“I think you’re really cute.” Cat’s simple answer stopped Caleb dead in his tracks, “And I would love to go out to dinner with you.”
Caleb stood in shock at Cat's simple answer. He realised after a few seconds that his mouth was hanging open, so he shut it with a snap.
"Oh, I, wow, yeah, thanks, I, ...." Caleb's brain tried to process some answer, and his mouth to respond, but the pudgy guy hadn't hadn’t had a girlfriend since the high school, so was way, way out of practice.
Cat simply smiled at him, which made him melt even further. Then he caught himself, and struggling manfully with the emotional overload, finally blurted out, "Where? Where for dinner?"
Cat replied, "I like lots of places. Where's your favourite?" While she had figured, from his conversation about comic books and general avoidance of any topic that was too personal in their chats, that he was not a 'ladies' man', this degree of tongue-tied-ness surprised her, and she decided to ask for his favourites to set him at ease.
Caleb, brain churning, finally said, "Well, I really like Dixie's, we go there after DnD and stuff." As he said it he realised just how nerdy that sounded, but before he could correct himself and substitute the name of somewhere nicer, Cat replied.
"I like Dixie's too - the fried chicken, the biscuits and white gravy, they're great! They remind me of visiting my granny down South. I'd love to go there for dinner - but I'd like to go home and take off my work clothes first. Meet you there at six?"
"Sure!" Caleb replied, finally feeling back on a firm footing. The smells of the bakery tickled his nose, and his generous gut gurgled. "Can I get my usual, and an extra six of the peanut butter cookies?"
"Sure can!" Cat replied. "Plus I'll throw in these eclairs - we're closing, and we can't keep 'em to tomorrow, so I can give them to you!"
"Oh wow," replied Caleb, "thanks!"
Six o'clock came and Caleb was at Dixie's, waiting. He'd brushed his hair, his beard, and his teeth, and changed into the largest of the polo shirts he owned - most of his shirts were getting too tight, really, and so were his jeans - and thanks to nervous anticipation he'd also scarfed half of the eclairs Cat had given him. Not that that would affect his appetite for dinner - well, unless Cat turned out to be one of those women who just pick at their food... but Caleb hoped not.
Caleb spotted Cat getting out of a car, and he hurriedly got out of his and walked towards her, taking in her appearance...