Setting up the next date

“Hey Ashton! So, how was your day?” Asked Hannah.

“Ugh. Dealing with problems since five or six a.m. I feel absolutely drained.” There was a pause, and even through the phone she could hear his smile as he added, “but hearing your voice has made this day so much better.”

“Aww, same!” She said, {if Love = True}and she felt a burst of joy from his small compliment, made all the better because she did feel the same. She had been preventing herself from calling him too much, didn’t want to come across as clingy, but she felt so happy when he called her.{endif}{if Denial = True}and she felt happy at how he cared for her, and showed it with sweet words and kind gestures while expecting nothing in exchange. It was so different from what she was used to, but she liked this new feeling. And she wanted more of it.{endif}{if Manipulation = True}, and she smiled. Yes, he really was sweet on her. She had to do this right, keep playing the good girl and not let him suspect anything. It was going great so far!{endif} “I always love a surprise call from you!”

“And I love giving you a nice surprise! So I think we match!” He laughed before continuing. “But I didn’t call just to hear your voice this time. I was actually considering having dinner together again.”

They had been on two other dates since the evening dinner, one was only a quick meet-up at a park close to her work where they shared a lunch and chatted, the other was a visit to a gardening center where they attended a workshop and she later brought some plants home to her balcony. And to his credit, despite looking a bit lost through the whole thing he took it with good humor and helped her carry the plants home.Gardening was her hobby, not his, but he was eager to know more about her hobbies. {if Manipulation = True}He was so anxious to please, it was almost adorable. And she encouraged that in the hopes that he would soon see things her way in other matters as well…{else}She enjoyed the look on his face as he learned more about gardening from her. He always seemed so intent , focused on it as if there would be a test at the end. And when she pointed it out he looked surprised for a moment before smiling sheepishly, which melted her heart. It was too adorable!{endif}

“Ooh, another date?” She smiled. “I really linked the last one.”

“Me too,” he replied. “Do you have any place in mind? Since I suggested the last one, you get to pick this time.” She took some time to think, before an answer popped in her mind.

“There’s a bar place close to my home, about 15 minutes away. The ambience isn’t, y’know… Romantic. But it’s still nice, and the food is really delicious!” She said.

“That sounds good! I’m always up for good food,” he replied. “Tasty food beats atmosphere anyways.”

“Hey! I did like the restaurant you took me to last time!” She protested. “It was nice. Never went to a place that was playing live classical music before.”

“Just a string quartet group that plays there every Saturday,” he mumbled. “But… I’m glad you liked it.”

“I really did! It was great! I guess it doubled as the first time I ever heard classical music live!” She nodded to herself. “It was a fun new experience.”

“Great!” He laughed, enjoying her enthusiasm. “I look forward to experiencing the good food you mentioned!”

“Oh yeah! Be sure to come hungry!” She grinned.

“I will.” There was another pause, as if he was gathering his thoughts. “And also… I want to do something else on our date.”

“Yeah?” And her thoughts, predictably, went to sex once more. She shook her head. No, there was no way…

“Last time we went out to eat you invited me home. And I… Refused. I… I’m sorry about that. It was rude of me.”

She was woken from her fantasies, blinking fast. She feebly tried to protest. “What? No, no, I get it… You want to take things slow. I…”

“And I still do,” he quickly added. There was a pause, she was unsure how to reply, so he continued. “I was afraid of things going too fast, so I pumped the brakes hard. But… I should trust you more. And care about your needs, as well as mine.” Another pause, a nervous chuckle. “Besides… I want to see what your place looks like.”

“I…” She was speechless for a moment. ‘Don’t fuck this up, don’t fuck this up, don’t fuck this up’ kept repeating in her head. “Sure! You’re welcome to come over any time! And… And I’ll respect you if you tell me to stop, sure! But, umm…”

“... But we can go a little father,” he finished for her. There was hesitation in his tone, nervousness, but also tenderness and concern for her. “Not all the way, but… You know. I’m willing to take things further, for you.” Another pause. “I mean, if you want to… Of course. We can also just -”

{if Lust > 50}}“I want to take things further!” She blurted out before she could stop herself. Damn! Was she really this pent up?{else}”That sounds good for our relationship!” She replied, maybe a little too fast. “As long as you’re comfortable, of course. I want to feel closer to you, that’s all.” She pursed her lips. Came off a little strong there, but she saved it in the end.{endif}

“Alright. Looking forward to it then. The whole evening, I mean. But also… Spending time with you.” He said.

“Me too,” she replied. And there was a brief pause as her heart beat faster and she considered what this meant. What could ‘going further’ mean for him? Could… Could she choose? Or try to push things a little further? Maybe not too far, but… Maybe a little?

“See you then,” he said. “Good night, Hannah.”

“Night Ashton,” she replied. “Tomorrow’s date sounds amazing.”

“I’m sure it will be amazing,” he laughed softly. “Take care.”

“You too.”

And the phone went quiet while her mind raced with more and more possibilities, some which she admitted to herself were improbable, but the uncertainty only made her more excited. And one thing was certain:

She was going further with Ashton on her next date!