Page 28 of At First Smile

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A First Date?

Pen

“ C ardigan or—” I pull the thin white sweater off my shoulders and toss it onto the plush, pink-cushioned window bench. “—or no cardigan?” Hands on hips, my gaze bounces between in-person JoJo, and Trina, who’s zoomed in virtually for this get together.

JoJo gestures. “Take it in case it gets cooler, but you look scrumptious.”

With a laugh playing on my lips, I face the standing full-length mirror tucked into the corner of my bedroom.

The teal dress’s fit and flare silhouette hugs my curves with just the right amount of sexiness.

The twirl-worthy skirt stops at my knees.

A tiny, golden teacup pendant dangles below my collarbone, punctuating the hint of cleavage.

It’s the third outfit change for tonight’s date with Rowan and the one that boosts my confidence most.

“I don’t know why we activated first-date protocol. Isn’t this like date four?” Trina grumbles.

First-date protocol, which started four years ago, isn’t something we do for every initial date.

It’s reserved only for someone we really like, someone ripe with the possibility of a future.

Once P4EVRP AKA possible forever person is sent via our group chat, the troops assemble.

Outfits are selected. Hair is styled. Condoms are restocked.

“Technically Pen never formally declared Rowan a P4EVRP. You just brow-beat her into this.” Trina’s red eyebrows draw together.

“We’ve gone over this.” JoJo’s huffed exasperation is still somehow sweet and playful. “I exercised the bestie privilege clause, allowing for intervention.”

“You realize you’re the only one that ever exercises that clause,” I laugh, putting in my gold hoop earrings.

She shrugs. “Hazards of being besties with a social worker.”

“Tread softly, Pen, or she’ll ask us how we feel about it any minute now,” Trina snarks.

JoJo sticks out her tongue and then continues, “Plus, it’s their first official date.”

“ Whatever .”

It’s taking Trina longer to get on the Rowan second chance train. JoJo’s squeal was epic at Sunday brunch. Trina’s overprotective nature is akin to a mama lion guarding her cubs. Since age eleven, she’s been my big sister from a different mister.

I smooth down my freshly blown-out hair before turning to face the laptop. “Remember, Trina, part of first date protocol includes getting to grill the suitor.”

Trina’s pout smooths to a wicked grin. “And I’m a grill master.”

“That you are.” JoJo flops onto the bed and howls with laughter.

I join in, but my laughter soon fades . Poor Rowan. “I really like him,” I say softly, fiddling with my pendant.

“I know, Pen. That’s why I’m worried. The last guy you liked did a number on you,” Trina says.

“Rowan isn’t Alex.”

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.” A gentleness replaces Trina’s normally steel-edged tone.

“Neither do I, but I may… And I’m okay with that.”

It wasn’t just Rowan who held himself back out of fear.

As much as I went towards him, I still hesitated.

I waited for him to make the first move because of the need for reassurance that I wasn’t in this alone.

The Pen before Alex didn’t need that reassurance.

The Pen before Alex didn’t question her heart.

I want to be that Pen again, even if it scares me.

“If he hurts you, I’ll go scorched earth on his pucking ass,” Trina growls before letting out a long breath. “But I trust you… I trust your judgement. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy interrogating him.”

The doorbell chimes, and all of our gazes flick to the ajar bedroom door. Even Trina’s eyes appear to drop to the door from the strategically placed laptop.

“Showtime.” Trina’s low tone sounds almost villainous.

Eyes wide, my heart thumps. “Trina, behave. Please.”

“Prima-interrogation, remember?” she purrs.

“Come on, Trina, let’s go grill this gentlemen caller.” JoJo scoops up the laptop and bounds out of the room.

“JoJo, please hit the mute button if she is too Trina-like,” I whisper-shout behind them, hoping only JoJo hears me.

“I heard that Penelope Anne Meadows!” Trina tuts.

JoJo just giggles. “Give us ten minutes before you make your grand entrance.”

Despite the flutter of confused butterflies in my stomach, I snort. My nerves crackle due to this first date with Rowan. It’s our first proper date. At least that’s what he’d said after Bread on Saturday.

“May I take you on a first date?” His right hand brushes against mine as we walk towards the pier at Main Street’s end.

Despite the insistent pulse to reach out and weave our fingers together, my hand remains at my side. “Didn’t we already have a first date?” My lips slant into a teasing grin.

“Not a proper one.” His shadowed eyes, hidden beneath the brim of his cap, bore into me.

I can’t see them but feel the tender heat of his gaze caress my cheeks. Wildfire sparks across my body.

