Breaking Point (Drew Ashley 1) (6 page)

I noticed that he'd put on a suit jacket, and his dark hair was mussed slightly with some kind of mousse or gel. He was making an effort. That was so sweet. "I dunno."

"Do you like Spanish food?" he asked.

"I love all food."

Kale stood and pulled me to my feet. "Let's get out of here."

It had stopped raining when we got outside. Kale led me to where he'd parked his Toyota. It wasn't far, for which I was grateful. I loved wearing heels, but I hated having to walk too far in them. He opened the door for me, and I ducked into the car.

Kale leaned in and removed a wrapped box from his glove compartment. He dropped it in my lap with a cute smile before shutting the door and getting into the driver's side.

I unwrapped the gift. A fragile-looking silver hairclip with the most beautiful rose engraving lay in the box.

"I wanted to get you something that wasn't cliché for a date, since it's only the first time we're going out together," Kale said.

"It's really nice." I clipped up one side of my hair immediately. "Thanks, Kale."

Kale's eyes were nervous when he glanced at me. "You didn't think that was silly?"

"Of course not." I laughed a little and looked out the window at the wet streets of Oxford city. I still didn't know the town very well as if I needed anything I usually just went to London to get it. I turned and looked at Kale. His expression as he drove was still uncertain. "Chill out, Kale. I like the hairclip."

He grinned.

A few minutes later, he pulled up outside a Spanish restaurant. When I stepped out of the car, the sound of Spanish guitars and the smell of food filtered out from the restaurant's open door. "Smells delicious," I said, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

Kale came around the car and took my hand. "You're not like how I thought you'd be, Drew."

First Alix and now Kale. "How did you think I'd be?"

"I dunno…a bit more uptight, stiff, spoiled?"

"Okay," I said slowly. "I don't want to be offended, but I'm struggling. Why would you ask me out if you thought I'd be like that?"

Kale shrugged. "I wanted to take a chance. I'm glad I did."

I considered his words as we walked across the car park to the restaurant. People probably thought I was a high maintenance snob just because I'd dated Travis. That wasn't fair.

We entered the restaurant and waited to be seated.

"Did you ask Destiny to invite me for pizza last week?" I asked Kale.

"Yeah, I was teasing her because she likes free food." Kale chuckled. "I like teasing Destiny. Why'd you turn me down?"

"I had to work on my thesis."

A waiter approached us just then. "Table for two?"

"Yes, please," Kale answered.

The waiter led us to a table near the centre of the room, handed us menus, then left us to study them.

"So, why do you work at Gym21?" Kale asked.

"It's a dare. Jazz doesn't think I can do it. I'm showing her that I can."

Kale chuckled softly, and I was struck for a moment by how cute he was. He wasn't a knock-you-senseless kind of handsome like Mr America, debate team ace Harvey Lawrence. But he was definitely gorgeous. His skin was a lovely shade of chocolate, similar to Travis', but Kale was a million times more handsome. His brown hair would be curly if it was any longer, and it was unusually light for his colouring. I noticed that his eyes were a muted deep blue. "You have blue eyes."

Kale grinned. "I do."

"Wow. Now I'm probably going to stare at you all night. You're gorgeous, Kale."

Kale looked taken aback.

"Not just because of your blue eyes, though. You seem like a straightforward person. I like that."

Kale smiled. "Thanks. I'm thinking the same about you."

Somehow, Kale and I got talking about football, and I felt more at ease. I loved football. Maybe it was because I'd had to watch it, being Travis' girlfriend, but over the years, I had become quite a fanatic.

"Who do you support?" I asked Kale.

"The only team worth supporting."

"So you support Arsenal?"

Kale looked horrified. "No! I support Manchester United!"

Of course he did.

"I thought you'd support Chelsea," Kale said.

"Because Travis plays for them? I do have my own mind, you know." I picked up my menu and started looking through it.

It was weird being on a date with someone other than Travis. I thought I was handling it okay, though. Kale was a good date. There were no awkward silences where we both looked around in embarrassment, looking for inspiration for something to say. Any lulls in the conversation were comfortable.

By the time we were leaving, I felt like maybe this was the beginning of something more. Travis had taken me to all sorts of fancy places, but I hadn't felt so special in a while. Kale was a total gentleman.

I invited him inside when he took me home. He hesitated and I felt a twinge of disappointment. "Do you live far?" I asked him. Maybe he had a long way to go to get home.

"I live in London."

"Oh. Well, you better get going then, I suppose."

"No, I want to come in," Kale said softly. "But you and me alone in your house might not be such a wise thing." He winked at me.

I felt my cheeks warming. "Destiny is in."

"Well, that's fine, then." Kale released his seatbelt and jumped out of the car.

I got out too. "Is that like a rule of Christian relationships? No being alone in a house?"

Kale laughed.

"What?" I asked. "I'm new, I'm still learning."

"Well, I didn't know we were in a relationship."

"We're not, I'm just asking."

"Well, I could ask you to be my girl now, but don't you want to be pursued a little before we date? I thought girls like being chased at least a little bit."

"So, you consider yourself quite experienced in what girls want?" I teased.

"Whoa!" Kale said raising his hands in defence. "I'm not saying that. Girls are complex creatures. I doubt even they know what they want."

"Well, what are you saying?"

Kale gave me an amused look. "Nothing. But I know that pursuing a woman isn't something you just do for fun. I happen to take it seriously. I don't play with hearts and I'd rather mine wasn't played with."

