Yours Always Read Online Free PDF Page A

out?”
    After a brief pause, I relent.  “I’m in, and I promise to pull myself together.”
    “That’s my girl!”  She hugs me tightly, then swats me squarely on the behind when I turn to walk inside.  This earns her a scowl, but it doesn’t faze her in the least.  Instead, she hops up and down in the entryway, squealing while happily clapping her hands together.  The entire restaurant stops and stares our way, and I want nothing more than for the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
    “Lizzy Lou?  No way!  Is it really you?” A tall, clean cut man with a strong, chiseled jaw and the most amazing hazel colored eyes quickly moves towards my friend.
    “Mercedes Benz!  Oh, my gosh!  I had no clue that YOU were the Ben Thibodaux I’d be meeting with tonight.  This is so amazing! I’ve always wondered what happened to you.”
    He smiles down at her while taking one of her hands in his.  “I haven’t been called Mercedes Benz in years.  You look amazing, Lizzy.  How long has it been?”
    “We moved from Baton Rouge my eighth grade year, so…  TOO LONG!”  Another squeal rocks the restaurant.  The manager peeks from behind a semi-closed door, shakes his head, and loudly pulls it closed.
    “Lizzy, I’m sorry to interrupt, but maybe you should..”
    “Ben, you have to meet my friend, Savannah!  Savannah, this is Ben.”
    “Very nice to meet you, Savannah,” he says, barely stealing a glance my way.  Lizzy Lou and her perfect appearance clearly dominate his attention.  I look past Ben, and there he is, staring our way with a confused look on his face.  How is it possible for him to look even better in person than in the pictures?   My heart starts racing, my palms get sweaty, and my breathing turns a little erratic.  Nerves clench in my stomach, and I fight the urge to bolt. He smiles as his large hands leave the back of the chair he pulls from under the table to gesture that I should join him.
    This can’t be.  It can’t.  People as beautiful as he is don’t go on blind dates at pizza parlors.  Something’s wrong.  Something’s very, very wrong.   I try to stop the negative thoughts by smiling as I go around Lizzy and Ben and make my way to the table.  “Hi, you must be Fletcher.  It’s so nice to meet you.”  That’s what I intended to say when I reached the table.  What poured out of my mouth was a mix between a nervous giggle and, “Pizza.  Yum.”
    Fletcher’s brows furrow, but only briefly.  It’s long enough to make me want to smack my head against the table repeatedly.  “Yeah, pizza’s one of my favorites.”
    “I like hamburgers, too,” I mumble.  SHUT UP!  Oh, my God!  Why won’t my brain freaking work?  Run!  Just cut your losses and run!
    Fletcher gives me the old “bless her heart” look.  “That’s two things we have in common,” he replies.
    I shake my head from side to side.  “I’m sorry.  This isn’t me at all.  I’m so embarrassed.”  Taking the seat he’s offered, I extend my hand to him once he sits across from me.  “Hi, Fletcher.  It’s nice to meet you.”
    He accepts my outstretched hand and squeezes with a firm, but far from bone-crushing, grip.  “I’m glad you accepted my invitation.  Please, don’t apologize.  Truth be known, I’m nervous, too.  I’m pretty much a homebody, but Ben keeps pushing me to get out more.  I finally take his advice, and this happens.” He points towards Lizzy and Ben who are still fawning all over each other.  “I swear he knows everyone.”
    I let out a chuckle.  “Yes, Lizzy is quite the social butterfly herself.  I’ve been hearing the same things from her. ‘Let’s go dancing, Savannah.  We should go to a ball game.  Ball games are full of men, Savannah.  You’ll never find your perfect match if you refuse to leave your apartment.’  I’ve heard them all.”
    “So what’s your issue?  Why don’t you venture out much?” Fletcher