Chapter 3
<B> Just checking: are you okay to drive us tonight? If not, that’s cool too. We can take an Uber.
Chloe smiled down at her phone. She still wasn’t entirely certain how to feel about tonight’s date. On one hand, she really looked forward to it. On the other hand, she dreaded a repeat performance of last night.
<C> I can drive, no worries!
Biting her lip as she nervously tapped her phone against her knee, Chloe considered her next message.
<C> Where will I be driving us?
<B> I’ll tell you tonight. Don’t want to spoil the surprise ;)
<B> Can you pick me up around five, maybe?
<C> I can do that, yeah. But how should I dress if I don’t know where you’re taking me??
<B> It will involve some walking, so wear easy shoes ;)
<B> Other than that, just what you feel like, I guess?
Chloe rolled her eyes at her phone, before glancing over at her closet. Beca wasn’t giving her much, but she would make it work.
In her mind, she was already going over her options. It certainly beat fretting over tonight’s date, which she had been doing for most of the day so far. She really wanted tonight to work out, but she had meant it, last night, when she told herself she would not be seeing Beca again.
Hopefully, tonight would be entirely different - if not, Chloe would have to give up on this… whatever it was.
Eyes roving over her closet, Chloe settled on a bright, summery dress, her favorite pair of boots, and another pair of her sexy underwear - you could never be too prepared, after all. Her mind was all over the place, and there really was no way of telling how tonight would unfold.
--
Chloe parked her car in her usual spot, looking out at Beca’s apartment building. She had halfway expected the brunette to be waiting for her outside, but there was no sign of her yet. Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she took her phone from the center console.
<C> I’m out front!
She waited, not quite patiently, tapping her phone against her thigh. When the clock on her dash told her she’d waited for four minutes, she typed out another text.
<C> Unless you’ve changed your mind about our date?
<C> In which case I’ll just go home and we’ll pretend this all never happened :/
<B> Dude no!
<B> I’ll be right out
<B> Don’t go
Chloe let out a long, steadying breath as Beca’s messages rushed in. Barely a minute later, the front door of the apartment building was slammed open, and Beca came stumbling outside. Chloe’s eyes widened as she took in the brunette - practically falling down the few steps at her feet.
Chloe smiled as Beca opened the door, dropping herself onto the passenger seat. She was wearing a pair of black jeans, a white blouse, mostly covered by the leather jacket she had been wearing when Chloe had first picked her up.
“Sorry I’m late,” Beca huffed, swiping a strand of hair from her face. “I couldn’t find my keys.”
“I’m just glad you came out at all,” Chloe responded, her smile growing wider when Beca gave a cheeky grin.
“There’s a joke in there about both of us coming out, but I don’t want to ruin our date before it starts,” she grinned.
“Well, we’re already off to a better start than last night,” Chloe responde airily. “Not gonna lie, Beca. I didn’t think we’d be seeing each other again when I went home yesterday.”
“Yeah, no, I get that,” Beca grimaced. “Last night was… All kinds of wrong. I promise tonight will be better, though.”
“Oh, I know,” Chloe smiled confidently.
“So, shall we, then?” Beca asked, seeming somewhat impatient.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Okay.”
“Beca, I don’t know where we’re going, remember?” Chloe laughed.
Beca groaned, slapping a hand across her face. “Okay, best get it out there straight away, I guess. I’m an idiot. This is what you’re signing up for.”
“You’re adorable, though, so it’s fine,” Chloe shrugged. “Address?”
Beca reached for her phone, fishing it from her pocket and putting an address in. “Just follow the instructions,” she smiled, placing her phone in the holder when Chloe pointed at it.
Chloe smoothly merged into traffic, Occasionally glancing over at Beca, who was biting her lip and staring out the window. “You look nice, by the way,” she smiled softly.
Despite the soft tone of her voice, Beca visibly startled. “Um, thanks,” she smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear again. “You look gorgeous, though. I’m not one for dresses, but you’re really rocking the look.”
“I bet you’d look really hot in a dress,” Chloe observed casually, relishing the brunette’s blush.
“Well, keep this up and I might wear one just for you,” she muttered.
“Ahw, I’d like that,” Chloe grinned excitedly. “Still not telling me where we’re going, though?”
“Nope,” Beca answered with the cheekiest grin. “Now please try to keep your eyes on the road, before you kill us, please.”
“Just admiring the artwork, Beca,” Chloe sighed theatrically.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at their destination - Chloe parked in a small parking lot Beca pointed out, and together they exited the car, making sure to lock it before they walked into the direction of a group of people milling about.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, bathing the park they were entering into an ethereal golden glow. People were lighting lanterns along the paths and walkways, and in the distance, amidst an open field, Chloe could make out a large stage.
“What’s all this?”
“It’s a park,” Beca responded dryly.
“Oh my god, you’re the worst,” Chloe chuckled.
“There’s a small event set for tonight,” Beca continued. “There’ll be some local bands playing tonight, no one famous or anything, but I thought it might be nice to watch them perform. Maybe take a walk along the lantern-lit lanes after… Is this a dumb idea?”
Chloe smiled softly. “No, it’s not a dumb idea. Come on, I think they’re selling snacks over there.”
When they made their way to the little snack-stand, Beca pulled some money from her purse, insisting on paying for their food, since she was the one taking Chloe out on a date. “Dude, just let me,” she insisted when Chloe voiced her objections. “A girl shouldn’t be made to pay for her own food on a date.”
“You’re a girl, too,” Chloe pointed out wryly. “Does that mean I get to pay for your food, then?”
“No, that’s not how this works. Now shut up and let me pay.”
“Wow. You sure now how to treat your date,” Chloe chuckled.
