We got seated in a corner booth. I sat on one side. She sat on the other.

"So," I started. "You're the first girl I've ever taken out on a date."

She threw her head back in laughter.

I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh shit!" Her features straightened. "You're serious?"

I nodded.

"How awkward for you." She didn't even try to hide her smirk.

"It is." I fake pouted. "And you're being mean. You should be holding my hand and comforting me."

"Aw," she cooed, treating me like a baby.

"I mean it," I told her.

She scooted closer to me. "Better?"

"Nope." I moved so I was right next to her. "This is better." I put my arm on the seat behind her head.

She smiled up at me.

And something in me switched.

That was the moment she became more.

More than just hot, or sexy, or any of the other things I'd call her if I was surrounded by other like-minded assholes. My dad—he would call it timeless, or classic. The type of beauty that no matter what time, age or era, would always still be beautiful. She was beautiful.

"How come I've never seen you before? At parties or whatever?"

She shrugged. "Not really the party type girl."

"Figures," I said. "I'd for sure remember you."

She bit her lip.

I kissed it.

She kissed back, only for a moment, before laughing into my mouth.

"You just kiss people whenever you want, huh?"

I chuckled. "No, just you, Amanda. I can't fucking help myself around you." Truth.

She started blushing. Then subtly moved closer to me. Her hand landed on my leg.

I moved my arm and placed it over her shoulders, and then lifted her chin with my finger. I licked my lips. She did the same. Her eyes drifted shut. I leaned down. "Ahem." Stupid throat clearing douche hole waiter. "Hey, Amanda," he said flatly.

She pulled away from me, and faced the waiter, her eyes wide. "Hey, Greg."

The kid didn't say shit. Just glared at me. "Problem?" I asked him.

"I'll be back," she said from next to me. Then stood up and pulled Glarey McGlare Dick away from the table.

They walked over to the bar area and spoke heatedly to each other. His arm kept pointing at me. I got up on his third point. She raised her hand to stop me. I waited. Then she spoke calmly to him, and after a few moments, she visibly relaxed and got on her toes to hug him.

She resumed her position next to me, but not as close. I waited for her to speak. To tell me what the fuck just happened. But she never did. Instead, she just opened the menu in front of her, smiled at me, and said, "You wanna just get a little of everything and share it?"

"Sure." I stopped caring about what happened the second she smiled.

***

We ordered and ate almost silently. I made a mental note to take her somewhere else next time. Somewhere we could actually talk. Maybe I was getting too far ahead of myself. Maybe I just really wanted there to be a next time.

She was right. That place did have the best banana splits known to man, and the biggest ones too. We ended up having to share, which was a great excuse to be closer to her.

"So I need to ask you something," I told her while we waited for the check.

She moved in closer again, her hand rested on my leg. Without even thinking, I took it in mine and linked our fingers. And then froze. I wondered for a moment if it was like that with everyone, the nerves and sweaty palms of first kisses, or the seemingly natural progression of first dates.

"Logan?" She pulled me away from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I looked down at our linked hands.

She squeezed it once. "You were going to ask me something?"

My eyes lifted to meet hers. What was I going to say? Oh yeah. "That day when I tried to get your number, and you didn't give it to me. You got all weird when I told you my name. What's that about?"

She laughed. "I don't know. I've kind of heard about you." My eyebrows rose, wanting her to continue. "You know my friend Alexis?"

"Oh yeah. I like Alexis." A smug smile took over my face. "She's good at giving out numbers."

She continued to laugh. "I know you like her, Logan. Well, you did. Once. One night— year or so ago. You guys kind of fooled around, and then you never called her. Although, in your defense, you straight out told her you wouldn't, so she wasn't too surprised."

My mouth dropped.

She laughed at my reaction.

***

We walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. Once we were in my car, I turned to her. She was already facing me. "So." I said.

"So." She smiled.

"I kind of don't want to take you home," I told her.

"Then don't." She shrugged.

"How about—I mean, do you want to maybe come back to my place for a bit? We can just hang out, promise, we don't have to do anything. I just kind of don't−"

"Okay," she cut in.

I had the car on the road and heading to my house faster than a fat kid eats cake.

I pulled into the driveway and we met in front of the car. She smiled up at me. "Thanks for dinner, by the way." She took both my hands in hers, then got on her toes and kissed me. Then she pulled back, looking unsure about what she just did.

So I did the only thing I knew to reassure her that it was fine. It was more than fucking fine. I put one hand on her waist and the other behind her head and I kissed her.

And I don't know how long we stood there; softly kissing, but I wanted more. Much more.

Somehow, she ended up on the hood of my car with me between her legs. My hand had somehow made its way under her shirt and just under her bra. "Oh my god," she moaned into my mouth.

I pulled back slightly. "I know I am, but my name's Logan."

She shook her head, chuckling. “Come here, asshole," she said, bringing me back down to her.

Then I heard the sound of a throat clearing.

We immediately stopped, and both looked up.

Dad.

He stood at the front door, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath. I stood to full height, straightened my clothes and tried to hide my boner.

Amanda made a squealing sound and hid behind my body. "Oh my god," I heard her mumble. She fisted the back of my shirt with her hands and planted her face into my back.

I put my hands in my front pockets and looked down.

"Logan." Dad nodded once in greeting. "Don't mind me. I was just on my way out."

I nodded back, looking up, but not making eye contact.

"I take it you'll be in the pool house tonight?" he asked.

"Yep."

He got in his car and drove away. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and turned to face Amanda.

Her face was bright red. "That was so fucking embarrassing." Her mouth on my chest muffled her words. I chuckled and held her head close, kissing her on the forehead.

And for some reason, it felt okay to do this—to be this—with her.

***

"So," I said, hands in pockets. We'd just entered the pool house. She walked around, taking everything in. I walked behind her, staring at her ass.

"So," she mimicked, spinning to face me.

I quickly darted my eyes away from her ass.