This was deep talk for a first date. But, could it be that the dazzling Kale Marshall was wary of me playing with his heart? I found that rather endearing. "Point taken." I turned and walked up the path to Destiny's house.

Kale followed me laughing. "So, how do you feel about being pursued?"

For heaven's sake! "Do you have to call it 'pursuing'? I'm not a forest deer."

Kale's laughter echoed up and down the quiet street.

I unlocked the door and Kale followed me into the house. We found Destiny exercising in the living room to one of those TV workout things.

"How was your date?" Destiny asked rising up from a 'touch your toes' position. "Did you kiss?" She noticed Kale and lowered the volume of the TV.

"No we didn't," Kale answered. "But the night isn't over yet."

Destiny pushed sweaty hair out of her eyes. "Okay, I'll excuse you guys, then."

"No, you can stay," I told her.

"No thanks, I'll be in my room." She switched off the TV. "By the way, your mum called. She said you should come home for lunch on Sunday."

I groaned inwardly.

"She invited me, too, so I'll be going with you after church."

"Okay."

Destiny left us, and I looked at Kale. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, I'm still full from our meal." He looked around the room, then his eyes returned to me. "So, how come you've started coming to Ignite?"

"Because I became a Christian."

"So you're really a Christian?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"We couldn't believe our eyes when you started coming."

"Who's we?"

Kale grinned. "All the guys. You caused quite a commotion."

"Really?"

"You sound surprised." Kale stepped forward and touched my hair. "Looked in the mirror recently?"

I just smiled.

"I got saved on campus, too," Kale said. "Three years ago."

I was surprised. I'd thought Kale was a 'been saved all my life' type like Jazz and Destiny.

He sat down on the sofa and pulled me down beside him. "So, who was that guy you were with in the café this evening before I came in?"

Kale's lips were just inches from mine. It was hard to focus. "Which guy?"

"The one you were sitting with."

"Oh, you mean the American guy? Harvey Lawrence?"

"Was that him? I didn't really look. I was more focused on getting you away from whoever it was." Kale gave me a playful half smile. "I get possessive when I like a girl."

"I see." I thought Kale was going to kiss me, but he drew back.

"Have a great night, Drew." He pushed my hair over my shoulder gently. "I'll call you."

***

"I hope you didn't scare Kale off with your 'I'm a strong woman. Hear me roar!' attitude," Destiny said from the doorway of my bedroom on Saturday morning.

I'd just come out of the shower. I adjusted my towel and started looking for something to wear. "I don't think so."

"Did you say anything that most women probably wouldn't say on a first date?"

I considered it. "I told him he's gorgeous, which he is, so I see nothing wrong with that."

Destiny rolled her eyes.

"He has blue eyes. I've never noticed before. But I suppose I've only ever seen him up close like once or twice." I pulled jeans and a yellow top out of my wardrobe. "His eyes are gorgeous. I could stare into them all day."

Destiny pretended to gag.

"Do you think Kale is good-looking?" I asked her.

"I suppose."

"But you wouldn't go out with him?"

Destiny shrugged. "Dunno. He probably wouldn't ask."

In the two years that I'd known Destiny, she'd never had a boyfriend. She'd not even been on a date. I didn't even know what kind of guys she liked. I understood that she was all about purity, but maybe she was taking it a little far. Even Jazz had had a few dates here and there.

"Why are you looking at me?" Destiny asked, frowning.

"Do you like any of the guys at Ignite, or at church? I can set you up if you want."

"No thanks."

I made a mental note to get Jazz on board to help me set Destiny up on a blind date. "If I were to set you up with someone, what kind of person would you like them to be?"

Destiny's eyes narrowed. "Do
not
set me up with anyone."

"Answer the question," I insisted.

She pushed her blond hair out of her eyes. "Well, I don't care really, so long as they're a nice person."

"You really have no preference?"

"I really have no preference. Anyway, I came to your room for a reason, so stop side-tracking me with all this talk about men!"

I grinned as I started getting dressed.

"Your mum called again while you were in the shower," she said. "She asked what we want to eat tomorrow and I told her we wanted a Sunday Roast, but that if she can also make that lamb curry thing she makes, we can pack it up to take home with us."

"That's fine by me."

Destiny really did like her food. Not that you could tell. She was stick thin. I pulled my yellow top on over my head then looked out the window before deciding what shoes to wear. It was sunny. That called for flip flops. "What are you up to today?"

Destiny's face fell immediately. "Library."

I felt slightly guilty. Jazz should be going to the library too, but instead she and I were going to Essence Beauty Salon in preparation for the Women in Sport event tonight. I'd make it up to her by helping her with her work later.

***

Jazz and I emerged from Essence at five o' clock, practically horizontal. That's how relaxed we were. Three hours of spa treatments did that to you. After the spa treatments, we'd had our makeup done. Now we were at my parents' house dressing up.

Thankfully, my mum wasn't in. It wasn't that I didn't want to see her. I'd just rather not see her when we were in a rush. Tomorrow, after church, I'd have all the time in the world to listen to her harp on about what she'd been doing while my dad was away. My dad was a marine engineer. He was away a lot, working under water in random parts of the world. I knew my mum got lonely whenever he was away. I felt sorry for her, but not sorry enough to live with her.

I helped Jazz into her taupe and silver, Terani Couture dress. She had a body made for evening gowns, curves in all the right places.

"Wow!" she breathed, looking in the mirror. "How much was this dress?"