Without a Doubt (4 page)

While it's not my dream job, making subs isn't too bad. I love the regulars who come in. The work isn't all that hard, and I have good coworkers. I chuckle to myself at the thought. I work alone ninety-eight percent of the time. Barry leaves me around an hour later. Slow is an inaccurate description to describe tonight. It's dead. For three hours, I wait on three people. Some nights are just like that. It'll probably be overwhelmingly busy tomorrow.

Usually, I'm a good little worker, finding something productive to do on nights like these, but I'm not feeling it today. Plus, I'm running out of things to do. I pull out my phone and text Emerson.

Me: Hey, what are we doing? I need to know if there's any particular way I need to dress.

Emerson responds rather quickly.

Emerson: Wear tennis shoes, jeans, and a shirt. Something you wouldn't mind getting dirty/messed up, just in case.

For a moment, I'm wary over how he did not answer my question of what we're going to be doing, especially with that last bit he tagged on. I'm dying to know, but I decide not to ask yet. A customer walks in, so I slip my phone into my pocket to wait on him. Figures someone would show up when I have fifteen minutes left. Just my luck.

My car spent Wednesday in the shop once a lady from my insurance agency came to take pictures. I'm just glad Catherine has a car to take me to and from work. Thursday, I rush across campus from my last class back to the dorms, so I can get ready. I only have forty-five minutes once I get there. The good thing is I already know what I'm wearing. There will not be any time wasted on trying to figure it out.

Emerson texted me this morning to find out which building and what room I'm in. Ever since, I've been anxiously waiting as the minutes pass. The minutes dragged by earlier, but now, they're speeding by through my shower, drying my hair, and getting dressed. My hair decides to be extra unruly and frizzy today, which takes more time than I want to waste on trying to contain it.

I've just tied my shoes when a knock sounds on the door. With a deep breath, I allow the action to soothe me. I stick my phone into my back pocket, grab my purse, and then open the door. Emerson is standing on the other side, his thumbs hooked into his belt loops. He's so good looking I doubt any woman could see him and not have her heart pick up its pace. His short hair is nearly the same black shade as mine, his eyes a softer toned blue, and lips worth nibbling on. Those same lips are lifting into a smile, as I look him over without an inkling of shame. He's similarly dressed in jeans and a red t-shirt.

“Are you done drooling?” he asks, lightly teasing as he smirks.

I pretend to wipe my mouth of imaginary drool. “Better than dropping my jaw and saying, 'Hubba, hubba'.”

Emerson laughs, holding his hand out, which I take. His hand is warm, larger than mine, and his strength is clear with his strong yet gentle grip. “Your jaw did drop, Eva. Mine did too though. How's the leg?” he finishes as we walk outside.

“Good, nothing worth complaining about. Where are we going?” I finally ask.

He grins as he opens the passenger door for me. “It's a surprise.”

I smile back. “I love surprises.”

My answer causes his smile to widen. I climb into the truck and watch as he walks around to get in. He starts the engine and immediately does two things. He rolls our windows down about halfway first. Then, he turns the radio to the station I was listening to the other day. His slick grin tells me all I need to know. He's trying to impress me with his memory. I look away, trying not to give him the satisfaction of a smile because, oh my god, I'm a little impressed.

“I hope you're up for a bit of a drive,” he says.

“How long is a bit?”

“About an hour.”

The question is on the tip of my tongue, but I've already asked and he said it's a surprise. All I know is we're doing something that may make me dirty or ruin my clothes, and it's an hour away. I really do love surprises, so I'm comfortable with waiting to find out.

“Sounds good,” I say. “So, where do you work?”

“I'm a bag boy at a grocery store in town.”

“I work at Sub Grub. What glamorous jobs we have.”

Emerson chuckles. “I've never been there. And hey, I'll take money any way I can make it.”

I shift in my seat to turn toward him a bit. “
Any
way? So, you would strip if you were paid?”

That bright smile makes another appearance. “Are you making me an offer, Eva?”

“Ha! If I wanted you to strip, I could make you do it without paying you,” I say with confidence. Guys are all the same. Push the right buttons and they're putty in your hands, willing to do whatever it takes to get to the good stuff.

“You're right,” he agrees.

This time, it's me grinning. “That's twice you've said that. Either I'm right all the time, or you're wrong a lot.”

“Or maybe I'm the kind of guy who can admit when he's wrong and you're not used to hearing it.”

“Maybe it's all three.”

We have small talk for a few more minutes until we stop to enjoy the warm weather coming in with the windows down and the country music on the radio. As we get closer to the hour mark, a question hits me.

“Do you even like country music?”

“Yeah, but I don't listen to it all the time. We're getting close.”

I don't even know where we are anymore. We get off the interstate and Emerson picks up his phone from where it's sitting in the cup holder. After pressing a few buttons, he lifts the phone to his ear.

