Pieces of it All by Tracy Krimmer

otherwise just one. She wasn't positive if he even was her boyfriend. Did she flat out ask him? Being straightforward could turn him off, something she didn't want. "He probably has to work."
    "At least he has a job," her dad said. "If you do have a boyfriend, I don't want him to be on a track to nowhere."
    She didn't clarify at this point in time, Harvey was not her boyfriend. Or she had no idea what kind of path he was on. He didn't seem excited to talk about his life. Everyone had goals, though, something to strive for. His reluctance about the past thrilled her, but it was time she learned what his future held.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    On the way to Denny's, only a short drive from Beth's house, she realized she and Harvey could've at least driven together. He did live just a few houses down from her. However, her dad would've insisted he come inside and properly introduce himself. In their discussion, Beth omitted Harvey's age, aware the small gap may piss him off.
    The entire drive she tapped her foot so fast she could've powered the Flinstones car. She finally exhaled when she arrived. The pet fair allowed room to breathe and not concentrate on the right thing to say or do. While they spent the day together talking and having fun, throughout the event, they conversed with multiple people, not forcing interaction. This qualified an official date. They would be sitting right across from each other, by themselves, a waitress bothering them a few times. What if they ran out of things to say? Staring at him for an hour sure wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but if only silence existed between them, could anything else? She imagined the whole date as nothing but obnoxious chewing. She'd stare down at her plate the entire time, sliding eggs from side to side, her mouth gaped open as she tried to force words out.
    She couldn't do this. Who was she kidding? The last "real" boyfriend she had, Ryan, didn't work out. This would be a failure, too. She knew her life - school, graduate with honors, find a teaching job and live in a tiny apartment with two cats. Her long hair would be thrown into a bun daily, her face defining every wrinkle as she grew older each year. She wasn't Lucy or Heather. A long term relationship, or a fling every other month, didn't fulfill her. She was just Beth. Plain Jane Beth.
    The best way to break things off would be a text. She couldn't stand in front of his gorgeous face and admit her cowardice. She needed an excuse. She drove to the diner, she intended to go on a date with him. How did she explain she spent the time to get ready and come, only to turn around and go home?
    The sparse lot showed no sign of him, so she still could cancel. She slid the lock screen off her phone and pressed to send a new text message. She began to type. Sorry. I can't make it.
    A text from Harvey popped up, interrupting her as she typed. You coming in?
    Did he know she was waiting outside? She pressed the phone into her lap and twisted her head from side to side. His car wasn't in view. Where are you? Are you here? She sent back.
    Look into the window next to the entrance.
    She turned around. Harvey sat at a booth, waving at her. Shoot. Sorry. I'll be right in. Just checking in with my mom.
    Now she had to go through with the date and hope not to make a fool of herself. She cracked her window a bit so the air could cool the car. It was only seven and already seventy degrees out. A quick check of her minimal makeup, and she headed for the door.
    She entered the restaurant and walked up to the "Please Wait To Be Seated" sign. "Hey." Harvey spooked her as he approached her from the side.
    Wow. She crossed her arms and pinched her skin. Nope. Not a dream. The smoking hot guy standing in front of her, with his off-white cargo shorts and turquoise shirt clinging to his fit body, was her date. Her date . Harvey's hotness landed on a scale she thought only Heather measured up to. What in the world did he