Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FINN

When Thursday arrives, I’m so fucking excited for my date with Monster that I can barely contain myself. Everyday Monster has made a point to either text me or arrange for us to meet up for a quick visit, which made me feel extra special. None of my exes were like that. They didn’t care if we went a week without seeing each other, and in return, I felt the same way. But with Monster, I like that he isn’t afraid of coming across as too much. He even made me promise to tell him if I needed more space, which I don’t, of course. Most guys I’ve been with try to play it so cool that I’m not even sure if we are dating or just friends with benefits. It’s nice to know exactly where I stand with someone for a change. It’s nice to feel wanted.

The butterflies in my stomach have been non-stop fluttering every single day, and I feel like a teenager with my first crush all over again. But at least this time, the feelings aren’t one sided.

Monster still won’t tell me where he’s taking me tonight, but he did put an emphasis on being able to move easily, so I opt for gray dress pants, a white collared shirt with a floral design, and a black vest that cinches in at the waist, giving me more of a curvy look. It’s a look that is still on the femme side but doesn’t stand out as much as me wearing a dress or skirt. I’ve gotten used to heads turning and unapproving glares, but Monster hasn’t, so I wanted to tone my look down just a tiny bit for our date tonight.

I know Monster told me he won’t hide our relationship, and I love that he isn’t freaking out about having feelings for a man, but this is all new to him. He hasn’t experienced homophobia directed at him yet, and while he understands that it, unfortunately, comes with the territory, it’s a whole other thing to be on the receiving end of it. Just being with a man is going to ruffle people’s feathers. Being with a boy who likes to dress in “girly” clothes? That’s a whole other ball game.

I refuse to change myself for anyone, but I’m okay with dialing things back for a small amount of time so that Monster has a chance to get used to things.

For my makeup, I also decided to keep it simple with a skin tint to even out my complexion, a light dusting of blush, a thin coating of mascara, and my signature red lipstick. That’s a nonnegotiable for me. I almost feel naked when I don’t have it on.

Standing in front of my full length mirror, I give myself a once over, smiling brightly with how cute I look. I know Monster is going to love it.

Once I’ve decided I look perfect, I quickly rush around my tiny one-bedroom apartment, tidying things up. I’m an ‘organized chaos’ kind of person most of the time, meaning things look untidy, but I know where everything is. It makes me beyond grateful that my grandpa insisted he rent an apartment for me so that I didn’t have to share a space with anyone else. I’m not a slob or anything, but my place isn’t always picture perfect. My brain is a very fast and hectic place, and sometimes, staying on top of cleaning can be a challenge while trying to balance everything else in life. But since I’m the only person who has to live in this space, I don’t worry about it too much.

Tonight, however, I want my place to be neat and tidy because I plan on inviting Monster up after our date… if he’s open to it.

I meant what I said about being completely okay with taking things slow, but I also noticed how much Monster enjoyed making out after our first date. A couch is a much more comfortable place than a car to do that. And if he wants to take things a little farther than that? Well, I’m not going to complain. I’ll just let him set the pace and go along for the ride.

My apartment is pretty much perfect by the time Monster texts me to let me know he’s here. I quickly grab my jacket and rush out the door with pure excitement coursing through my veins.

“I feel like a douche for texting you instead of coming to your door like a gentleman, but I don’t know which apartment number you are,” Monster says when I come outside.

He’s standing in front of his car looking like a giant fucking snack. He’s wearing a pair of dark-wash jeans that cling to his thick muscular thighs. They look almost as good as his tight baseball pants. On the top, it looks like he has a maroon henley underneath a black leather jacket. My heart races, and my cock starts to thicken in my pants. Fuck, this man cleans up nicely. He’s got an almost bad boy vibe to him tonight, but I’m not complaining. He pulls it off perfectly. But little do outsiders know how much of a marshmallow Monster is on the inside.

“You aren’t a douche,” I assure him, slowly stepping toward him with a sexy smirk on my red lips. “And if you’re a sweetheart tonight, you can walk me to my door and find out exactly where I live.”

I press my lips to his cheek for a sweet kiss and almost snicker at the way Monster shivers and audibly swallows.

“J-just to your door?” he questions quietly.

I step back, smiling at him brightly. “You could always come in if you want to,” I reply, loving the way his pupils grow a little, showing his desire to do just that.