“Hey, we're about twenty minutes out.” He pauses. “She's experienced.” He laughs. “Yeah, okay. See you in a few. Thanks.” Emerson hangs up, but doesn't say anything. Was he talking about me when he said, 'she's experienced'? Experienced
how
?

“Were you talking about me?” I ask, not able to keep it in.

“Yeah.”

“In what way am I experienced, Emerson? What have you gotten me into?”

He laughs. It's so easy to make him laugh. Most of the time, I'm not even trying to be funny. “Don't worry. You'll see. All will make sense once we get there.”

There is apparently a house down a gravel road. The trees clear to show a wide-open space with a two-story farmhouse in the middle. There are pastures to our left and right, wooden fence posts set in intervals. To our right, is a man standing in front of two saddled horses. Emerson is wearing a grin when I glance at him, slightly confused.

He gets out, comes around, and opens my door. He even holds out his hand for me to take as I hop out of his truck. I stay quiet as we walk over to the man. He has a round gut, but he's about Emerson's height. He's wearing jeans, an old, faded blue button up shirt, and a cowboy hat.

“Hey, Uncle Terry.” This is his uncle? “Thanks for doing this for Eva and me.”

His uncle smiles. “Anything for my nephew. It's nice to meet you, Eva.”

I shake his hand. “You, too.”

Terry turns his attention to Emerson. “The trail looks good, so you shouldn't have any issues. Y'all have fun.” He hands the reins over to Emerson and then walks away.

Suddenly, it hits me. I feel like an idiot for not realizing it the moment I saw the horses, but I ignore that part. I grab Emerson's arm with excitement. “We're going horseback riding?”

“Yep. You used to go all the time, right? Figured you might like to go riding.”

Here I was thinking we were going on some generic first date, and he's taken one thing I mentioned and run with it. I can't stop smiling as Emerson hands me the reins for one of the horses.

THE MOMENT EVA realized what we are going to do, something about her changed. Maybe she is transported back to her hometown and all the times she rode horses. Or maybe it's simply because she's around the horse. I don't know what it is exactly, but her glee is contagious. I take the lead and we ride the trail Uncle Terry has, race in the pastures, and then make our way back a couple of hours later. We go straight to the barn behind the house to unsaddle the horses.

Eva coos over her horse, petting her, and talking softly long after she's unsaddled. I lean against the threshold of the stall, watching. The animal enchants her and she's in her own little world around them. I noticed a few times when we were riding, she wouldn't be paying attention to me because she was petting and talking to the horse.

“I can see why you love them so much.”

She startles as if she's forgotten I am here. “They're just so...” her voice trails off as she searches for the perfect word. “Majestic,” she finishes. “I wish I could care for them. Especially when they can be as sweet as she is.” Eva presses her face against the horse's neck, a goodbye of sorts, before turning to face me. “Okay, I'm prepared to leave now.”

Her words bring a smile to my face. “We'll stop by the house and then head out to eat. I'm sure you're hungry.”

Eva takes my outstretched hand and we walk over to the house, entering through the back door, which places us in the kitchen, where my uncle and aunt are cooking dinner.

“How was it?” Uncle Terry asks.

“Great. Thanks again.”

“Yes, thanks so much,” Eva adds.

“Are y'all staying for dinner?” Aunt Shelby questions.

“Afraid not. Maybe another time.” I don't want to bombard Eva with my family already. Besides, no other girl in the past year has met any of my family members. When I was thinking about what I wanted to do for our date, this seemed like such a perfect idea. I knew Uncle Terry could help make this happen. Eva meeting some of my family early on is a small price to pay to go horseback riding. I push that twinge of weirdness away; the fact that my family thinks Kelly and I simply broke up helps me do so.

“Your cousins will want to see you before you go,” Aunt Shelby points out.

Thinking of Kelly while on a date with Eva and while standing in my uncle's home does something to me. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. “We should really get going,” I rush out.

“Emerson, I'm sure we have time for you to say hi at least,” Eva tells me, squeezing my hand.

Shit. “You're right; I'll be right back.” I'm sure they are in the living room or their bedrooms. As I'm walking away, I hear my aunt ask Eva how long we've been dating and her surprised, shy-like response that this is our first date.

Why would they think we've been dating long? Is it because I brought her here? I try to be present in the brief reunion with my cousins, but my mind is far away. The fact remains that Eva worries me because of what I'm supposed to have with Kelly. The possibility of something amazing happening between Eva and I is there. I can feel it skimming across the surface, barely there and out of reach for now. What am I supposed to do with that?

I'm in a daze as I say goodbye to everyone, lead Eva to my truck, and start driving. We stop at a chain restaurant a few exits down the interstate away from my uncle's. My mind is occupied as we order drinks and then our food. I hate being worried. I hate that Kelly has put me in such a position.

“Emerson.” The soft, slightly worried tone in Eva's voice causes me to lift my eyes from the table and focus on her. “Is everything okay? You seem like you've been somewhere else ever since we left the house.”