that my father and I built together. It took up most of a corner in my room growing up. I was always designing and arranging furniture for each of the rooms and designing clothes for the dolls. I did all the tailoring and upholstery myself. I always got compliments on my work, even from those who thought a high schooler with a dollhouse was childish. I hope to have a larger business with an actual office one day and be able to sell my own furniture and clothing."
I paused to take a sip of my drink before flipping the question back to him. "What about you? Why acting? Where do you want to go with it?"
"My mom was the theater teacher at my high school," Austin said. "I grew up watching the classics and attending school plays. In high school, I landed many of the leading male roles. Some thought it was because my mom was the teacher, but others kept telling me that I had real talent. I went to college in California, where I was able to continue my involvement in theater through various clubs. I played a supporting character in a few lesser-known TV shows for a while, and then I finally got a starring role in CHiPs. For future goals, I've always enjoyed classic romantic movies, but if I'm being honest, I'd rather be the next Christian Grey or Jackson Steel."
I paused mid-bite, blinking at him. Christian Grey? Really?
That was definitely not the answer I was expecting when I asked about his acting aspirations. A nervous little chuckle escaped my throat before I could catch it.
"Oh. Um… I've personally never seen the Fifty Shades movies or read the books, but I've heard that they're… fascinating."
I tried to keep my voice light, but a small alarm bell went off in the back of my mind. It wasn't just the reference—it was the smug, dead-serious way he said it, like he genuinely viewed those characters as the pinnacle of romance. I took another slow sip of my water, suddenly feeling a lot more cautious about where this conversation might lead next.
"R-rated romance movies aren't for everyone," Austin said smoothly, catching my reaction. "How about a change of subject, since you look a little uncomfortable: What's your favorite book series?"
I breathed a small sigh of relief at the pivot, trying to shake off the awkwardness. "I'm currently reading Ian Fleming's Casino Royale—the first installment of the James Bond series. Pretty much anything: action, adventure, or mystery. Some of my all-time favorite series include Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson, J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter, and Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider. I also enjoy Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and many others."He seemed a bit wary at this point. "Of course, some of those might seem childish, but if not for those, I would have never started reading Janet Evonivich or Tony Hillerman novels as I got older. I was always the girl with a book in the corner of the library growing up." As I listed them off, I noticed the way he was watching me. His expression was polite, but his eyes felt strangely detached—like he was checking boxes on an interview form rather than sharing a casual dinner conversation. It gave me that same faint, unexplainable prickle on the back of my neck. "What about you?"
"I've always enjoyed the classic dystopian sci-fi novels," he replied, tilting his water glass slightly. "Such as 1984, Animal Farm, I, Robot, Dune, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. My mom also insisted that I read Jane Austen, Nicholas Sparks, and other romance authors. That's how I got into E. L. James and J. Kenner."
"So, you're a nerd and a romantic." I caught myself giggling a bit. He was charming, no doubt, and it was easy to see why women fell for him. But even as I smiled across the table, a strange little voice in the back of my head wondered if he was telling me what he actually believed or just rehearsing lines he knew I'd like to hear.
"Fine, go ahead. Make fun of me," he said, flashing a quick smile. "But in my defense, Orwell and Asimov are good writers. And you can't tell me that Pride and Prejudice isn't a good book. It has history and finesse. What more could you want?"
"Okay, okay! I didn't mean to offend you; I'm just surprised, is all."
"What, that I read romance novels?"
"No. That you read actual books."
"Harsh. But understandable. Most actors and celebrities don't portray themselves in a way that suggests any of us have the time or willingness to sit and read anything other than tabloid articles about ourselves"
We continued talking about books for a while as we finished eating. Both pizzas were amazing, but all good things must come to an end.
Austin drove me home and walked me up toward my door. Before I could say goodnight, he stepped in close and kissed me. It was unexpected—soft and gentle, yet completely deliberate.
Wow. I guess a second date isn't out of the question then.
"Goodnight, Alexandra," he said softly.
"Goodnight."
Something about the way he said my full name in that smooth, dark tone sent a little shiver through me. Part of me was thrilled, but another part wondered why he always insisted on calling me Alexandra when everyone else called me Alex.
After he left, I headed inside and took a warm shower to unwind. When I grabbed my phone from the counter, I noticed a new text from him:
[Text - Austin]: Hey, I had a good time tonight. Would you like to go on a second date? I was thinking we could go to the movies sometime during the next week.
I stared at the message for a moment, my thumb hovering over the screen. He was charming, handsome, and attentive... So why was I hesitating?
Maybe it's best if I leave that for tomorrow morning, I thought, setting the phone down on my nightstand. That way I'm not making a hasty decision, right?
When I woke up the next morning, I reached for my phone and opened Austin's text. I still had that tiny, lingering hesitation, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
[Text - Alex]: I have a commission due at the end of the week, but I think I can spare enough time for a date.
[Text - Austin]: Good. Let's say Friday at 6?
[Text - Alex]: Sounds like a plan.
[Text - Austin]: It's a date then. 😉
I called my mom the next morning, as I do almost every Sunday. She was excited that I actually went out on a date for once. Everything was going well at home, and we were all set for dinner tonight. She told me to invite Zack, and I agreed it would be good for him after having dinner with his mother earlier in the week.
I decided to talk to him in person and drove over to his apartment.
"Hey. I wasn't expecting you today. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. My mom invited you to dinner tonight. I told her about our dinner with Martha the other day."
"Okay." He laughed a bit, and I couldn't help but smile. "I'll go to dinner with you and your family."
"I will text her to let her know."
"Uh… just out of curiosity, how was your date with Austin last night?"
"It was great! Have you heard of Pizza Pi? Their mac'n'cheese pizza is surprisingly amazing."
"Pi as in 3.14?"
"Yep. Kinda funny if you think about it."
"I think Sam said something about that place at some point. Maybe it had something to do with one of her dates. I can never keep them all straight. Anyway, how did it go? Do you have a second date lined up?"
"Actually, yes. Friday at six. I believe we are headed to a movie theater."
"That sounds like fun. I'm glad you had a good time. Speaking of time, we should probably get going before your parents start to worry about your whereabouts."