Midnight Rider

Chapter 10

I don’t think I’ve ever had people spend this much attention to me. Some of our patients knew about my two dates. Either because they over heard me talking about them or because Ciara was too excited for me to keep her mouth shut. I kept fielding questions about them all week. No I don’t know where Gabriel is taking me, no I don’t know if anything will happen with them. It was driving me crazy because I also had these questions and no way to answer them. It’s very nerve wracking. I tried to keep myself busy all day Thursday so I wouldn’t have time to be nervous about my date with Gabriel. I talked to Ciara and Dominque on the phone while getting ready for it.

“I have no idea what to wear”, I stood in front of my open closet.

“He didn’t even give a hint of where you’re going?” Dominque asked.

“Nope, just said it was a surprise…”

“Well don’t dress up too much, keep it casual since it’s a first date.” Ciara answered.

“Speaking of first dates, when are you and Eric going on a date Ciara?” Dominque teased.

“Well if you must know,” Ciara teased back, “we’re going for dinner and drinks Saturday night.”

“He seems nice, I hope it goes well,” I answered. Paying more attention to picking out my outfit than the conversation.

“He’s already sent me some pics of him in his military uniform….y’all they are drool worthy,” Ciara laughed. Dominique started giggling.

“Ya men in uniform are always hot,” I smiled at the thought of Tanner in his uniform.

“Hey shouldn’t you be focusing on Gabriel?” Dominque asked.

“Ugh it’s really hard to focus these days.” I said frustrated.

Ciara sighed, “has the midnight rider texted you anymore since the ride you took?”

“No, probably cause I keep trying to figure out who he is and he doesn’t want me to for some reason.”

“Uh considering he obviously sells drugs or at least buys them, then ya maybe that’s a good reason.” She answered.

“I mean ya that’s a good reason, but it’s not like I’d tell anybody. Oh and when Tanner texted me asking me out he said something in his text which the rider also said in his.”

“So you think the Midnight Rider and Tanner could be the same guy?” Dominque questioned.

“It’s a possibility. Or, it could also be that I’m looking too much into it. Ok, I’ve settled on an outfit.”

“ok what is it?” Ciara asked.

“Black skinny jeans, leopard print tennis shoes and grey t shirt?” it was more of a question than a statement.

“Sounds cute and casual.”

“I like it.”

“ok girls, I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up and got dressed. I just sprayed some perfume on when I heard Christian call from downstairs.

“Hey sis! Your date’s here!” I came down the stairs and could see Christian and Gabriel through the door standing outside. I opened the door and came outside in the middle of their conversation about motorcycles. Gabriel was holding more flowers.

“Oh hey, I brought you some more flowers.” He flashed that smile at me.

“Thanks! I’ll go add these to the vase before we leave.” I smiled. I left the boys outside to keep talking. As I was adding the flowers to the vase with the others Dru walked in.

“Girl, you didn’t say how hot Gabriel is.”

“Hey you’re with my brother.”

“Yes and I love him but I’m not dead or blind either ok?” she laughed.

“Oh my gosh. Yes he is VERY good looking and that makes me all the more nervous.” I blushed

“Don’t be! Just go have fun” she hugged me.

I walked back outside and smiled at Gabriel. “Ready to go?” he asked.

“Ready”

“Have a good time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Christian called after us.

Gabriel opened the passenger door to his old truck for me. After he slid inside I rolled my eyes at my brother. “Sorry about him” I said.

He laughed, “it’s ok, he’s cool. You look great by the way.”

I blushed, “thanks you do to.”  He seemed a little nervous but still smiled at me. He was wearing jeans, boots and a blue flannel with a black t shirt underneath. He had the sleeves rolled up on the flannel shirt. I tried not to make it obvious that I was staring at him. He was driving with his right arm on the wheel and his left hand on the door. We rode with the windows down. We caught each others eyes while both trying not to stare at each other.

“So where are we going?” I finally asked.

“You’ll see, it’s just a little ways out of town.” He smiled.

