HARLEY

“Thank you,” I smiled at Jae when we left the restaurant.

The cold air hit me in the face as soon as he opened the door, and I fought the urge to stuff my hands into my pockets. I didn’t want the hand-holding to end, and the last thing I needed was for Jae to later say he didn’t try again cause my hands were unavailable. As more time passed, we got closer to going our separate ways, and it made me sad to just think about that. It was kinda crazy to think that this was only our third date. Sometimes, it felt like months had gone by, and other times it was as though I’d only met him a week before. 

“You wanna get boba?” Jae asked as he let the door shut behind us, “There’s a great place nearby.”

I perked up, “Yeah, I’d love to. I’ve been craving…”

My eyes travelled down to where he’d reached out to grab my hand, and my train of that completely left me as he intertwined our fingers. Everytime he did that, I relished in how good it felt to be touched by a man like that, and how warm his hands always seemed to be. They fit so perfectly in mine, and I shook the thought away before I could start blushing.

Jae seemed amused while I gathered myself enough to finally clear my throat. “Yes?”

My voice came out much quieter than I intended, but I didn’t mind that Jae had to lean in to hear me better. I smiled, “I have been craving taro and extra tapioca.”

And he smiled back at me, “Well, let us go and get some boba.”

I smacked him lightly with my free hand, and we both laughed all the way over to his car.

While Jae said something about having simple tastes in bubble tea flavours, I thought about whether or not to go ahead and open the door for myself. That’s what I would do with anyone else, but did he plan to do it for me? Considering our conversation at dinner, I wouldn’t be surprised by that at all. 

But, what if he didn’t? The last thing I needed was to be caught standing by the door, waiting for him to open it while he went over to the driver’s side and got comfy. Absolutely not. No way in hell would I shame all the women who allowed me to stand here with two working hands like that.

The awaited moment came, and all I could focus on as we walked up to Jae’s white Mercedes was that door handle on the passenger’s side. I gave him a half-smile as I walked up to it, wondering if I should get a move on since he would probably be going to his side to get in. When I reached out to get the door, Jae beat me to it, and I stopped in my tracks to look at him.

He met my wide-eyed surprise with a grin, “Were you racing me?”

Reflexively, I scoffed, “Why would I do that? What...?”

Before he could really study my expression, and tell I was a liar, I nodded at him and got into the car. Though not much warmer than outside, it felt nice to get out of the cold for a bit. I shifted in the black leather seats, and the soft scent of cologne filled my nose. The car smelled like Jae, and I tried to keep from smiling at the thought. So many of the guys I’d met in the past either had too much cologne on, or were in desperate need of some. Jae knew exactly how much to wear, and the scent he favoured agreed with my senses.

The driver’s side door swung open, and Jae sighed as he sat down then closed it next to him. He pushed a button by the gear shift, and the engine turned over. Before I even had to ask, Jae turned on the seat warmers, and I was immediately engulfed in heat.

“This is a very nice car,” I looked at him. “Though, I don’t know much about cars, I’ll be honest.”

Jae smiled as he pulled out of the parking space, “Thanks, and neither do I. Well, I know more than average, but I’m not one of those guys that can spit out the make, model, and year of any car that passes me on the road.”

“Of course you’re not,” I said plainly, not a smile in sight.

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