Читать книгу Love, Honor or Stray: - E.N. Joy - Страница 13

“I cannot believe what a wonderful time I had,” Paige told Norman as they exited the fondue restaurant. “And you know you a fool, right?” Paige laughed. “Sitting up in there with a bib on like you’re a toddler or something.” She looked him up and down. “With your big ol’, grown self.”

“Laugh all you want.” Norman popped the collar of his multi-colored, expensive dress shirt as he walked Paige to her car. “But it’s not like I can afford another Versace shirt on my salary. I wasn’t about to drip any of that fondue stuff on me, especially the chocolate from the dipped strawberries.” Norman closed his eyes and licked his lips in remembrance. He opened them again and looked down at his shirt, double checking that he hadn’t spilled any chocolate on it. “I wouldn’t even have this one if what’s-her-name hadn’t bought it for me while we were in Vegas.”

“Who’s what’s-her-name?”

Norman thought for a minute. “Hmm… I don’t recall. I guess it’s really true what they say: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

“Yeah, Norman, but I don’t think they meant the names of people you go with, especially people who buy you expensive gifts.” Paige stopped and rubbed the soft fabric of Norman’s shirt. “Hmm, nice.” She made the final few steps to her car.

“Well, you know how I do it.” He smiled and ran his hands down his gelled, dirty blonde hair.

With a grin on her face, Paige asked, “What is it with all the white guys wearing their hair like that boy in Twilight? To me it looks like he has a Something About Mary thing going on.” She quickly looked to Norman, hoping she hadn’t offended him. “But not you, of course. Yours looks good on you.” She patted his hair playfully. “Oh, wow, and it’s soft.” She looked down at her hand. “I expected it to cut me. Seems like it would be hard and spiky.”

“Where have you been? The days of Dippity-do hair gel and Aqua Net spray are long gone. There is stuff on the market now to make it stiff but keep it soft.”

There was awkward silence. Paige cleared her throat. “I’ll leave that one alone.”

“As you should, you being a Christian and all. But I really wasn’t trying to be funny or—” Norman seriously began apologizing before Paige cut him off.

“I know, I know.” She put her hands up to let him know it was okay.

Back before she got saved, Norman would have deliberately made a comment like that to Paige. She and Norman would have taken the comment and run a mile with it, as most of their conversations had involved the adventures of singlehood, dating, and mating. But not now that Paige had been saved for well over two years.

Only a few months ago Norman would have those same conversations with Paige, but they would be one-sided. Eventually, Paige got frustrated that Norman wouldn’t respect the fact that she was a Christian and continued to talk to her as if she were still in the world. That all changed a few months ago when she invited him to a church service at New Day. He got to experience firsthand a move of the God Paige now served. After that, not only did he respect God, but he respected Paige’s walk with God.

“Anyway, I can’t thank you enough for inviting me to dinner with you tonight. Blake is going to be sorry he missed it. But his loss is my gain.”

“Thank you for coming. I can’t think of a better date—besides my husband, of course. And thanks for walking me to my car.”

“Well, you said that Blake said for me to take good care of you. If you know anything about me, it’s that I know how to take care of a woman.”

Paige pursed her lips, tilted her head, and with furrowed eyebrows, shot Norman a glare.

“Oh, my bad.” He forced a grin. “Some old habits are hard to break.”

Paige smiled. “Not to worry, my friend. Keep coming back to New Day, and between Pastor’s preaching, the Holy Ghost’s conviction, and a miracle from God Himself, you’ll be delivered and all those old habits will be forgotten…like what’s-her-name in Vegas.” Paige winked.

“You know something? You really are cool, boss,” Norman complimented. “And I think I will come visit New Day again. It’s been a couple of months. Lord only knows how much sinning I’ve done in those months that call for repenting.”

“You know we always love to see you there. And don’t feel bad; I’m there pretty much every Sunday, and I still find myself having to repent on occasion.”

“Like your pastor preached that one time: We have to die daily to ourselves.”

“So you do be listening?” Paige joked. “Yes, my brother, we are all a work in progress.”

“Speaking of work, tomorrow’s Saturday. Early morning, long day.”

“You’re right,” Paige agreed, unlocking her car door. “Thanks again for being my date tonight.”

Norman gave her a hug. “The pleasure was all mine.” He went to give her a friendly kiss on the cheek, but she turned quickly, preparing to make one final comment. With her mouth open, Norman’s lips landed on hers. Realizing that it wasn’t her cheek his lips were pressed against, Norman quickly pulled away. Okay, not quickly, but eventually he pulled away.

“I’m sorry,” they both said simultaneously. “No, I’m sorry.” Again, simultaneously. “I was trying to—” Simultaneously. “Good night.” Simultaneously.

Paige watched as Norman scurried off to his car. She pressed her index and middle finger against her lips, still in disbelief that the lips of a man other than her husband had just been there. She put her entire hand over her mouth, trying to cover the smile that for some reason she couldn’t stop from forming. She chuckled like a school girl, and then laughed even harder as she said to herself, “Well, Norman, looks like you ended up getting a little bit of chocolate on you anyway.”