Even Kit agrees I’m a very quick learner. Dane and I both thank him for the lesson and go to change.
Heading to the car, I’m actually bounce skipping or something. I can’t remember the last time I had this kind of adrenaline high. This has been one of the best days I’ve ever had and I’m euphoric.
Last stop of this exhilarating day is dinner and we agree on Mexican food.
“Okay, so it was my turn,” he says as we wait for our food. “How did you like the defense class?”
“I really liked it, very cool and good to learn. Thank you.” I smile.
“You’re very welcome. Do you know why I took you there?”
“Well, the shoot was so I’d feel pretty, which I did, so I’m guessing the class was so I’d feel safe?”
“In part, yes. I want you to feel in control, Laney. I see a look in your eyes sometimes, a lot like fear, and as you venture out more, I want you to have at least some control over the situation. I want that sense of confidence to emanate from you.”
“Why?” It’s insightful, but way forward.
“I can tell all this is new to you, Laney; college, going out, meeting new people. I want you to feel secure. Every woman should make decisions based on good sense or choice, not fear.”
“How do you think you know so much about me?”
“I’m a pretty good people reader, always have been. I have to be. If I’m wrong, remember, just tell me. Either way, though, it can’t hurt for you to be prepared, right?”
“No doubt, it was good to learn...but, I don’t know...”
“What, tell me?”
“I loved today. Everything you planned was original and creative and so fun, but both things were to make me feel something else or be someone different. It kinda makes me feel like you see all these things about me you want to fix, like I’m not okay as I am. Does that make sense?”
He looks at me thoughtfully for a bit before answering. “Yes, I can see where you’d think that.” He blows a sigh up and out, ruffling his hair slightly. “I’m so sorry, Laney. Damn, talk about a backfire.”
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad, Dane.” I cover his hand resting on the table with mine. “I really appreciated everything today.”
“I know you did, even though I was making you feel doubt the whole time. I tried to plan things to make you happy and it had the opposite effect. I’m sorry.” The desolate look he now wears breaks something in me.
“Don’t do that, Dane, don’t shut down. Tell me what you meant, what your goal was, and let’s see if I can understand where you were coming from. I bet I get it.” I smile at him encouragingly. I refuse to let this day go sour.
“That, right there.” He turns his hand in mine, linking over fingers together. “You’re so real. The last thing I’d ever want to do is change you. I took you to the photo shoot because it’s something near to my heart, capturing beauty like yours.” He kisses the back of my hand. “And the class, I thought it’d be fun. You play ball, so you obviously like physical activities. And I admit I knew I’d like watching you enjoy a physical activity. So really, they were both kinda about me,” he chuckles. “As of right now, I have no inventory of anything wrong with you.” He winks, but it’s to deflect nervousness, he thinks I won’t accept his answer...
Wrong, it was a perfect answer. “See, I understand completely. Was that so hard? I mean, don’t you hate it when people do that? They let a minuscule misunderstanding build and build without addressing it, and before you know it, there’s a path of destruction. It’s such an easy fix to just talk about things. In fact, sometimes it not only fixes things, it makes them even better!”
“Girls who talk things out calmly? Where did you come from, Laney?”
“Georgia.”
“Well, Georgia is lucky to have you. Come on, you finished?”
“I am. The food was so good. Thank you, Dane.”
“Thank you for always saying thank you. I like doing things with you.”
I blush a bit at this. I like doing things with him, too. He’s so down to earth, so easy to talk to. It’s like I’ve known him a lot longer than I have.
It’s dark when we get outside, so I suggest maybe he take me home now, I have class early. “Dane, why weren’t you ever going to go to college?”
“Ah, back to your question, huh? OK, I’ll tell you a bit, but go easy on me, Disney. I don’t want to unveil all the cobwebs at once, alright?”
I nod my agreement as he holds open the car door for me, guiding me in with his hand at the small of my back.
He climbs in his side and starts the car but turns to me before we move. “I had other things waiting for me, responsibilities, so I couldn’t go to college and manage those things at the same time. I couldn’t let so many others down just to come out with a degree I’d never have to use. Maybe one day, if things are different, I’ll go. But for right now, I made the right decision.”