Burning Embers

mirror propped up in the corner of my dorm room and shook my head. No, white is too basic.

I hadn't yet tried on. I just couldn't decide what to wear for our date. Not a date. Just a mov

a headache. How long would it take to fold all

set and brought out a pair of grey jeggings I'd never worn before. I paired it with a black bodysuit

I hadn't saved his number – even after he'd called to "check up on me" last night and ear

?" I said in

ar gave me butterflies in

losing it completely, or could I ac

lied, wondering why my heart w

ated my tiny waist. Not bad, miss, I thought to myself. I looke

ound floor, my eyes scanned the lobby, past the front desk and the brightly colored armchairs in front of the fireplace, and I saw Dave standing by the bar stools just behind the pool ta

s wearing a taupe leather jacke

ank

right outside," he asked, and I nodded. "After you," h

ack Audi,the lights bli

nd I hopped in.A few seconds later,he

er, as we dumped the 3D glasses in the recycle bin, we decided to ge

k building, the outdoor patio was unoccupied and above the entrance to the r

nd entered th

exican accent welcomed us into the restaurant. As he spoke

se a familiarity between them and wonde

can just walk in and have your favorite table," Harry said

nt, not McDonald

urrealistic figures on the wall. We removed our jackets as we got settled into the plush velvet seats. A

leaned forward,his hands on the table . "That

h the neckline of my top as I lo

, his eyes moving from my hands on my neck and back

ted by a red-haired girl about my age, wearing a black dress and heels, who handed

ng about the way his voice dropped when he said it and the intensity in his eyes when they met mine. And that godforsaken accent made it sound like so much more than a plato

t me from beh

I said, look

iled. "Any drinks t

s fine,

nks, Paige," Dave closed the m

ed our orders and Paige b

es follow the sushi plat

a heartbeat,I grabbed one p

aned back and asked, but his eye

aware of my hands clasping

his voice d

after my father. I think I just subconsciously imbibed that, and I went with it without too much thought. "I guess I've always been int

me we made it out of the restaur

," Dave said,looking up at the fu

ely thirty seconds when it started drizzling

he said "It's dangerous to k

", he continued . "Let's go t

." I

we made a left at the ta

, they rolled upwards. We rode through the brightly lit multi-storey parkad

y and soon we got drenched

catch a cold." He said with concern in his eyes. "Beverly?" he called

go back to the r–residence," my voice crack

gly, maintaining the distance I had put between us. "But if yo

off. There was a pause – a heavy

d again, his voice

nd he said:" You're

mping wildly in my chest. He sighed and ran hi

opped, an automated female voice announced: "Penthouse." The doors opened, and we walked out. The floor was dimly lit, and the army green carpet we walked on stopped the sounds of our footsteps from echo

lked further into the apartment, illuminating the high ceilings, hardwood floors and walls lined with abstract artwork with colors that matched the deep brown and black leather of the furnit

lothes that he handed me an

ou like

saw that he wa

ease," I

a, chamomile..."

n's f

e said, raising the green box. "Eww,

rinking toothpaste,"

th two steami

do you

flu and I thought it wo

as I scowled after taking a

ned, "but there's honey and su

nd and added drops of honey

me. I went back into the room, locked myself in the toilet and changed back into my clothes and put his shirt, robe and towels in the laundry bask

warm car, and as though he'd forgotten he'd already asked, he wanted to know if I was warm enough. I nodded yes, as Adorn by Miguel played softly through his speakers. As the car st

rs late

ff as I slid my feet into my fluffy bunny slippers and headed towards

my phone on the reading desk next to my bed, ignoring my Twitter and Instagram notifications. I opened my messages: Sleep tight, Dave had

on before I could delete more words from my three-worded reply before getting up to make some tea. The kettle hadn't ev

gainst the counter as I replied. I hit send and watc

I cal

ped a simple Yes and hit send. Seconds later, my phone started vibrating, and I c

ing about the low baritone o

out earlier – before,

d a nice time, than

in the afternoon for an in

g the disappointment in m

you when I

le before seeing him again, but I a

e",I

mile in his voice. I loved the fact that I could t

ght Bev"

I said a