Page 28 of Librarian for the Jock

Chapter Twenty-Eight

CHET

I stood in the middle of the town square, looking around at everything we had set up, and I had to admit—it was pretty perfect. The big oak tree towered overhead, its branches spread wide like arms embracing the whole scene. Tiny string lights were draped through the leaves, twinkling like stars against the darkening sky. It had this magical feel, like something out of a movie, and I couldn’t help but smile.

The town square had been transformed. Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Lawson had outdone themselves with the food—steaming hot lasagna, garlic bread, and a fresh Caesar salad ready to be plated nearby and served by our dashing waiters, Brandon and Jenny, who would be arriving just before their mom.

Mr. Parker had come through with the string lights. He recruited Mr. Thompson to help him hang them, and now they hung in loops from the oak tree, casting a golden light over everything. The lights twinkled gently, and the whole scene felt cozy and intimate, like the perfect little hideaway for two.

A small path had been lined with tea lights, leading from where Paige would enter to the table, guiding her right to me. I took a deep breath, looking over the final touches, and I felt a strange mix of nerves and excitement buzzing in my chest.

Mr. Thompson had cleaned up and was already in place with his violin, tuning it over by the left side of the table. He caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up, and I nodded back, grateful for his enthusiasm. He was wearing a slightly frayed tuxedo jacket he had dug out of his closet, but it added to the charm of it all. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. This small town may not have had an upscale restaurant, but we sure knew how to make things special.

And then, there was the table itself. Just one small, round table for two, set right under the oak tree, surrounded by flowers and fairy lights. On the table was a white lace tablecloth, a beautiful low vase with sunflowers and white roses from Mrs. Carter’s shop, like Jenny had suggested, and the vase was surrounded by tiny candles in little glasses. It really did look like a table from a five-star restaurant. I had adjusted the chairs a few times, trying to get them just right, fidgeting really because I was starting to get nervous. It felt like a real date now, something you’d see in one of those romance movies that Paige liked. I just hoped she liked it as much in reality.

April rushed up to me, “Hi, Chet! Wow, everything looks amazing!” She looked around, surveying the area. “It’s beautiful! Paige is going to love this! Great job! We just finished our photo shoot at the library. Paige will be here in a little bit. She wanted to freshen up a little before her outdoor shoot next.” She winked at me. “I’ve got to take pictures of this amazing setup! This may be the first of many more romantic dinners of Hawthorn Hideaway!”

She started snapping pictures of the setup, clearly loving the romantic vibe. She winked at me again when she noticed I was watching, mouthing, “You got this!” and I felt a little surge of confidence.

I glanced around, taking it all in—the soft music from Mr. Thompson’s violin, the warm glow of the lights, the delicious smell of lasagna in the air. It was everything I had wanted it to be: simple, beautiful, and full of little touches that showed I cared.

But underneath all that excitement, there was a nervous energy I couldn’t quite shake. This was it. This was my chance to show Paige how much she meant to me, how much I wanted to be part of her life. I wanted her to feel special, to know that I saw her—not just as a mom or a librarian, but as a woman who deserved all the beauty and joy the world had to offer.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling my heart pick up a little speed. What if she thought it was too much? Too over-the-top? I wasn’t exactly a guy who knew how to do “grand gestures,” but this was different. She was different.

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching, and I looked up to see Jenny and Brandon running toward me, their faces lit up with excitement. They were practically glowing, thrilled to see everything in place.

“Chet!” Jenny exclaimed, her voice a whisper even though there was no reason to be quiet. “It looks amazing!”

Brandon nodded, his eyes wide. “Yeah! Mom’s going to love this. She’s going to be so surprised!”

I felt a knot in my stomach loosen just a little at their excitement. If they believed it was perfect, then maybe it was. “You think so?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Jenny grinned, nodding eagerly. “Definitely. You did a great job. This is like… the best date setup ever.”

Brandon clapped me on the back, grinning. “Yeah, Mom’s gonna feel like a queen.”

I smiled, taking a deep breath, feeling my nerves start to settle. “Alright. Thanks, guys. You did an awesome job too. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

They both beamed, clearly proud of their part in the plan. “She’ll be here soon,” Jenny said, glancing down the road. “We better go hide after we learn how to do our job.”

They ran to talk with the ladies next. They were such great kids. I smiled, watching them jump into action. Then I watched them scurry off to hide behind a bush, giggling quietly, and I was left alone again, standing under the twinkling lights, waiting for Paige.

