Chapter 32
I walk out the door and down the stairs to Ashley's 4Runner. I hop in the front seat and Ashley smiles gives me a kiss "Much better!", she didn't need to say another word, I was already melting. We back out and we're off to this little Italian restaurant in town. It was Jake's suggestion as he knew ate vegetarian and it was about as romantic of a place that we had. Ashley parked and sat in her seat briefly before saying "Daniel, I really like you and I hope I wasn't taking things too fast?" Feeling suddenly shy and bashful. "You mean my Christmas present?" Not even able to just say it (in my head I was screaming that hot hand job where I cam all over myself, that Christmas present). "No, umm well it was my first time but I really liked, honest! I was umm just not expecting it, but yeah it was really great!" Now feeling a shift from embarrassment to somewhere near pride but not quite. "Well I'm glad Daniel, I just didn't know how you'd feel afterwards like you'd think I was a bad influence..." I interrupted her "Ashely, I promise it's fine, honest" I think I said that because I wanted it to be fine. In my head I was thinking about and the good little Christian boy in me was feeling some level of guilt. "Okay well lets go I'm starving" I say as I opened my door. I get out and hold the door for Ashly. "What a gentleman" she says as she walks past me and into the restaurant. Seeing the hostess I say "Daniel party of 2" The hostess seats us and I can't help but get this feeling from Ashley. I couldn't put my finger on it. Doing my best to break the slightest amount of awkwardness I smile offered her some of the bread at our table. Butter a slice for myself I ask her "What are your plans for the winter break?" I chose an easy question. "Well, we typically go to my grandmothers for Christmas day, my dad and his brothers deep fry a turkey in the back yard and my grandmother, mom and us ladies prepare all the sides" Waiting until I finished with my bread "What about you Daniel?" Knowing my family didn't have any real traditions. That was something I learned my first semester everyone I met seemed to have these idyllic families straight out of a Hallmark movie. Whereas my family was more out of Roseanne. I did my best to paint the best picture of that I could muster. "Well, we go to my grandmother's house too, and everyone brings a dish and it's more or less like a church pot luck". Which was the truth enough. "This year if there's enough snow I want to go snowboarding! We go down to West Virginia, my friend Alex and I would go all the time" Looking over the menu Ashley says "Wow, snowboarding, we don't do that in Texas!" I had told Ashely all about living in the north and snow, which all seemed like a far off inconceivable idea. "I'll have to take you sometime!" I said realizing that would mean she'd have to meet my "Roseanne" family. Taking a sip of water "You'd like it!" Looking over Ashely says "I'd like that Daniel. The waitress came and we ordered I got Eggplant Parm, Ashely got Spaghetti and meatballs. When our meals arrived, I gave our meal the quick simple prayer that we all said before we ate. "Amen! Let's eat!" I said as I was now twirling my pasta with my spoon which caught Ashely's attention. "I've never seen anyone do that" Looking up "ummm yeah this is the way my Nonna taught me when I was a kid" Showing her as if I was now demonstrating it. She shrugs and says "Well I'll give it a try". I loved moments like this. I needed these moments. They helped me see Ashely less as this super hot chick that I still couldn't believe was on a date with me to a person who was on my level. We finished our meals I paid the bill and we head out. Again I got the door for her. We got in and Ashley drove me back to my dorm. We parked in the spot we always did right outside my dorm. Ashely looks over "Daniel..." interrupting her "Yes.." "I just wanted to say and I'm not sure how to say this, but you're much different from any of the guys I've ever dated... you're a really, really good guy... you have such a sweet heart and...I really appreciate that." feeling as if I could almost float away. I managed to ground myself. I knew in that moment that Ashley was serious. Not really knowing how to respond and what seemed like forever I finally said "I appreciate that, I do..." and not even knowing how the next words fell out of my mouth "because I... well sometimes I feel like you're so hot and, like what are you doing with a dork like me.." Before I could finish Ashley leans in and kisses me and says "Daniel, you are not a dork! You're a very special guy if anything I worry that you'll think I'm this bad influence..." looking right at her "Bad influence?" Ashely puts her head back on the head rest. "Because Daniel I've only ever dated guys who aren't anything like you, my high school boyfriend was the quarterback, and well... I don't know Daniel...it's just different with you." I had never seen Ashely seem so flustered. I leaned in and gave her a hug. "Listen Ashley, I like you a lot too... and yes, I've never had a girlfriend before, but I'm wicked smart (pointing to my head) and we'll figure this out. At that very moment Ashely looks up and kissed me like I've never been kissed before. I thought all the times before were great this was like fireworks on the 4th of July. I could feel the boner in my pants begin to rise to the surface. I almost chuckled we briefly stopped and Ashley took notice. Looking down she smiled. "And this Daniel, this!" as she pointed. "Oh I'm sor.." being interrupted "No Daniel, don't apologize.. my last boyfriend was such a jerk... I thought the only way he'd ever want me to be his girlfriend is that I put out... and dammit he made me feel so bad.about myself" I could tell this was a turning point "and with you I feel something, I don't know what science spell you have on my Daniel...." I pull the hair behind her ears I lean in and give her a kiss. not really knowing exactly what to say I tried my best "Ashley, I'm not that guy... I'm this guy" pointing to myself. Listen it's been a rush for me too. Until just a few months ago I never had a date with anyone, not even prom. So yeah all of this has been so amazing... and you're great... and I'm so lucky..." looking down "and you can see I'm super into you" getting a little chuckle "Yeah, Daniel you're right..." now looking at the time and seeing that it was late. I got one last kiss good bye."Good night Ashely" "Goodnight Daniel" I got out boner and all and used my jacket as a shield as I made my way up to my dorm room. Opening the door I see Jake is in bed "Duuuuudeee, welcome back. I'm gonna need a lot details!"