Chapter 8 - Colliding Hearts by Delaila Adams
Chapter 8
The next morning, I found myself planted in front of my mirror, Sadie standing beside me, her keen eyes assessing every detail. My entire floor and bed were covered with the contents of my closet—clothes strewn in every direction. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I grimaced. “This doesn’t feel right.”
Sadie had picked out a dress that, while adorable, felt a bit too formal, almost as if I was overthinking things. Gavin had told me to keep it casual but sexy. How on earth was I supposed to pull off that combo? “I feel like I’m trying too hard, Sadie.”
“No way! It looks amazing,” she protested.
“Maybe, but I think I need something else.”
With a sigh, I turned and sifted through the mess of clothes. Minutes later, frustrated, I grabbed my phone and fired off a text to Gavin, hoping for some clarification on what the day held.
To: Sexy Beast (Gavin)
From: Eden
It’s Eden. What are we doing today?
As I stood there, contemplating my wardrobe options, my phone beeped with a response from Gavin.
From: Sexy Beast (Gavin)
To: Eden
Nothing intense. Probably lunch, then we’ll see what happens…
Helpful, I thought, with a dash of sarcasm. Just then, Sadie’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“I’ve got the perfect outfit!” she said, triumphantly holding up a pair of dark-wash jeans and a soft white sweater.
“Alright,” I said, taking the clothes from her. I quickly slipped out of my current outfit, standing in just my bra and underwear as I reached for the jeans. They were snug, so I did a little shimmy to get them up. As I grabbed the sweater, I noticed Sadie’s gaze land on my stomach, where an old scar stretched from my ribs to just above my navel—a brutal reminder of a memory I wished I could erase. I hurriedly pulled the sweater on to cover it. Sadie gave me an apologetic glance, but I waved it off with a small smile.
“This is the look, but we need something extra… Aha!” Sadie’s eyes lit up as she found a pair of black, peep-toe booties with a sleek heel. I couldn’t help but smile as I slipped them on.
“I actually like this,” I admitted, feeling the outfit’s understated charm.
“You look amazing,” Sadie replied. “Now, we just need to fix that hair.”
“Hey! My hair looks fine,” I protested.
“Sure… now sit!” She pointed to the chair in front of my desk and mirror.
Obediently, I settled in and let her work her magic. Sadie could transform anyone, and I trusted her implicitly. Closing my eyes, I felt her deft hands move as she tugged and teased my hair into soft waves. I grimaced a bit as she poked at my eyelids with eyeliner, and each time I complained about the eye shadow, she reminded me of my “date with a hot multimillionaire” and insisted that I needed to look my best. She’d selected warm, natural tones to accentuate my eye color, and as much as I hated to admit it, she was right.
“There you go,” she announced with pride.
Opening my eyes, I took in my reflection, a wide smile spreading across my face. A hint of blush highlighted my cheeks, my lips were painted in a soft pink, and my brown hair cascaded down in gentle waves. It felt true to myself, and I loved it.
“I love it! Thank you, Sadie!” I exclaimed, standing up and wrapping her in a tight hug.
“You’re welcome. You look seriously stunning—Gavin won’t know what hit him.” I grinned at her, grabbing the small shoulder bag on my bed. I tossed in my wallet, keys, some spare lipstick, and a pack of gum. Before I headed out, I checked my phone, making sure I hadn’t missed any texts.
“When you get home, I expect the full story. Every detail, from the second you walk out of here until you’re back,” Sadie ordered, her voice playfully firm.
“Alright, alright, I promise,” I said, saluting her with a smirk. Even with her bossy ways, I wouldn’t trade Sadie for the world. She’s my rock, always pushing me to be my best. “Thanks for the hair and makeup,” I said, pulling her into another hug.
“Of course. Someone’s got to make sure you look fantastic. Let’s be real; without me, you’d never pull it off,” she teased.
“Oh, it wouldn’t be a good day if you didn’t remind me how helpless I am without your styling magic,” I shot back sarcastically.
“Someone’s gotta do it,” she laughed, and just then, my phone buzzed. Glancing down, I saw it was Gavin.
“All right, I’ve got to go. See you later!” I said, shouldering my bag.
“Bye! Remember, if he invites you back to his place, say yes,” she winked.
“Sadie!” I protested, laughing.
“What? Just go already!” She ushered me out of the room, closing the door behind me with a grin. Great.
As I walked down the stairs and out the door, I spotted Gavin’s limo idling by the curb. The second I stepped outside, Gavin emerged from the car, coming toward me. His driver, Clark, held the door open, waiting.
“Eden,” he said with a soft smile.
“Gavin,” I replied, trying to steady my voice. Come on, Eden, act cool; don’t let him see how flustered you are, I told myself.
“I have to say...you look incredible,” he murmured, his eyes slowly traveling down my figure.
“I know,” I teased, adding a playful smirk. “I figured I might bump into some cute guys while we’re out.” I walked past him and slipped into the car, leaving him there, momentarily stunned. I smiled and thanked Clark before sliding into my seat. Gavin joined me a moment later, and though he seemed calm, I could sense a hint of irritation. Didn’t he realize I was joking?