“Umm… yeah… I think I’d like that,” he tells me in the most adorable, disjointed way.

The way he’s staring at me makes me think he wants to skip the date all together and just go up to my apartment. As much as I’d love that, I don't want to rush things. I’m also really curious to see what he has planned for tonight.

“First though, we have to have our date,” I remind him.

He blinks a couple of times as if being snapped out of a trance, then nods. “Right… right… I hope you enjoy what I have planned,” he tells me before opening the car door for me.

“I’m sure I’ll love it,” I say while beaming at him.

I’ve never dated someone so sweet before, and I could see myself getting easily addicted to the way he’s treating me. If things end between us, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the kind of guys I was dating before. But as stupid as this is to say so early on, I really hope things don’t end.

Gently, Monster shuts my door, then rushes around to his side, gets in, and buckles up.

He hands me his phone before putting the car into drive, and I stare at it for a moment, wondering what he wants me to do.

“Pick the music,” he tells me with a toothy grin as he drives us to wherever we are going tonight.

“What if you hate what I like to listen to?” I question as I scroll through his music app, starting with his favorited songs to see if we have similar taste.

“I doubt I’ll hate it,” he states. “There is very little music I don’t like. I listen to a little bit of everything.”

He isn’t lying either. In his favorites there is a huge mix of music, and I love that we seem to like mostly the same stuff. There are a few songs I’m not the biggest fan of, but for the most part, we seem to be in sync.

I don’t see my all-time favorite song though, so I type the title into the search bar and press play, seeing if Monster will like it as much as I do.

The upbeat tempo fills the space, and I watch my sexy date as the music floats around us. His fingers tap against the steering wheel, and he bobs his head along to the beat. It’s funny how something so little makes my heart melt.

I sing along when the chorus comes, and Monster shoots me the biggest smile.

“You have the voice of an angel,” he notes, and I look away as my cheeks heat from the compliment.

I’ve never been good at accepting compliments or words of praise. Maybe that’s because I didn’t get any growing up. Unless it was from my grandpa.

I think when you get used to being degraded and laughed at, you don’t think you deserve to hear nice things.

“I’m an okay singer,” I mumble.

“You’re much better than okay,” Monster argues. “I could listen to you sing all day.”

Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and my face heats even more. I guess I’m going to have to get used to compliments because I don’t think this sweetheart of a man is going to stop anytime soon. And if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t want him to. I enjoy feeling special for once.

After my song is over, I put on one of Monster’s favorites and we sing along together as he drives us to wherever we are going.

Monster is a little bit tone deaf but that doesn’t stop him from belting out the song, making me smile so wide my cheeks hurt. The joy that he is radiating makes up for his lack of talent.

A few more songs later we pull into a parking lot with a building that has a giant neon bowling ball and pins on the roof.

“We’re going bowling?” I ask, even though it’s obvious that’s what we are doing.

“Is that okay?” he inquires, grabbing the back of his neck and furrowing his brows together.

Shit. I didn’t mean to make him self-conscious about his decision.

I place my hand on his arm and smile at him. “It’s perfect,” I assure him. “I just wasn’t expecting it. I haven’t been bowling in a long time.”

“Me either,” Monster admits, looking more relaxed. “But when I was googling things to do, this place popped up, and I figured, why not?”

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” I say as I unbuckle and open my door.

Monster joins me a moment later, reaching for my hand and intertwining his fingers with mine. His hand is much larger than mine, but honestly, I don’t think there is anything about this man that isn’t bigger than me. But I actually kind of like feeling extra small next to him.

Like the gentleman he is, Monster opens the door for me, letting me enter the bowling alley first.

I’m expecting to be hit with a smell of dust and disinfectant, but oddly enough, it smells like garlic and deep-fried French fries. My mouth waters a little, and I turn to look at Monster, who is smiling.

“They are supposed to have the best appetizers in all of Green Springs,” he informs me, making my stomach growl with anticipation.

I love good food. I don’t have a favorite. I just really like anything that tastes amazing. I can’t wait to get my hands on whatever this place has to offer because if the smell is anything to go by, it’s going to be amazing.

I’ll admit that this is not what I was expecting our date to be, but I’m not disappointed. I can’t wait to see where the night takes us.