Standing under the oak tree, I glanced at my watch, feeling the anticipation build as I watched the last few strands of pink and orange from the sunset fade into the night sky. The soft glow from the string lights overhead cast a warm, golden light over the table, the flowers, the candles… everything was ready. Perfect. But my heart was pounding like I was about to step onto the field for a championship game.

I caught myself pacing a little, trying to calm my nerves. I had faced a hundred different situations in my life, but none of them had made me feel quite like this—this mix of excitement and fear. I was ready for Paige to arrive, but I was also terrified of what she would think. Would she like all of this? Would she understand what I was trying to say without me having to actually say it?

And then, I heard her footsteps. Soft at first, then a little louder as she got closer. I turned, and there she was, walking up the path lined with tea lights, her steps slow and careful, her eyes wide with surprise and wonder.

And for a second, I forgot how to breathe. I straightened my tie and then my suit coat.

She looked… incredible. More than that, she looked stunning. Her hair was loose in soft waves, catching the light, and her dress—navy blue, simple but elegant—fit her perfectly, like it was made just for her. Her eyes were bright, wide with surprise and a little bit of awe, and there was a hint of a smile playing on her lips, like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of all this.

For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, completely at a loss for words. She had always been beautiful, but tonight, she looked… different. She looked radiant. Like the most incredible woman I had ever seen. And it was hitting me all at once—just how much I cared about her, how much I wanted this night to be perfect.

I realized I was staring, and she started to look a little nervous, shifting slightly on her feet. “Chet?” she said, her voice soft, a little uncertain. “Are you okay?”

I blinked, snapping out of it, and suddenly my brain kicked into gear. I needed to say something. Anything. But all that came out was, “Uh… wow.”

She raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Wow?”

I nodded, feeling like a complete idiot. “Yeah… wow. I mean… you look… wow.”

She started to laugh, a soft, genuine sound that made my chest tighten in the best way. “For an intellectual, that’s all you’ve got? ‘Wow’?”

I glanced at the others keeping out of sight, watching my amazing conversation unraveling and seeing them shaking their heads, struggling to keep their laughter in.

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to play it cool but knowing I was failing miserably. “I mean… yeah. I guess I’m not really good with words right now. You look… more than wow. You look… breathtaking.”

She laughed again, a little louder this time, and I saw the tension in her shoulders ease a bit. “Breathtaking? That’s better. At least it’s more than one syllable.”

I grinned, feeling my nerves melt away at the sound of her laughter. “Okay, fair. I’ll try to use more syllables. How about… astonishingly gorgeous?”

She blushed, and I could see the anxiety in her face start to fade, replaced by a softer, more relaxed expression. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

I shrugged, stepping closer, feeling more like myself now. “Yeah, I’ve been told. But you make it hard to think straight.”

She shook her head, smiling, and I could see she was fighting back another laugh. “Alright, Chet, I get it. But seriously, thank you. This is… this is all so beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”

I took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine, and gave her a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to say anything. Just enjoy it. Tonight is all about you, Paige.”

She looked at me, her eyes softening, and for the first time since she arrived, I saw the nervousness completely disappear. She squeezed my hand, a small, genuine smile spreading across her face. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice steady. “For all of this. It’s perfect.”

I grinned, feeling a wave of relief and happiness wash over me. “Good,” I said, leading her toward the table. “Because I’ve been practicing saying ‘wow’ all night, and I was hoping you’d like it.”

She laughed again, a bright, genuine laugh, and I felt a flutter of something warm in my chest. As we reached the table, I pulled out her chair with a little flourish, and she took a seat, still smiling.

And just like that, the nervousness, the fear, the worry—they were all gone. Replaced by the sound of her laughter, the sight of her smile, and the feeling that maybe, just maybe, tonight was going to be everything I had hoped it would be.

“Chet…” she breathed out, her voice a mixture of awe and confusion. “What is all this?”

I smiled, feeling my nerves melt away at the sight of her. “This,” I said, as I took a seat in my chair, “is a special date night. Just for you. You did owe me a date, remember?”

Her eyes welled up just a little, and she looked around at the setup—the lights, the table, the flowers—and then back at me, a soft smile spreading across her lips. “Yes, that’s right. We did say we would go on a date, just us, but you did all this… for me?”

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yes,” I said softly. “For you. Because you deserve it, Paige, more than anyone I know. But I didn’t do this on my own, this was actually Brandon and Jenny’s idea. Then we got a bunch of willing friends to help and, of course, April figured out how to get you here and keep it all a surprise.”

Her smile widened, and I could see the happiness in her eyes, the emotion she was trying, and failing, to keep in check. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

I offered her my hand, feeling my own smile grow. “Shall we let this date begin?”

She took my hand, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was the man I was supposed to be.