“What can I say? I’m a charmer,” Beca shrugged, handing Chloe the food she had picked. “Come on, I think they’re about to start.”
They found a spot on one of the many blankets that had been spread out across the grassy field. Sitting side by side, Chloe reflected that tonight was already far better than last night had been. Somehow, the awkwardness that had plagued them the night before was nowhere to be found - and even if things would never work out with Beca, tonight would be a memory to cherish.
She saw Beca looking at her from the corner of her eye. The moment she turned her head, though, Beca looked away again. It was adorable, and Chloe smiled as she gently nudged her date. “See something you like?”
She had expected Beca to be bashful and shy, and to dodge the question somehow. She had not expected the brunette to rake her eyes up and down Chloe’s body, bottom lip caught between her teeth. “Yeah, I definitely see something I like.”
Chloe felt a blush creeping across her cheeks - a feeling she wasn’t all that familiar with. Beca’s sudden confidence was sexy as hell, and Chloe was beginning to think wearing her pretty underwear might not be a waste tonight.
Not that she was assuming anything, of course…
Her reverie was broken when the first band was announced, and a group of women - each of them annoyingly gorgeous - stepped onto the stage. “Hello everyone. We’re here to entertain you all tonight. Have a nice evening, and don’t forget… We’re Evermoist.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at the name of the band. Still, once they began playing, she couldn’t deny that they were talented. Beca seemed to agree, eyes glued to the stage as her head bobbed up and down with the music.
The band played four songs, after which they waved their goodbyes, and there was a brief intermission again. “They were good,” Chloe commented once they had left the stage.
“Yeah, they were,” Beca nodded. “That name though… yikes.”
“I dunno,” Chloe grinned. “I’m guessing lots of people would be ‘evermoist’ after their performance…”
Now it was Beca’s turn to roll her eyes. “Only if they weren’t on a date with the prettiest girl this side of the Atlantic,” Beca shrugged casually.
“So if I were to check your panties right now…” Chloe teased, laughing as she could make out Beca’s blush even in the darkness.
“Is that an offer?” the brunette croaked after a few seconds.
“Who knows?” Chloe winked.
They were forced into silence again when the next band took up position on the stage, playing several country songs. They weren’t bad, but they also weren’t as good as Evermoist had been. Still, Chloe sang along to the songs she knew, appreciating the amount of fun the musicians seemed to be having.
“I should have known you were a Country-girl,” Beca commented after their performance.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re literally wearing a sundress and boots, Chloe…”
She shrugged. “I like all kinds of music, though. What about you?”
“Oh, you know, just the cool stuff,” Beca nodded, looking overly serious.
“Oh, really?” Chloe questioned. “Does that mean Disney karaoke is off the table for our next date?”
“Next date?” Beca asked, wide-eyed.
“Mhm.”
“Well, I mean… I suppose I could do Disney-karaoke,” Beca shrugged casually. “If that would make you happy.”
“You’re cute when you’re trying to be cool,” Chloe decided.
Beca shrugged again, averting her face, watching how the little country-band made place for the next band. Chloe gently tugged Beca’s sleeve, motioning off towards the side with her head. Wordlessly, they got up and walked down a path their hands occasionally brushing together as they found themselves alone, surrounded by trees and bushes.
When their hands brushed together for the third time, Chloe twisted her wrist, capturing Beca’s fingers into her own. She smiled to herself when she felt the brunette’s slender fingers entwining with her own.
They continued walking in silence, occasionally coming across another couple strolling through the park.
“So um… Tonight has been nice, right?” Beca asked after a few minutes.
“Yes, it is,” Chloe immediately responded.
“And you’re not like, just saying so out of politeness… You know, like last night?”
“No,” Chloe shook her head, giving a tug on Beca’s arm and sidling up to her side as they walked. “Tonight has actually been nice.”
“Good,” Beca nodded, wrapping her arm around Chloe in a way that suggested she had been considering it for a while now. “Because I really hated the idea of having blown my chances with you.”
“Good thing you texted me, then,” Chloe smiled, “I don’t think we’d have met again if you hadn’t…”
“Yeah, can’t blame you for that,” Beca chuckled awkwardly. “To think you were wearing your nice undies for me, and I didn’t even-”
“I’m wearing nice undies now, too,” Chloe interrupted.
“Dude, now you’re just being mean,” Beca groaned.
“How so?”
“Teasing me like that? Now I won’t be able to stop thinking about you… Nevermind.”
“No, no, you gotta finish that sentence,” Chloe laughed quietly. “C’mon.”
“Now I won’t stop thinking about you… out of that dress…”
“Maybe that was the idea,” Chloe remarked, voice airy and light. “I did offer to check your panties, after all…”
“Are you being serious right now?” Beca asked. “I can’t tell if you’re being serious or just pulling my leg.”
Chloe bit her lip for a moment, wondering how she should respond. “I’m not going to lie, Beca… I really like you, and I definitely want to take you out again after tonight… I know some people don’t want sex on their first date, but personally, if there is a connection… I honestly don’t see why not…”
“Oh my god, you are being serious, aren’t you?” Beca asked, looking astounded.
Chloe nodded, biting her lip to contain her grin. It was hard to get a read on Beca, and the relative darkness around them didn’t help much, either. “Have I made you uncomfortable?”
“No,” Beca lied, eyes wide. “I… um… I think we should go home.”
Annoyingly, Chloe couldn’t tell whether Beca meant for them to go home for good or bad reasons. Deciding to jump in head-first, she took a deep breath. “Go home… for sex?” she asked.
Beca let out a strangled noise, but Chloe grinned widely when she nodded.
“Alright then, let’s go.”