“First, it’s the first time I asked properly. Second, I’m not holding back like before. Third, I’m hopeful it’s just the start of many firsts with you.”

My lips lift with the memory. Four days later and my hand still pulses to be in his, and my stomach flips with the dizzying effect of his hope for many more firsts with me.

A hope I share.

After he walked me home, I agreed to let him take me out tonight and gave him my number.

Sticking to his promise to follow my pace, he’s let me initiate most of our text exchanges over the last few days.

Most, but not all. The good morning , how was your day?

, and daily GB update, and photo messages demonstrate his restrained eagerness.

With one last glance in the mirror, I grab the cardigan and head downstairs. Halfway down the stairs, my steps halt and a giant smile blooms on my face at Trina’s aghast, “You brought a dog on your date?”

“What’s his name?” JoJo asks.

“GB.” Rowan’s Irish lilt hums in my ears.

“What?” Trina scoffs. “Does it stand for Good Boy? How original.”

“Gordon Bombay.”

JoJo’s high-pitched squeal echoes, “Adorbs!”

“A hockey player with a dog named after a character from The Mighty Ducks .” The eyeroll in Trina’s snark is audible.

“Says the eye doctor with a blind pug named Keller,” JoJo snarks.

I cover my snort.

Trina adopted Keller two years ago. Dogs with disabilities struggle finding their forever homes.

My sometimes hard-ass East Coast bestie is a gooey mess for the three-year-old black pug.

After he came into the shelter where she volunteers twice a week, she knew that she was his person.

In true-blue Trina fashion, she bulldozed a speedy adoption, taking Keller home two days after meeting him.

It’s the only decision she’s made that deviates from her thoroughly researched life plan.

“You named your dog after Helen Keller?” Rowan asks, amusement coating his tone.

“Yes.”

“Impressive.” A big grin is evident in Rowan’s rich tenor. “How old is he?”

“He’s… Nope!” Trina tsks . “You will not distract me with my dog Mr. Tall Sexy Hockey Player.”

“You are rather good looking. Pen called you devastatingly handsome after she’d first met you?—”

My mouth drops open. I will kill JoJo.

“—Pen mentioned two older brothers. Do they look like you? Are they single? And into ladies?”

“Uh…” Another short pause. “Finn is. But Gillian…it’s complicated.”

“Gillian’s the chef, right?”

“How much has Pen told you about me?”

Ignoring him, JoJo continues, “I do love the idea of a man who cooks. How complicated are we talking?”

“JoJo, simmer your hormones. We’re supposed to be interrogating him about his intentions toward Pen, not about single men in his gene pool,” Trina clucks.

This is going sideways. Cringing, I hurry down the remaining stairs.

“What are your intentions with our friend? You already lied to her and hurt her.”

I draw to another halt with Trina’s question.

“Trina!” JoJo scolds with a loud gasp. “Pen explained what happened.”

Forehead puckered, I rush into the small foyer. My mouth opens…

But Rowan speaks, “You have every right to be wary of me. I’ve not earned your trust. Nor Pen’s.

Not yet. You love Pen and I hurt her, even if I thought I was protecting her at the time.

You ask what my intentions are with Pen…

It’s to be worthy. I may never reach that goal, but I plan to keep trying. ”

Sighing, JoJo tips her head to the laptop in her arms. “Well, he has my vote.”

“And mine,” I say.

Rowan’s eyes jump to me, a large grin kicks across his face. “Pen… You’re stunning.”

Heat tiptoes up my neck and I bite my lower lip. “Thank you.”

My gaze drags down Rowan’s body. A form-fitting, short-sleeved, collared shirt molds his sculpted chest. Fitted blue jeans hug him in all the right spots making me grateful for the limited vision I have and jealous of the denim’s proximity to his body.

“You look handsome.” GB scampers from Rowan’s side and I bend to lavish him with ear scratches. “And so do you, gorgeous boy.” GB’s pink tongue slaps me, his sloppy kiss making me giggle.

“GB, kisses come at the end of the date,” Rowan teases and tugs gently at the boxer’s leash. GB ignores him completely and plants another kiss on my face.

“Jealous?” I peer up at Rowan to see a lopsided grin etched across his chiseled features.

“Nah, he may have won the battle, but I plan to win your heart.” The playful comment zings with a promise.

“So sweet!” JoJo squeals.

“Barf,” Trina groans.

After saying goodbye to Trina and JoJo, we head out. It’s about a twenty-minute drive to Long Beach for a concert in the park.