We were back and Carol was looking at me with her deadliest glare. I wished Ash could learn when to shut their mouth. I really didn’t want to explain that I was in my hoe faze while I was in college. It wasn’t like I was ashamed of it, but telling the woman I love I fucked a lot of women over my four-year tenure wasn’t ideal.

              “Carol, do you really wanna know what Ash was talking about?” I said while I dragged my hands down my face.

              “Well, apparently there’s something to tell Jolene or you wouldn’t have tried to shut Ash up like that.” She said while she crossed her arms.

              I hated when she used my full name. It always meant she was pissed at me. And hated when she was pissed at me. That’s why I never tried to act out while I was living here before. I was literally on my best behavior. Even when I wanted to punch Tina right in her ugly ass face, I still held back. Now, I just wanted to crawl into the deepest hole I could find and die in it.

              “Ash should know when to keep their mouth shut.” I muttered under my breath.

              “Excuse me?”

              “Alright! Alright!” I acquiesced. “Carol, I was like any other kid who went to college, but I bloomed there.” I cringed a little when I said that, but I definitely wasn’t going to say it any other way.

              “Ok? What’s so bad about that?” Carol asked.

I realized I was going to have to spell it out for her.

              “Carol, I slept around. A lot.” I said bluntly.

              “You… what? Jolene Gardenia Williams!”

              Oh shit… Carol never used my middle name unless shit was super serious. She used my full name when I had fucked up, but she pulled out my middle name when shit was about to hit the fan.

              “Carol, come on. I was young and dumb. Can you really hold that against me? I went from being the most bullied kid in school to super popular overnight.”

              Carol’s expression softened at that, so I hoped she understood. College was overwhelming. Women practically threw themselves at me. When word got around about what I had and how good I used it well…

              “Did you at least use protection?” Carol seriously asked.

              “Oh my god!” I groaned.

              Carol giggled at that and sighed in relief. I was glad she wasn’t mad. I had felt so guilty for sleeping around when my heart was set on one woman. I never thought I would be able to have Carol, so I drowned myself in meaningless sex to ease the pain.

              “I had to ask.” Carol said.

              “You really didn’t.” I said, rolling my eyes. “So, are you done being mad at me?”

              “I was never mad at you Jo. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself into trouble.”

              “Ok, by the way, I’m not like that anymore. I was dumb and young, but I’ve learned to focus on what’s important to me.” I said while I made direct eye contact with Carol.

              I knew she wouldn’t get what I was saying, but I was saying it, nonetheless. One day I would say my raw unfettered feelings, but I had time. The last thing I wanted to do was rush this and fuck it all up. That would totally destroy me. But Ash is making me paranoid with this Morgan shit. I keep on going back and forth on whether the woman likes Carol.

              Fuck it. I’m going to do something bold. I just hope it won’t blow up in my face.

              “Hey, Carol?”

              “Hmmm?”

“Do you want to go out to eat tomorrow?”

“Go out?”

“I mean... Yeah, I wanna treat you. A thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. And it’s not like I can’t afford it. My jobs pays me very well.” I said with a smile. I hoped she would say yes.

Please, say yes!

“I would love to go out with you, Jo!” Carol said excitedly.

I lifted an eyebrow at that. A little teasing didn’t hurt anybody.

“Wha- I- I- didn’t mean it like that, Jo! Come on stop teasing me.” Carol grumped.

A light flush appeared on her pale skin, so it wasn’t like she could hide it. To say I was a little pleased would be an understatement.

Why would I stop when you look so cute being teased?

“I’m sorry.” I said while I was laughing. “I just couldn’t help it! That sentence was way to suggestive.” I said, smirking.

“So where are you going to take me?” Carol asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

***

              “You about ready Carol?” I yelled up the stairs.

              I was currently fiddling with my cuff link trying to get it perfect. I dressed up for tonight. I wore my nice black slacks, a dark blue silk button down shirt, and a jacket that matched the slacks. I looked in the mirror that was by the door and thought that I cleaned up nicely. I made sure to wear some accessories like my long lance silver earrings and my Rolex that Carol had bought for me as a graduation present, but didn’t wear anything else. I didn’t want to be to flashy.

 I was finally taking Carol out to dinner. It might not mean the same thing for her as it did to me, but I was taking this very seriously, nonetheless. Today was about showing Carol what a good partner looked like. I was going to wow her with thoughtfulness and love.

              “Almost ready! I’ll be down in a minute!” Carol yelled back.

              I was practically vibrating while I waited for Carol to come downstairs. I had told Carol to dress up. I wasn’t going to ruin the surprise, but I’m sure she had an idea if we weren’t just going to dinner in our everyday clothes.

              Her feet shuffling down the stairs brought me out of my reverie and my jaw dropped all the way to the goddamn floor.

              Oh. My. God.

              Carols was- Carol was fucking beautiful. Magnificent. Alluring. Exquisite. Gorgeous. Stunning. I wish I could say another word that would describe her beauty, but none of those would do her justice. She came down in this amazing red dress that hugged all her curves and tastefully showed off her boobs. The dress looked expensive. I had no idea Carol even had a dress like that in her closet.

              Carol was about halfway down the steps, but I needed to let her know how good she looked. “Holy shit Carol. You look like a fucking goddess in that dress.” I said truthfully.