“Is this truck yours?”

“It is now, but it was my grandpa’s originally. He used to take my grandma on dates in this thing.” This time he looked right at me without trying to hide it.

“That’s really cool. I like old cars and bikes.”

“Really?”

“Ya, I’m not exactly a girly girl. I have my moments but I like guy stuff too. Anything with a motor.” I laughed.

I was watching him drive when he announced, “we’re here”.

I looked around and saw that we were at the drive in movie theater outside of town. He paid for us and backed the truck into a parking space.

“I’ve never been here before this great!”

“So I chose a good surprise date then?”

“Yes definitely.” He smiled and came around to let me out of the truck. I had noticed a tarp covering up the bed of the truck when I got in at my house. I didn’t think much of it assuming there were bike parts in the back or something.

“Well the surprise doesn’t end there,” he said while pulling the tarp off the bed of the truck.

“Oh my gosh! Gabriel this is great!” I exclaimed. In the back of the truck he had put down an air mattress with lots of pillows and blankets to relax and watch the movie on.  

He blushed as he held out his hand to help my into the back of the truck. I took my shoes off and sat on the mattress.

“I’m really glad you like it. I’m going to grab sodas, what do you want?”

“Oh I can give you some money for mine,” I started to get up.

He stopped me, “no you don’t pay when you’re out with me”

“ok,” I smiled, “I’ll take a coke with a big popcorn with lots and lots of butter and salt.”

“You got it.”

I sighed as I watched him walk away. This is going great so far. I’ve never had anyone put this much thought into a date. The most Jason ever did was take me to a movie, and usually it was a group of us. Gabriel was all smiles as he walked back to the truck. I took the sodas and held them as he climbed up. He took his boots off and placed the movie speaker on the edge of the tailgate before sitting down. I wasn’t really sure how we should sit. When we finally got comfortable he was on my left side and we were half propped up with the pillows. We were so close our shoulders were touching.

“I hope you like the movie,” He said taking a sip of soda. As the opening music started I turned to him and smiled.

“Dirty Dancing?! I love this movie! You’re just full of surprises.” I didn’t hide that I was staring at him. Halfway through the movie I decided to relax and rested my head on Gabriel’s shoulder. I didn’t feel nervous around him anymore. He smiled down at me and put his arm around my waist to pull me in closer. As the movie ended everyone started to leave.

“Do you want me to take you home now? If not we can do something else.”

“No this date is great, I don’t want to head home yet.” I blushed.

He sat up and smiled at me, “I agree, come on I know somewhere else we can go.”

I put my shoes on and he helped me climb down. We rode with the windows down again.

“Are you cold?” he reached his hand over and touched my arm.

“Uh a little not to bad”

“Here take this” he took his flannel shirt off and handed it to me.

“Thanks” I smiled. It was warmer and his cologne smells great. I scooted over to the middle of the truck to be closer to him. He smiled at me and rested his right arm across my legs. It seemed so easy to be relaxed with him. As we drove I realized we were headed toward the same lookout point that the ‘Midnight Rider’ and I had went to. I pushed my suspicions aside. Lots of people come up here. Right?  We stopped and I slid out of the door after him. He pulled the tarp back again and helped me up.

“Well, I have Netflix on my phone or we can listen to the radio, whichever you prefer.”

“The radio is fine.” I took my shoes off and got comfortable on the mattress. He found a radio station that played a little bit of everything. After he took his boots off he came over to the mattress. This time we laid down looking at the night sky. I laid my head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around me. He turned his head to look down at me.

“I really like your hair, it’s soft and long, smells good too” I could hear him take in a small sniff. I smiled. He brought his hand to the base of my head and was rubbing my scalp.

“Hhhmmm you’ll put me to sleep if you keep doing that.”

“Wouldn’t bother me if you did.”

I looked up at all the stars. “It’s so beautiful and calm out here.”

“Yea,” he sighed, “that’s why I like coming out here.”

I stiffened at his words. What?!

