Free A New Day by Nancy Hopper Page B

seem to get to know you.  You’re becoming something of a mystery.”
         “ Good!” she said emphatically.
         “ Tasha, Jim will probably go.”  Deb urged hopefully.
         “ I couldn’t care less.  I haven’t seen that sap for ages.” she pouted.
         “ He does work six days a week.”  Gary defended.  “Listen, what could it hurt?  You need to get out more.”
         “ I have no interest in going and sitting there, trying to be polite to people I don’t know.  I hate that!”
         “ You know Deb and me.” he pointed out.
         “ Yes, but I know I’d feel out of place.  You are both bound to be busy.  This is your chance to mix with your crowd.  Go, and don’t worry about it.”  she urged.  “I’m just not comfortable.  In my crowd, we girls always have an escort.  I know it’s not that way here, but I just can’t be comfortable.”
         Gary looked at her with concern.  “So why not go with me?  I’ll be your escort tonight.  I’ll stick with you and I promise you, we’ll have a great time.”
        “What?” she drawled, and scowled suspiciously.  She struggled to steady her heartbeat.
         “ You heard me the first time.  You won’t humiliate me by refusing to go with me, will you?”
         “ Gary, don’t make fun of me.” she pleaded anxiously.
         “ I’m not!  I want to take you out tonight.  You’re supposed to say yes.” he coached her teasingly.
         “ But, why are you...?”
         “ Say yes, Tasha.”  he prodded insistently.
         He was like a steel fist in a velvet glove.  He was smiling, and his voice was gentle, but his eyes were boring holes in her, challenging her, coaxing her.  It was more than she could do, to refuse him.  What if he really meant it?  What if he wasn’t just being nice?  Oh, God, but what if he was?
        “ Well ,” she sighed to herself, “ I guess that’s a chance I'll have to take.  I’d rather be made a fool of, than to make him feel foolish.”
         Now, that feeling came as a surprise to her.  But, she truly didn’t want to hurt his feelings!  He’d been so very nice to her, all things considered.  She was sure it was no big deal to him, he was just being nice again.
         “ Okay, Gary.”  she sighed.  “You win.  But I feel like a spoiled child trying to monopolize the guest of honor at his birthday party.”
         He laughed.  “Why is that?  Come on, now, I’m just one of the crowd at these gatherings.”
         “ Naw.” Tasha disagreed.  “You may think so, but I’m quite certain people enjoy it because they get to spend time with you, and talk to you, without someone else in line behind them.”
          He looked at her with a new appreciation.  “You know a lot more about people than you let on, don’t you?” he accused.
          She shrugged.  “Sometimes.  Maybe.”
          Tasha regretted her decision a hundred times that day, as they chatted and swam together.  She knew she couldn’t back out, and that made her very panicky.  How in the world could she go out on a date – no matter how informal – with Gary Taylor? 
         Gary alarmed her, up close.  He became so … well, human, now that he was more approachable.  He seemed sweet, and gentle, and easy to get along with, and relaxed.  So different from the threatening, uptight task master she’d once perceived him to be!
         And yet, she knew that the other, stern Gary was still in there, lurking.  It’s just that now she could see that he had a real, decent, human side.  But he was also dreadfully masculine, and too discerning.  He was much safer from a distance. 
         Still, she felt an excitement that she couldn’t deny, as she made her way downstairs behind Deb, that evening.  She felt herself blush when her eyes met Gary’s, and felt his warm approval and appreciation for her