K: So, where did you end up hanging the vinyl?

R: My sliding back door has two very empty walls on either side of it. I hung it up in the top left corner and plan to fill it now that you’ve given me a new fun hobby.

K: Are we still on for tonight?

R: Duh. The entire shop says thank you for switching our date to a Saturday so they can leave early.

K: Mine too. Is it weird to say I miss you? I mean, we’ve only gone on one date but…

R: No. It’s not weird. I miss you too. We talk daily, so that helps.

“Ren, I have been talking at you for three minutes,” Halley smacked the top of my head, and I scowled, “We’re ready to close up.”

“Shit, sorry. Got distracted.”

“Is it Kie?”

“You know it is,” I rolled my eyes, picking up Fern out of her play area, “Guess who gets to stay the night with Grandma?”

“Oh! Yay!” Fern clapped her hands quickly, a bright smile on her face.

I locked up the shop after everyone left and quickly drove to Clara and Rian’s house, grateful they were happy to take Fern this weekend as we weren’t regularly coming over for dinner due to the hours of my shop changing. I missed them terribly and had started to come visit on Monday night, bringing them dinner as I knew Rian was tired after working, and Clara deserved a break from cooking.

“Grammy!” Fern yelled as I unlocked their front door, “Grammy, where you are?”

“Fern!” Clara smiled, rushing over to take Fern from me and kissing her cheek, “Oh, there’s my girl.”

“Hey, Mum,” I leaned over and hugged Clara tightly, “Thank you. I always feel a mix of guilt and gratefulness when you take her overnight like this.”

“Don’t ever feel guilty asking us to watch her. It makes us happy.”

“Yep,” Rian nodded as he came down the stairs, handing me what I had asked about on Monday, wrapped in brown paper, “Here ya go, kid.”

“Are you sure I can’t buy it from you? It’s pretty rare, from what I understand.”

“It’s been sitting in a box gathering dust for a long time. I’d rather someone who will appreciate it have it. What’s your plan for tonight? Big second date.”

“We’re getting dinner, I’m finally getting a tattoo since I’ve wanted one forever, and Kieran plans to get another, then dancing and drinks downtown. I need to go home and figure out what the hell to wear to match the environments we’ll be in. A rather upscale restaurant and then a nightclub.”

“Do you have that cream colored button down I got you? The one with the geometric blue shapes down the front in stripes?” Clara smiled, and I nodded immediately, “Wear it buttoned to dinner over a nice pair of black pants. Not jeans, but those tight black suit pants you have. Oh, and the low-cut black leather boots we got for your birthday. Make sure you wear a tank top or something under the shirt, and unbutton it when you head to the club. Do you want my body glitter again?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun,” Clara pouted, making me laugh loudly, “Enjoy yourself. Come get Fern whenever you want tomorrow.”

“I’m having Halley open and run the shop so I can come over for a late lunch if you want. She forced me into taking an extra day off since I’ll probably be hungover as hell tomorrow. It’s been a bit since I went out and got a little wild, but I won’t do anything to embarrass myself in front of Kieran. I really like him.”

“Good. Fern, say bye to Daddy.”

“Bye-bye,” Fern blew me a sloppy kiss, and I returned it before pressing my lips to her forehead, “Wuv you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too, baby. I’ll see you soon.”

With a quick wave, I left their house, my gift for Kieran tucked under my arm. I immediately went home, showered, did my hair, and put on the exact outfit Clara had recommended. I agreed with her about the outfit as I had read once that it was better to have an interesting top on than try and make your entire outfit flashy. I sent a quick text to Kieran, letting him know I was on my way, and he replied with confirmation that he was as well. I discovered we lived 10 minutes apart a few days ago, as he rented an apartment in Sandy Springs, finding Atlanta a bit more expensive than he could rationalize paying for.

We reached the restaurant at the same time, and Kieran immediately pulled me into a hug before spinning me in a circle to see what I was wearing, making me laugh.

“Damn,” he whispered, kissing my cheek, “You look fantastic.”

“Well, I wanted to dress up for you,” I shrugged, undoing the top button of his shirt, half of it white and covered in pink roses, the other half solid black, “I love your shirt. It’s incredible.”

“Thanks,” he fixed my hair as the wind had blown it a bit, scattering my curls, “I bought it in Seattle as a gift to myself. It’s my favorite. I made us reservations at Marcel. I want you to get anything and everything you want; ignore the prices. I’m paying.”

“Fine, but let me buy the drinks at Havana.”

“Deal. If we get too drunk, we can rent a room. I swear to be good and keep my hands to myself. I’m not usually one for jumping right into bed.”

“That makes me feel safe with you,” I linked my arm with his before gasping, “Hang on! I got you something,” I ran back to my car and pulled out his gift, quickly bringing it back, “Here.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” Kieran smiled, pulling the paper off before freezing, “No way.”

“My dad had a copy of it. It’s the first edition pressing of the Black Sabbath vinyl you’ve been looking for. It’s been sitting in their attic for years, he wanted you to have it since you’d appreciate it more.”