              Carol’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red. “You don’t think it’s too much? You did say to dress nice…”

              “Carol this is perfect! Its amazing.” I said awestruck. After staring dumbly at her, I extended my hand out to her, so she could safely make it down the last few steps. “I never knew who had anything like this in your wardrobe.”

              “I didn’t. I got it this year. I knew I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it, but I wanted to get something for myself.”

              “And that’s ok. You deserve the world, Carol.”

              I didn’t know if I was being too honest, but she needed to know someone thought that.

              “You’re so sweet, Jo.”

              “Only for you.” I said with a wink.

              With that, we both headed out of the door and towards my car. I loved my baby. It was a 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in all black. Was it a little pricey? Yes, but with what I make now, I am easily able to afford her. I don’t really plan on getting a new car after this unless Carol wants one. She has a 2015 Honda CR-V which gets her from point A to point B, but I know it wasn’t what she really wanted.

              I first walked over to her side of the car and opened the door for her.

              “M’lady.” I said with a dramatic bow.

              Carol giggled at the dramatics.

Was that cringe? Yes, but it made her smile, so that’s all that mattered.

I quickly got to the other side of the car and got in. We both buckled up, I made sure all my shit was in order, and then finally backed out of the driveway.

No speeding moron.

I liked to drive fast, but I know Carol’s likes to enjoy the moment. This night was about her, so I drove smoothly to the restaurant. It didn’t take too long to get there or at least to long for Floridians. I had gotten reservations at this nice restaurant that overlooked the ocean. The place was pricey, but it was the perfect place to bring Carol. She loved the ocean. Ma hated it, so she rarely got to go. I was fixing that tonight and we’ll be eating good food to.

              When we got there and parked, I was right there again by her door, making sure she got out ok. I felt like the little things mattered. Once, she was out we made our way to the restaurant with our arms linked. I liked the contact. I really liked the contact. I was again thankful for my compression shorts which seemed to be saving the day. I didn’t want to get a boner while we were right in front of the place we were going to eat at.

              “Oh, Jo this looks wonderful!” Carol said excitedly.

              “I’m glad you like it, but you are going to be more impressed with the food they serve here.”

              Once inside, we stepped up to the reservationist and notified them we were here.

              “Table for two under Jolene Williams.” I said to the woman.

              “Ah, you’re in luck. A tabled was just cleaned, so I’ll lead you there now.”

              I heard someone grumble behind me, but they didn’t bother me. I assumed they didn’t make a reservation and had been waiting for a while. Well, sucks to suck.

              The waiter led us to our table, I pulled out Carol’s chair to sit, and then took my own seat. I just so happened to briefly look over to my left where an older couple was sitting and notice the woman hitting them mans arm. She seemed to be grumbling to him and he seemed to be trying to placate her.

              “Here are your menus. What would you like to drink?”

              “Just a diet coke for me.” Carol said.

              I raised an eyebrow in her direction. I knew she was being apprehensive about ordering anything to expensive, but tonight was about her.

              “I know you don’t want to spend money Carol, but tonight is about you, so get anything you want.”

              Carol looked apprehensive, but with a comforting glance from me, she added on some red wine she like. I ordered my drink after her and then started to really relax in my seat. I didn’t even know I wasn’t relaxed. I guess I was a little nervous about this whole thing. I just wanted it to be perfect.

              Before the waitress left, they smile in my direction and headed off. I scowled in her direction and turned to see a similar scowl on Carol’s face, but she wasn’t look at me, she was looking at the waitress. I didn’t know why she had that look, but I didn’t want her to look that way tonight. I was getting annoyed now. If that waitress fucked this up, then there would be hell to pay. And why was she looking at me anyway? Carol is clearly the stunner here.

              I decided to try and lighten her mood. “Did you see anything you like on the menu?”

              That seemed to do the trick. Carol’s face lightened almost immediately. Food out here again saving lives.

              “Everything looks absolutely amazing, Jo! How am I supposed to choose?” She said with a pouty face.

              “We can always come back.” I said with a chuckle.

              “What?”

              “Why not?” I said, shrugging.

              “Jo this place is way to expensive to be coming here more than once a year.”

              “Remind to show you my paycheck.” I said with a slight grin.

              “Jo you can not make that much money. You’re only twenty-two!”

              “I may be young, but I’m really good at what I do. They say my grades, my portfolio, and my achievements and had no problem hiring me. So far, they’ve been happy with my work.”

              “Wow. You are amazing sweetheart.” Carol said, her smile warm.

              I preened at the comment then melted into goo at the use of sweetheart. I had been called that since I left to go to college. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

              “Thanks.” I muttered. I knew my cheeks were probably red.

              After that, Carol finally decided on what she wanted to eat and we ordered. I made sure to not interact too much with the waiter and focused my attention solely on Carol. She seemed to get it then and made no further attempts at me. I sighed and thanked all that be.

              The rest of our night was spent talking, eating, and laughing. I don’t think I ever remembered if I had this much fun or enjoyed someone’s company so much. And Carol seemed to agree with me. I felt like this was a step in the right direction and was hopeful that my love might not be one-sided. I wasn’t going to be reckless though. Recklessness tended to destroy things. I would keep doing what am I doing, but for now, I would enjoy the company of the woman I love.