Hannah
I stood in front of my closet, analyzing every piece of clothing I had (Damien had gone to my house and gathered all my clothes for me so I would have things to wear).
My date with Bradley is tonight and I have to look perfect.
I tried on dress after dress and nothing was working. I was about to give up when I saw a dress in the very back. It was my mom’s. It was the one thing of hers I managed to save for myself.
With careful hands, I took the dress and slipped it on. Looking in the mirror, tears filled my eyes.
The dress fit perfectly.
It was a maroon halter neck dress that went halfway down my thighs. It fit snuggly down to my waist, where it flared out.
I looked so much like my mom in this dress. For once, I felt beautiful.
I slipped a sweater on over the dress so the scars on my back wouldn’t show and went to do my hair. I curled it and let it flow down naturally.
I went light on the makeup, only using mascara and some lipgloss. I don’t like wearing it caked on; it makes me feel gross. I know some people like wearing more makeup, and no disrespect to them, it’s just not for me.
I looked at myself in the mirror and checked to make sure none of my scars were showing.
Once I was sure I looked ok, I grabbed my phone and went downstairs.
Bradley was waiting at the bottom in a pair of jeans and a black button up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscles.
Bradley’s eyes never left my body as I walked down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, he didn’t say anything, making me fidget uncomfortably.
“Do I look ok? I can go change,” I finally said. I turned to go back upstairs, tears burning in my eyes, but Bradley grabbed my arm and pulled me back to face him.
“You look stunning,” he said to me. I blushed and looked down from his heated gaze. I knew he was over exaggerating, but his words still made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
“Let’s go.”
Bradley’s hand slid down my arm to hold my own and we walked out to his car. He opened the door for me and closed it once I’d slid in, like a perfect gentleman.
As soon as Bradley was in his seat, his hand took mine again. He brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss on my palm before starting up the car and driving away.
“Where are we going?” I asked him.
He looked over to me quickly and smirked. “You’ll see.”
I sighed, but dropped it. I knew he wouldn’t tell me unless he wanted to; he was too stubborn for that.
I spent the rest of the short ride wondering where he could possibly be taking me. We drove through town until Bradley pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant.
“I hope you like Italian,” he said, flashing me a smile.
“It’s my favorite!”
Bradley chuckled and got out of the car. Before I could even open my door, he was there, opening it for me. I giggled and took his hand.
Bradley led us inside and the hostess seated us immediately.
The restaurant was small, but in a cozy way. It made me feel nice and comfortable. The lighting was dim and there were fairy lights hanging on the walls that gave the place a hint of magic.
As I looked around in awe, I didn’t notice that the waiter had come up to our table to get our drink orders. Bradley tapped my hand and I blushed furiously before asking for a water.
“It’s so pretty,” I said, once the waiter was gone. I finally looked away from the fairy lights to see Bradley smiling warmly at me.
“I’m glad you like it Princess.”
I blushed once again at the nickname and a small smile came over my face. He called me his princess.
The waiter came back with our drinks and got his notepad out to take our orders. I hadn’t looked at the menu for more than a moment, but I instantly knew what I wanted.
“Could I get the chicken Alfredo please?” The waiter nodded and took down my order before turning to Bradley who got the lasagna.
We talked about the little things while we waited for our food and I found myself smiling and laughing more than I had in the last three years combined.
“What are you thinking about?” Bradley asked with an adorable head tilt.
“Just how happy I am,” I said.
“Me too. I can’t believe I wasted all those years being a jerk when I could’ve had you by my side.”
I blushed at Bradley’s words. I seemed to be doing that a lot lately.
The waiter picked that time to bring our food and I was grateful; I didn’t know what to say to Bradley.
Me and Bradley moved onto different topics as we ate and I had a really good time. It was so strange to go on a date like a normal person; I didn’t realize what I was missing.
Suddenly, a piece of chocolate cake was placed in front of me with a rose.
I looked up to Bradley, but he was looking at the cake in confusion.
“I don’t think this is ours,” I told the waiter. We hadn’t ordered any dessert.
“It was sent to you,” he told me.
“What?” Bradley and I asked at the same time. I was confused and so was he.
“Some man said to give the young couple a piece of cake and a rose.” The waiter shrugged and walked off.
I stared at the cake, not making a move to eat it. Something seemed wrong here.
And then I remembered.
“Will you tell me a story?” I asked Mommy and Daddy as they tucked me into bed.
“What would you like to hear?” Mommy asked.
I thought it over carefully. I’d already heard about their wedding and how they met and when I was born. What else was there to ask about?
“What was your first date?”
Mommy smiled brightly and reached for Daddy’s hand. He took it and sat on the bed next to her.
“I took your Mommy to a restaurant,” Daddy said.
“It was the most expensive restaurant in town,” Mommy continued.
“I had to impress my girl.”
I giggled and waited for Daddy to continue. But it was Mommy who spoke next.
“We had such a good night, and at the end of it, Daddy got me a piece of my favorite chocolate cake and a rose.”
I giggled. “I like cake.”
Mommy tickled my sides making me squirm around and laugh. “I know you do, my baby.”
I know you do.
I know you do.
I know you do.
I gasped and stood up abruptly, knocking my chair over.
“Hannah?”
I was shaking so hard it hurt as I looked at the cake in front of me.
“It was him,” I gasped out. “It was him.”
Bradley pulled me out of the restaurant and hugged me close. “Who was it Princess?” He asked.
“My dad.”
Bradley tensed around me and I told him about my memory.
“It was their first date,” I explained. “This is our first date. He’s watching us.”
“Shit,” Bradley cursed.
He immediately pulled out his phone and called his cousin. Then, he drove us home.
“I’m sorry our date was ruined,” Bradley told me when we walked inside.
I shook my head. “I won’t let him ruin it.”
Bradley smiled down at me and leaned in.
His lips touched mine and I smiled against them.
“Thank you for the best first date ever.”
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