Page 84 of Rock Bottom Girl

“What the fuck was that?” I breathed.

She laughed. “I’m sorry. Little prank. He’s my parents’ Airbnb guest for the week. He’s in Lancaster for business and wanted a homier atmosphere than a hotel.”

“He scared the hell out of me.”

“Yeah, he did.” She grinned, and I found that I really liked it when she did that.

“Here,” I said, shoving the flowers at her.

She cleared her throat and gestured at her outfit. “Don’t forget your Dating 101 notes.”

“Oh, right.” I took a moment to give her an appreciative look. I was really into button-down shirts. There was nothing I looked forward to more in this world than undoing that long line of buttons to reveal the treasures beneath. This was a girly flannel, which checked another box for me. “You look gorgeous, pretty girl.”

“Nice delivery,” Marley said, accepting the flowers.

“And these are for your mom,” I said, brandishing the other bouquet.

“Wow. Someone’s going for extra credit,” she said.

“Is that Jake?” a woman called from the back of the house.

“Yeah, he’s here to sweep me off my feet and hopefully feed me,” Marley called back.

“Don’t let him leave!”

There was something that sounded like a scuffle, and then Marley’s parents both appeared in the hallway. They got tangled up in their rush to get to us. Her dad tripped and knocked a family photo off the wall, but he recovered quickly.

“Jake, so nice to see you again.” Jessica Cicero and I had crossed paths every once in a while on in-service days when she was still teaching. She was a looker. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a perky ponytail, and her smile reached her bright blue eyes. She held out a hand, and I shook it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Cicero,” I said, holding out the flowers. “These are for you.”

“Oh, my! They’re just beautiful,” she said, sending Marley a what-a-doll look. “And please call me Jessica.”

“I’m Ned,” the man in the canary yellow polo and silvery mustache said, extending his hand. His voice was unusually high.

“Ned, good to meet you.” I shook and let him win the grip war. It was a perfunctory introduction. We’d all known of each other for years. Had probably exchanged pleasantries in the grocery store produce aisle or when one of us was backing out of a parking space as the other one waited patiently. It was Culpepper. Everyone knew everyone.

“Did you bring me anything?” Ned asked, looking hopefully at Marley and Jessica’s flowers.

“Uh, no, sir.”

“Strike one!” he screeched. He put his thumbs into the waistband of his Dockers and yanked them up as if spoiling for a fight.

“Dad, don’t tease him. I already had Dietrich open the door and demand his intentions,” Marley said.

“Ooh! That’s a good one,” Ned said, giving his daughter the double thumbs-up.

* * *

“So where areyou taking me, Mr. Boyfriend?” Marley asked as I held the passenger door open for her.

“Okay, so check this out. We’re going to Smitty’s for dinner and drinks. Keeping it light, casual, and public.”

I caught her wince.

“What? Is that a bad first date?”

She shook her head. “No. Sorry. That’s just my kneejerk reaction to socializing in Culpepper. It’s a good, solid first date plan for a future girlfriend.”