Interrupted (The Progress Series) Read Online Free PDF

felt incomplete and outside of herself.
    Her phone rang. “Hello?”
    “Hi, it’s Sam. Are we still on for tonight?” he asked.
    “Yes. Actually, I got into work and they didn’t need me, so I’ll be sitting around until eight o’clock gets here. Can you still make it?”
    “Hell yes I can! I just got off work. If you want to meet up sooner, just give me thirty minutes to take a shower,” he said. “Would you like me to pick you up?”
    Oh. Um, maybe? No, probably not.
    “I can just meet you there. Say, around seven?” she said.
    “Great. I’ll see you then.”
    “Bye.”
    *
    Charlie arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early. She sat in her car and lit a cigarette, listening to the radio.
    Clear your head, Charlie. Keep this simple. And whatever you do, don’t mention Jess. This is a first date. There are rules. I think.
    While exhaling her last drag, she heard a knock on her window. Startled, she turned to see who it was. She rolled down her window.
    “You’re early,” Sam said.
    She smiled, “So are you.”
    He nudged his head toward the restaurant. “C’mon, let’s go get some wings.”
    They entered the restaurant and the only seats available were at the bar. They pulled up two stools and sat down.
    “I’ve never been here before. There’s got to be over fifty televisions in this place,” she said.
    “You’ve never been here? How is that possible?” he asked.
    “I’m not a fan of spicy.”
    Rolling his eyes, he let out a laugh. “Why did you agree to come to a wing place if you don’t like wings?”
    “Don’t they have other things on the menu?” She opened up the menu and panned her options. “Okay, maybe they don’t. But, I like beer.”
    “Why don’t we go someplace else, then? I want you to eat something.”
    “I’ll try the wings, it’s fine. Besides, if I don’t like them, then I won’t be adding any more inches to my ass.” She giggled, trying to ignore his glance downward.
    They ordered their beers and wings and Charlie guzzled half her beer within minutes.
    “Are you nervous about something?” he asked.
    “Why do you ask that?”
    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman drink like that.”
    Embarrassed, she set her mug down on the bar. “Kind of. Perhaps you can clarify something for me,” she said. He leaned in closer, urging her to continue. She took a deep breath before she spoke again. “It’s been over five years since I saw you last. We didn’t talk a ton in college, so I’m not quite sure how to read you. So I’m just going to ask—is this a date -date, or just two old friends hanging out?”
    A smile emerged along with a quick laugh. “I’m glad you’re asking me this question, because I wasn’t sure what you thought this was. I am considering this a date.”
    Charlie nodded and took a deep breath. “Then, please forget that I mentioned anything about adding inches to my ass earlier. That was inappropriate for a date.”
    Stupid. Stupid.
    Samuel let out a quick laugh. “Don’t worry, Charlie. Believe me when I tell you…your ass is doing just fine.”
    A sheepish grin emerged and she shook her head. “Sorry, I’m not very used to this. I have to be honest with you: I have… limited experience with dating.” She felt a little silly in her admission, nervously tugging at her ear and avoiding eye contact.
    “Its fine, Charlie. Would it make you feel better if I told you I was nervous, too?”
    She gave him a smile. “Yeah, I guess it does make me a feel a little better.”
    She tipped her head upward and glanced at his face. A small smile hinted at the corners of his blue eyes and he looked away.
    “So, tell me what you do for a living,” she said.
    “Well, after college I was a graphic designer for a while. But the economy squashed that quickly, especially for an entry level graphic artist. So, I started my own business. I started designing CD covers for local bands and began writing for a marketing blog in the local online