“Are you serious? I can keep it?”

“You can keep it. It’s yours, Kie.”

He smiled brightly and left a lingering kiss on my cheek before pressing our foreheads together, “You’re so damn sweet, Ren. Thank you. This means the world to me.”

“Good. I was hoping it would make you smile.”

“Let me put it in the trunk, and we can head inside.”

“Deal.”

We finally entered the restaurant, making it just in time for our reservation, and after ordering a starter of oysters and white wine, we people-watched, holding hands as I rubbed Kieran’s leg with my foot.

“Someone’s having an affair,” Kieran whispered, subtly gesturing to a couple a few tables away. “He keeps flipping his phone screen down whenever it goes off. So I’m guessing his girlfriend or wife is checking in.”

“Ew,” I scowled, “I can’t stand cheaters. Why do that? If you’re not happy, leave.”

“Some people get off on the thrill,” he shrugged, “Not me. I’m a one-man kind of guy. You’re the only person I’m dating after all.”

“Same here.”

“What can I put in for dinner? Would you like more wine?” Our waiter suddenly appeared, startling me for a moment.

“Yes to the wine,” I nodded, “I’ll take the New York strip, cacio e pepe on the side.”

“And you,” he pointed to Kieran with his pen.

“Filet madame with the perigourdine sauce and roasted mushrooms.”

“Perfect. I’ll bring it out when it’s ready.”

“Kieran,” I whispered, and he leaned across the table, “We’re spending over two hundred dollars on this meal. That’s my weekly grocery budget.”

“I hadn’t considered that when I suggested this place. I just wanted to treat you to something nice. Wanna dine and dash?”

“Absolutely not,” I laughed, realizing he was entirely joking, “You don’t have to take me to these fancy places. I’m happy getting cheap pizza and beer.”

“That’s good to know and will be our normal, but I can’t help but want to impress you…”

“You don’t need to try so hard,” I lifted his hand and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, “I already like you, Kie.”

“That makes me feel calm. More than you can possibly believe.”

“Just be you, and that’ll keep me interested. I like the man I spent hours in Bog Bean with. But I like this man too. A little flustered, hoping to impress me at every turn. To be honest, I’m flustered too. I don’t want to do anything that’ll scare you away from me.”

“Do you… um…”

“Feel the weird connection?”

“Yes!”

“Clearly,” I giggled, moving my arm as our dinner was brought out, “I absolutely noticed it, and I want to see what it means. See where it takes us.”

“Me too.”

We dug into our food, Kieran reaching over to clean my face at one point, wiping sauce from my bottom lip with his thumb and winking when I licked it off. We flirted instinctively, something I had never really experienced, as it always felt forced before. Now, it was invigorating, making my heart race in the best way.

“Do you want to try mine?” Kieran held his fork out, a mushroom sitting on the end, and I leaned forward, slowly taking it.

“Mmm,” I hummed, “Oh, that’s amazing.”

“I could tell,” he rubbed my cheek gently with his thumb, and I felt my face grow warm, “You’re so cute. It kills me.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s one of my favorite things about you. You’re intelligent, funny, and outgoing, but there’s this innocent sexiness about you I noticed during our first date that drives me wild.”

“Kie!” I laughed, taking a sip of wine, “You say such bold things.”

“I’m just overly honest,” he shrugged, “Are you done eating?”

“Just about.”

“Alright,” he took my free hand and waited for me to finish before hailing our waiter to get the check.

Kieran immediately paid, not letting me see the total, and left a tip in cash. Once his card had been returned, we left the restaurant, his arm around my waist as we headed for his car.

“I’m worried mine will be towed if we leave it here,” I sighed softly, chewing my lip.

“Actually, I just had the best idea and I feel like a damn moron for not thinking this earlier. My salon is five minutes away. Why don’t you follow me there and park behind the place? There’s a small studio apartment I own above it that I sleep in sometimes, and if we overdo it at the club, rather than rent a room, we can sleep there. You take the bed, I’ll be on the couch. I actually think I have extra clothes there, too. They’ll be big on you but more comfortable to sleep in.”

“Sure, but in the spirit of honesty between us, your sister and I constantly share our location for safety. Actually, everyone at my shop does on an app I pay for, so we always know where people are. It was more at Nick’s insistence since I have Fern, and they want to make sure I get home safely. I’m 89 percent sure if Halley sees I slept at your salon, she’s going to hound you.”

“I can handle my little sister. Also, is her weird percentage thing rubbing off on you? They never actually make sense.”

“She does that to you, too?!”

“She’s done that since we were little,” he snorted.

“I think she was right on one,” I caressed his chest, and Kieran slowly ran his fingers through my hair.

“Which was?”

“97 percent match between you and me. But I’m bumping it up to 99.”

“I hope I earn that 100 some day.”

“I just have to entirely trust you to not hurt me, and you will.”

“I can understand and respect that. Come on. We have tattoos to get.”

“I can’t wait.”