The car started to move, and we sat in silence. Gavin gazed out the window, and I fidgeted with the rings on my fingers. I usually didn’t mind silence, but this one felt heavy.
“So, where are we headed?” I asked, hoping to ease the tension.
“Somewhere,” he replied vaguely.
“Well, that clears it up,” I replied with mock enthusiasm, staring out the window. We were weaving through the bustling city, and I felt a bit like a tourist. New York’s downtown always fascinated me. I’d grown up close by, but my parents had strict rules, and I never got the chance to explore. Sadie always tried to get me to go with her, but between work, school, and a tight budget, it rarely happened. Now, with the limo gliding through the city, I soaked in every bit of it.
“Wow,” I breathed as we passed massive screens, movie posters, and crowds gathered outside the Good Morning America set. The sights were mesmerizing, and I imagined how magical they’d look lit up at night.
“You’ve never been downtown before?” Gavin asked, a bit surprised.
Heat flushed my cheeks. “Not really,” I admitted sheepishly. “My parents were… a little overprotective.”
He looked at me, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. A second later, a smirk tugged at his lips, and he glanced out the window again. Before I could figure out what was on his mind, the limo slowed to a stop. I tried to peer outside, but Gavin was already stepping out, turning to offer me his hand. Taking it, I nearly tripped, but his grip steadied me. My face went red as I muttered a quick “Thank you.”
He led me toward what looked like a high-end restaurant. Couples and business partners sat outside, chatting in the cool air. Gavin nudged me gently, guiding me through the entrance.
“Good evening, Mr. Hayes,” a tall, blonde hostess greeted him with a sultry smile. I couldn’t help but scowl slightly; her outfit left little to the imagination, her overly made-up face and obviously bleached hair giving her an artificial look. She didn’t even glance at me.
“Would you prefer a table outside or inside?” she purred, barely able to keep her eyes off him.
“Outside, please,” he answered without paying her much attention. She looked taken aback but led us to a table, grabbing only one menu. I rolled my eyes, grabbing a second menu before following them. She clung close to Gavin, making a show of herself. Why was this bothering me so much? We weren’t an item. But still, we were on a date, and it wasn’t exactly respectful. Finally, she leaned over a little too closely as she placed his menu on the table.
“If you need anything, just let me know,” she said with a wink before sauntering off. I sat down, rolling my eyes.
“I was going to pull out your chair for you,” Gavin remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“I can manage,” I replied, smiling to myself. I wasn’t about to be the “damsel in distress” around Gavin.
“What are you in the mood for? They have a good selection,” he said, scanning his menu.
“I’m not picky, but I’ll skip the seafood,” I replied.
“No seafood?” he asked, sounding a little scandalized. His expression was so funny, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Something about the texture just doesn’t sit right with me,” I shrugged.
“Unbelievable,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “What about cookie dough?”
“Love it,” I replied automatically.
He looked at me with mock disapproval. “Not my thing.”
“You don’t like cookie dough?” I gasped, shocked.
“Nope, not even a little,” he grinned.
“What kind of person are you?” I teased, glancing down at my menu to hide my smile.
The prices on the menu were sky-high, and I glanced at him nervously. Pasta for almost $30? That better be the best pasta I’ve ever had. I decided on a side salad for $10, but he noticed my hesitation.
“Eden, please don’t worry about the cost. I invited you,” he said softly.
“Have you seen these prices? They’re more than my weekly grocery budget.”
“I can handle it,” he assured me. A waitress came over to take our drink orders, smiling warmly without the flirtatious look of the hostess.
“I’ll have water,” I said.
“Same for me,” Gavin added.
“Ready to order?” she asked.
Gavin looked at me, and when I nodded, he turned back to her. “I’ll have the lasagna.”
“I’ll have the pasta marinara,” I said, handing her the menu.
As the waitress left, he leaned back and asked, “So, still in school?”
“No, I graduated a couple of years ago.”
“NYU?”
“Yeah, Sadie and I both went there.”
“Sadie…from the club?” He actually remembered her, and I nodded. Just then, the waitress brought our drinks. “What was your major?” he asked.
“English, with a focus on journalism. I’d love to work as a writer or editor.” He seemed impressed. “What about you?”
“Business, also at NYU,” he said.
“That’s how you started your company?”
He looked slightly surprised. “How did you know?”
“You’re all over the internet and magazines,” I said with a grin.
“Well, you’d have found out eventually. But really, it’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? You’re a multi-millionaire,” I replied, shaking my head.
“Yeah, but I keep business separate from my personal life,” he replied, his tone serious, as if setting a boundary.
“Fair enough. No one wants to talk shop on a date,” I assured him, letting him know his privacy was safe with me. He relaxed, giving me a genuine, almost shy smile.
Our meals arrived, and the portions were generous. My pasta smelled heavenly, and I couldn’t resist a small, contented moan after the first bite.
“Good?” he asked, smirking as I nodded, cheeks warming in embarrassment.
As we ate, I couldn’t help sneaking glances at him. Gavin looked like he’d just stepped off the cover of a magazine, and something about his relaxed, genuine demeanor made me think that maybe—just maybe—this date was about to be unforgettable.
Chapter 9
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