“Oh?” was all I could think to say.

“Ya and I do need to tell you something…”

“What’s that?” I was holding my breath.

“I don’t want you to think I just asked you out because you take great care of my grandpa. I do like you, you sounded like a good person whenever he talks about you. Plus I knew you looked good from seeing you at the clinic.” He smiled nervously at me.

“Oohhh” I let out a big sigh. Ok, I’m definitely looking too much into things. “But I don’t remember seeing you at the clinic?”

“I never officially met you, I would just see you working while taking my grandpa to treatments.”

“That makes sense. I need to tell you something also.”

“Ok”, I could feel him holding his breath.

“I really like you and this date had been amazing. However, I don’t want to lead you on or anything. I’d love to go out with you again, I just don’t know if I want to be in a committed relationship right now.” I looked up at him to meet his eyes.

He sighed in relief, “Ok, I thought you were gonna say something else. I’d love to see you again too, but I won’t push you. I understand.”

“Thanks” I smiled and rested my head on him again. “Have you ever went through a really back breakup?” I asked.

“Not really, I was pretty selfish when I was younger and just dated around. I did get cheated on which kinda hurt but I guess I brought that on myself. I didn’t pay much attention to the girlfriends I had. I think everyone’s probably been cheated on once ya know?”

“Ya I agree to that. That’s why my last relationship ended.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but it’s good for you. You can find someone better now”

I had a pretty good idea he was talking about himself being the better person right now. “thanks” I answered. I closed my eyes and we laid there in silence for a little while.

“Angel? Can I ask you a question?”

“Ya of course”. He used his free hand to tilt my chin up so I was looking at him. I was so close I could see how blue his eyes are, and they were intensely looking back at me.

“Would it be ok if I kiss you?”

I licked my lips but didn’t look away. I paused for a brief second and thought about it. Yes, I wanted it.

“Yes” I whispered. His soft lips pressed lightly onto mine. I could feel my heart fluttering in my chest. I brought my hand up and grabbed the back of his head. I kissed him back a little harder. The arm he had at the base of my head moved to around my waist and pulled me in closer. My heart was now in my throat and I didn’t want to pull away. After a few minutes he pulled slightly away and looked down at me.

“I should probably get you home” he smiled.

“Yea” I admitted. He got up first to put his boots on. I sat on the edge of the tailgate watching him.  He stood up and walked over to me. I looked down at my feet when he came to stand between my legs. “You ok?” he asked.

I rested my head on his chest with a small thud. “No..” I whispered. He gently grabbed my face in his hands and tilted my chin up. “What’s wrong?” he smiled.

“I don’t know how I’m so relaxed with you. I don’t think I want to go yet but I know I should.”

“I understand…I feel the same way about you.”

“Really?” I whispered.

He brought his face down so his lips were barely touching mine. “Really” he answered. I wrapped my arms around his waist and brought him closer to me as he pressed his lips against mine again. I sighed and melted into his chest when I kissed him back. After a few minutes I pulled away.

“I’m sorry, I know we should be going.”

“Don’t be sorry….but you’re right I should get you back or your brother will make sure I feel very sorry” he smiled.

I slid into the middle of the truck for the ride back home. I rested my head on his shoulder. He draped his right arm over my legs. I studied the tattoo on the back of his right hand. It was a black and grey rose. I traced the petals with my finger was we rode in silence. When we reached my house I slid out of the truck behind him and took off his flannel I had been wearing. I placed it on the truck seat before he wrapped his arms around me. He spun me around and pulled me close. I buried my face in his chest and breathed in his cologne.

“This is the best date I’ve ever been on,” I smiled up at him.

“Me too,” he answered, “I hope to make the next one even better”.

“Good luck” I said and gave him a small peck on the lips. He walked me to the door.

“Good night, I’ll call you.” I said as I opened the door.

“Night, I look forward to it.” I smiled and walked inside. As I closed the door I learned back against it and smiled. What I couldn’t see was that when we got into his truck he sighed and smiled as he drove away.