Sadly, his song came to an end. Just in time for him to unleash his brilliant white teeth on her in a huge grin.
“So, where can I take you?”
“Take me?” She glanced outside at the storm clouds surrounding her home. But she was surprised to see that the rain had stopped. “Where would you take me?”
“Anywhere you want to go.”
It seemed to her that her brain had ceased to work. She couldn’t think of a single place she could take Jimin. The only picture in her head was a wide-open field of wildflowers. And that was ridiculous. It was too cliché, right? Running across a green pasture towards the love of her life.
Words fell from her lips. “Surprise me.”
Jimin’s grin grew. “I know just where I want to take you.” He glanced down at her green sweater and black jeans. “Wanna grab your shoes?”
She giggled. “That’s probably a good idea. I wouldn’t want to get my socks wet.”
What was this absurd conversation she was carrying on? She was standing next to her hero, holding his hand, and all she could talk about was wet socks?
That’s when she realized that she’d have to let go of his hand to grab her shoes. So she hesitated.
Jimin wrinkled his brow as he studied her indecisive expression. “What’s wrong?”
She glanced up at him sheepishly. “I don’t want to let go of your hand.”
He chuckled. “I promise you can hold it again after you put your shoes on.”
Her face brightened. “Deal.” She let go of his hand and put on her shoes. Then she looked up at him. “Are we going to climb out the window?”
He snickered. “Is that how you usually leave your house?”
“I don’t usually leave my house. Not anymore. I’ve been under quarantine for months.”
“Not today.”
No, not today.
The lyrics were spinning around in her head now.
She stared doubtfully at her window. “In that case, let’s use the front door.”
He reached for her hand, and they headed for the front door. Nani was planning to tell her mom where she was going, but no one else seemed to be home. She hesitated again.
“I should leave a note for my mom. I don’t want her to be worried.”
“Just tell her that you’ve headed out for a bite to eat with a friend.”
Nodding her head, Nani released his hand to pen a note to her mother before they stepped outside. Jimin reached for her hand again as soon as the front door had closed behind them. He tugged her down the street. He seemed to know where he was going. They walked for a few blocks in companionable silence.
Nani was overwhelmed simply to be in his presence. And to be holding his hand. She kept sliding surreptitious glances his way. Finally, his eyes slipped sideways to collide with hers. Her dark eyes widened, and he laughed.
“I take it you’re glad to see me, Nani.”
“Are you kidding me? Glad to see you? I’m over the moon. I mean, you’re Jimin.”
He quirked a dark eyebrow at her. “And who is Jimin?”
“My bias.”
“Oh-ho. Is he now?” he asked softly. After a silent moment, he asked, “Why?”
“That’s easy,” she whispered. As he continued to stare enquiringly at her, she continued, “You’re a sweetheart.”
“Am I?” he asked thoughtfully with a quirk of his eyebrow.
She nodded her head emphatically. “You are.”
“How do you know that?”
She stared at him in bewilderment. How did she know that? It wasn’t like she’d ever met him before. But if they hadn’t met before, then why was he holding her hand?
“The proof is in my hand,” she mumbled.
“What?” He furrowed his brow as he continued to stare at her with interest.
She held up their intertwined hands. “You don’t even know me, yet you’re holding my hand. See? You’re a sweetheart.”
He broke their eye contact and stared ahead. “Perhaps you’ve judged me too soon.”
It was her turn to wrinkle her brow. “Jimin? What’s wrong? You seem kind of down.”
“It’s been a tough year. Today is the first day I’ve felt free in a very long time. So,” he blew out a long breath, “I suppose we should make the most of it.”
Her eyes traced his beautiful profile. That noble brow. That straight, slender nose. Those pillowy lips girls always called kissable. But she was distracted from those enticing lips a moment later when his chocolate eyes slid her way again.
Compelling. That’s what those eyes were. She found herself falling into them for a few breathless moments.
Then his sweet smile reappeared, and she felt his fingers tightening around her own as he squeezed her hand.
“We’re almost there.”
“There? Where is there?” she breathed.
“You’ll see.”
And soon enough, she did. He pulled her to a stop in front of an Italian restaurant.
“Giaquinto’s?” she asked.
“Yup. I wanted to take you somewhere special.”
Once again, he tugged on her hand to lead her inside. Jimin walked in like he owned the place.
Maybe he does?
He led her straight to a little, round table. He pulled out a chair and encouraged her to sit. Then Jimin sat down across from her. A waiter arrived a moment later and placed a plate on the table.
Nani glanced up in surprise as the waiter set the tiramisu down in front of her. Eyes wide, she stared across the table at Jimin. “How did you know that I love tiramisu?”
“Do you?” he looked pleased. “I didn’t. I just wanted to cheer you up.”
She gave him a quizzical look.
“I guess you don’t know what tiramisu means in Italian, huh?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“It means cheer me up.”
“Does it really? How absolutely perfect!” She grinned as she grabbed the spoon off the table and sank it into the custard dessert. Then she opened her mouth and began to enjoy the tiramisu. She closed her eyes in delight. “Oh, Jimin! This is the very best tiramisu I have ever tasted.” Her eyes popped open. “Here! You must try a bite!” She pushed the dish towards him.
He picked up his spoon and took a bite too. His eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, wow! That is really good!” He glanced up at the waiter who was still patiently…well, waiting. “I’ll take some tiramisu too. And can we get a couple of waters?”
The waiter bobbed his head before disappearing into the kitchen.
Nani looked at Jimin curiously. “How did they know we were coming?”
“I called them while you wrote your mom a note.”
She nodded and took another bite of her luscious dessert.
“Would you like to have some lunch while we’re here too?” Jimin queried.
Nani giggled. “We’re eating dessert first.”
“Sometimes, it’s the only way to go. Gotta live on the wild side every once in a while,” Jimin smiled at her.
“Can we look at a menu?”
“Sure.”
A moment later, the waiter returned with two glasses full of water and another dish of tiramisu.
“Can we have a couple menus?” Jimin asked after thanking the man for his dessert.
A few seconds later, Nani and Jimin were perusing the menus.
“What do you like?” Jimin asked.
“Chicken. And chocolate.”
“Not together, I hope,” Jimin mused.
Nani began to chuckle. “No. Definitely not together!”
“You could try the chicken cacciatore. Or the chicken alfredo.”
“What are you going to get?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure.”
“You like meat, right?”
He bobbed his head.
“You should try the beef braciola then.”
Jimin’s eyes disappeared again as he squinted at his menu. “Where is that?”
“Right there.” She pointed at the lower right-hand corner of his menu.
“Thin slices of beef and a savory filling slowly braised in a rich wine sauce,” Jimin read his menu’s description aloud before glancing up at her. “Okay, you sold me. I’m in. I’ll try the braciola. So…what are you going to get?”
“Mmm…I think I’ll try the Skillet Chicken with Cream Sauce.”
“Yum, that sounds good too.”
“You can try some of mine if you like,” she twinkled up at him.
“I might just take you up on that,” Jimin responded with an open face.
The strangest feeling slid along her nerves as she lost herself in his gaze. She felt like she was on a date. Like Jimin was…
…her boyfriend.
