Jessie Cross -

"I'm scared, I don't want to get her a repeat." I told Rowan.

"How about you don't leave this time, talk to her, then go. See what she likes." Owen said.

"That's why I have you. All your good for." I teased and Rowan smacked the back of my head.

"Ow." I swatted it away.

-

Ugly Love Colleen Hoover

I knocked, running my hands through my hair.

She opened the door and appeared startled when I was there. Her eyes were bright red and her cheeks were stained in tears.

"I'm not sad that book is." She responded and I laughed.

"So it's the book?" I made sure.

"So heartbreaking." She put her small hand over her chest.

"Well. I'm here. Got a book. And I sorta wanted to talk to you." I leaned against the door frame.

I handed her the wrapped book.

My note fell onto the floor and I picked it up as she looked at the book.

"Oh I wanted this one it was on my tbr." She smiled.

"Tbr?" I asked confused.

"To be read." She said looking up at me with her soft, hazel eyes.

"You have a list?" I asked.

"I do." She nodded.

"How about, it's about 6 now, we go to Barnes and Nobles and you get whatever books you want." I said.

"Mmmm or we can do that and you can let me pay for something." She raised her eyebrows.

"Dinner." I said simply.

"Dinner." She nodded.

"I have to get ready so you can come in if you'd like." She said and I walked in her small home.

I felt like she was so perfect here, I shrunk the place, making it look smaller.

"Sorry I'll be a second." She said and I looked at her small kitchen and sat on her couch.

It smelt good in here. Like books- not very shocking- and vanilla. I wonder if that's how she smelt.

I got a call.

"Hey what's happening?" Owen asked.

"She's paying for a dinner I compromised on and I'm taking her to the bookstore to let her buy whatever." I whispered.

"Oh my heart is so full." Rowan yelled and I hung up when the door opened.

"Adorable. Come on." I said and stood, opening the door for her and walking out. She locked the door and looked at my car.

"I'll bring you home." I said and she nodded.

We got in my car and she was relaxed, peacefully gazing out the window.

"What sounds good?" I asked.

"Steak?" She asked.

"Read my mind babydoll." I said and she smiled lightly as I drove to Outback Steakhouse.

"Waits about 10 minutes." The waiter said and I put my name down. We went outside and the sun was barely out giving the sky a light pink graze.

We sat on a bench and she sat facing me, criss cross.

"Turn." She said and I did.

"Hot hands." She said and I smiled. I was good at this game.

Her hands hovered over mine and my tattooed, pale hands were much larger than her small, tan ones.

I missed her more than I usually missed and she hit me more than I'm usually hit.

"Damn. I think I've met my match." I shook my head.

"I'm better than you." She teased and I flicked her nose making her laugh and grab my hand.

"Oop we're ready." I said and I had her walking in front of me while the lady set us at our table.

I knew what I was getting as I sat back and stared at her gorgeous face. Her face was slim and sharp, skin a gorgeous tan, nose was sharper and lips were out and pouted.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing. You know what you want?" I asked.

"Drink yea food no." She said and I chuckled.

"Appetizers?" I asked.

"Fried pickles." She smiled.

"That exists?" I was confused.

"They're so good." She gushed and I chuckled.

The waitress came out and smiled kindly at us both.

"Peach tea." I said.

"Same for me. Sweetened." She said and the waitress looked to me if I wanted the same and I nodded.

"Friend pickles for appetizer." I said and the lady walked off.

"Fried pickles. Strange." I said and she smiled at the menu, still studying it.

"I know what I want." She put the menu down.

"You look focused." She observed.

"I'm looking at you." I informed her even though she had to clearly of known that.

"Why?" She asked, sitting back.

"Because I can." I arched my eyebrow.

"Not wrong." She nodded as the food and drinks came out.

The pickles honestly looked really good.

I sipped my tea as she ate the first pickle with ranch.

"Try one." She said covering her mouth with her hand.

I liked pickles so I think these would be good.

I dipped it in a dressing I also enjoyed and ate it.

"Wow that's really good." I nodded.

She smiled when the waitress came back.

"Food?" She asked.

"12 oz sirloin, medium well, loaded baked potato, and green beans." I said. I got the same thing every time. I loved the steak with 2 sides rule.

"For you?" She asked Sailor.

"8 oz medium well, roasted Brussel Sprouts, and fries." She said and I nodded.

"Got it."

"You like brussel sprouts?" I asked.

"Roasted. Not a huge fan of steamed." She said and I nodded analyzing the fact that she seemed nervous.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't know. Gaging your reaction I guess." She shrugged.

"Why?" I asked, sipping my tea and she looked embarrassed.

"When I go out to eat with those girls, that always tell me I eat to much. Not that it's stopped me but I don't know." She shrugged.

"That's actually ridiculous." It honestly pissed me off.

"You think so too?" She asked.

"Okay, as a man I will never understand people or dudes who keep their female friends or girlfriends from eating. Same with the other way around. I think you should eat however much you want. I'll buy a damn buffet bro, thats so fucked up." I shook my head and she smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just agree with you." She said.

"Those bitches wonder why they haven't pulled my friends." I rolled my eyes.

"They don't pull successfully. I'm pretty sure most of them are still virgins." She said and I laughed.

"That's amazing."