Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 53

My mother has been talking about Kent ever since she had dinner with him. It's only been two days, but she's already mentioned him twice.

I'm not sure what she sees in him. Kent is tall, handsome, can be kind, has a confusing charm, and smiles with dimples, but I don't understand what's so special about that.

Ugh, here I go again. Even though we're finally getting along, I can't stop my mind from wandering to him when it shouldn't. We've agreed to be friends, and he's made it clear that he knows the boundaries and won't cross them again. I need to let go of this silly thing that's driving me crazy for no reason.

He can't be in a relationship. What he's told me should be enough, and his actions and what I've seen support his words. I know Kent has a lot on his mind, and I suspect he didn't have a great childhood. He's dealing with enough, and I don't want to add to his burden.

We can keep this a secret because it was just a mistake between friends. I can control my feelings, and he can too, so I just need to try to move on.

It's really hard, though, because for the first time in my life, I can't stop thinking about a guy. It makes me feel guilty that he's not the one I'm going out with tonight.

"Hmm, try the red one!" Abby calls me on FaceTime, and I step out of the frame, change into my red dress, and ask her opinion on what to wear tonight. I don't know the type of restaurant he's taking me to, but I want to dress nicely just in case.

"What do you think?" I step back into view and inquire. She squeals in approval.

"Yes, that's perfect!" She's so persistent, she even picks up her phone to show her excitement, and I smile and twirl in front of the camera. It's a simple cocktail dress with thin straps and an adult look. I haven't worn it since high school graduation, and this is the first time it's fit me since then.

"I like it too." I mention while searching my jewelry box for something to wear. "I'm surprised it still fits."

"Julianna, that dress fits you like a glove; this guy is going to be floored." She assures me, and I try to give her a smile. "Why the worried look?" She asks as I hunt for a pair of simple stud earrings to go with the small pendant necklace I plan to wear.

"Who is he?" I ask as I put my earrings on and continue searching for my necklace.

"That one was totally lost." She chuckles, and I shake my head. "What's bothering you?"

"I'm not sure... I haven't been on a date since high school, and he's older than me, so I'm not sure how I feel about this." I admit, shrugging. I keep thinking about my roommate, who wants nothing to do with me.

"It's like riding a bike," she insists, and I sigh, thinking that maybe I'm more like a wobbly unicycle – an awkward disaster that might be slightly better if I were drunk. "He really likes you, and you said he was eager to go out with you, right?"

"Yeah."

"You're just nervous," she reassures me, and I sigh, rolling my eyes. I grab my heels and put them on while continuing to chat with her. I'd already showered, done my hair, and applied makeup before calling Abby for outfit advice. "Hey, is this related to Chase?"

"No," I reply, shaking my head. "I'm so done with that."

"Not Chase," she whispers and chuckles, and I let out a sigh. "He asks about you all the time."

"I need a break from Chase; he's causing too much drama in my life."

"I can totally understand that," she says with a laugh. "You're really cool, Julianna. This is your special date, so enjoy yourself and have fun. Oh, and make sure to savor the delicious food since he's covering dinner."

I let out a little laugh as I finish putting on my heels and glance at the time. "I'm sorry, but I've got to run. Thanks for everything. Have a great evening." I chuckle and stand up to grab my purse. I drape my coat over my arm and retrieve my phone.

"Goodbye, Julianna! Have a blast and fill me in on all the details tomorrow," she pleads with a smile. I nod, offer a wave, and end the call.

I close my door behind me and step into the hallway, making my way to the living room. As soon as I do, I hear Kyle on the couch whistle and applaud for me. My cheeks flush, and a bashful smile creeps onto my face.

"You clean up nice, Julianna," he chuckles.

"Thanks," I mumble as I pause to put on my coat.

"I totally forgot you were heading out tonight," Mark chimes in, and when I turn around, I spot him and Kent at the dining room table.

"Yeah, it was sort of a last-minute thing," I mention with a slight shrug, running my fingers through my hair. "I've got to run; have a good night, everyone," I say, and as I pivot to leave, I catch Kent's gaze. The way he looks at me, those beautiful green eyes locked onto mine, seems to suggest giving the other guy a chance.

"Goodbye, Julianna. Give me a call if anything goes south," Kyle offers as he strolls through the living room and into the kitchen, his arm around my shoulders.

As I step out of the front door, I clear my throat and muster a smile. I needed to stop obsessing over Kent's body language all the time. No matter how much I thought I could decipher it, he'd made his intentions clear, and I'd chosen to respect that.

I walk to the bus stop and wait for a ride into town. I didn't want to hop into a car with a guy I barely knew, and this felt safer. Plus, if I wanted to leave early, I could always blame it on the bus.

I disembark near the restaurant where we agreed to meet. For a moment, I fret about how long I'll be waiting outside until I spot him near the front doors. He's early, which rarely happens.

I tuck my phone into my purse and take a deep breath, feeling too jittery to stay calm. It wasn't good to be so nervous, and I pondered whether I really wanted to be here.

"Julianna!" He says with a smile, and as I approach him, I offer my best smile in return. "Hey, how's it going?" He asks while giving me a quick hug, and I feel compelled to hug him back. That felt like proper date etiquette.

"I'm good, how about you?" I respond politely, and he guides me inside.

"Happy it's Saturday," he agrees.

"Yes, I always look forward to the weekend after a hectic week. It helps me unwind, and I'm sure having a full-time job makes time off even more valuable," I nod and cringe slightly, realizing I'm giving too much information and talking too much in an attempt to cover my nerves.

"What I meant was that I get to see you," he says kindly, placing his hand on my waist. I gasp, uncertain about his hand placement. He then takes my hand and leads me to the host stand. As we walk, I subtly shift a bit away from his hand.

"Good evening! Do you have a reservation?" she asks.

"It's under Hawthorn," he tells her, and she retrieves the menus.

"Please leave your coats with Robert, and follow me this way," she smiles and leads us through the bustling restaurant. We end up at a small table tucked away in a quiet corner. "Your server will be with you shortly," she informs us kindly as she places the menus on the table, and I take my seat.

He arrives before me and pulls out the chair. I smile, shrug, and settle into it as he helps push it back in.

He sits down, beaming like he's delighted to be here. "You look a bit uneasy. Is this not private enough because-"

"Oh no, not at all," I wave my hand and assure him. "I'm just feeling a bit out of practice. It's been almost four years since I've been on a date." I admit with a shy smile.

"How on earth is that possible?" He chuckles, and I simply shrug, sitting up a bit straighter.

There's no denying his good looks, from his gleaming white teeth to his perfectly styled blonde hair. However, there seems to be much more beneath the surface with him.