Away From the Spotlight Read Online Free Page B

then.”
    I had to try hard not to show my excitement when I responded, “Okay.”
    “ Can I take that to mean you’ll go out with me again?”
    “Yes.”   I smiled at him then.
    Will seemed to take courage in my response and asked, “ Can I see you again tomorrow?”
    “Yes, but I kind of have to study at some point this weekend .   I’ve got finals coming up. ”   I tried not to appear too eager and I really did have to study.   I also had casual plans with a group of friends , but was sure I could get out of them easily.
    “How about you come over to my place tomorrow around n oon and bring your books with you?  I have some reading to do myself and would love the company.  We can have lunch o ut on the patio .  Tomorrow night, I have tickets to a concert if you’re up for it, but you’ll have to let me surprise you as to the band.  I’m pretty sure you’ll like it.”
    Once we had the details of our next date settled, Will drove me back to my car .  After opening the car door for me and helping me out, Will put his arms around me and pulled me into a kiss that made me feel like he really didn ’ t want to be saying goodbye.   By my response, I’m sure he realized that I felt the same way.   I was relieved that we were doing this here, in front of my car, rather than back at Will’s house.  I don’t know what I would have done if he had kissed me like th at there .  I didn’t think of myself as the type to sleep with someone on the first date, but I might not have been able to restrain myself with Will.  I wa s simply too attracted to him.
    On the way home, I was racking my brain as to what band we could be seeing.  With my trip to Europe coming up, I hadn’t been spending money on going to concerts as much as usual.  As a result, I hadn’t been paying attention to who was touring so I wouldn’t be tempted.
    I don’t know how I made it home.  I was exhausted, having not slept much the night before, but wide awake in anticipation of the next day’s events.

Chapter Three
    Despite having been so tired, I actually didn’t manage to sleep in the next morning .  I was too excited to see Will.
    I had no idea what to expect for the day so I had no idea what to wear.  I contemplated bringing changes of clothes, but was worried about appearing to bring luggage.  I decided to go casual, wearing jeans and a long sleeveless printed top and to bring another outfit for the concert .
    I put my makeup, brush , and travel toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse.  I felt like I was packing for an overnight and that thought, and what it implied, made m y stomach churn with anxiety .
    Although I was not inexperienced, sleeping with someone I barely knew was definitely not me.  With few exceptions, I generally had crushes for months before I ever let on that I was interested so most of my relationships had evolved slowly.  And, to boot, it had been a while as work , law school , and the corresponding lack of opportunity had distracted me from those pursuits of late.   All this, combined with the fact that I knew that , had Will pressed the issue last night, I would have found him impossible to resist, scared me.
    I p laced my change of clothes in as small a bag as I could find , piled my books into another bag, loa ded the car , and was on my way by 11:15 a.m.  I didn’t want to be early and to appear as eager as I really was .  With traffic, it took me over an hour to get there so I was actually late.
    The girl with Stephen the night before answered the door.  She was petite with long brunette hair and blue -grey eyes.
    “Hi, I didn’t properly introduce myself last night,” she said with a British accent that was more northern sounding , like maybe from Manchester .  “I’m Kate. ”  She leaned forward conspiratorially and added, “ Will would kill me for telling you this, but he has been pacing for the last half - hour, waiting on you.  It’s brilliant to see him like this.”
    I