48 First Dates (Seeking Romance #1)

The Prince of Suits

14

I bumped into Ted.

My latte spilled on his suit.

More than a first date—

A bout a month before finals, my earbuds were in. My head was down—externally and internally—as I walked across campus, coffee in hand. I was meeting Mitzi and Cynthia for a yoga class later that night. Before that, I needed to get in a few solid hours of work.

After the blind date fiasco, I promised myself to focus more on my studies and stop worrying about the rest. My fairy tale would show up when it was supposed to show up. After all, I was here to get an education, not an MRS degree.

My mind tuned into my final freshman project. Kristina Socanski’s piano solo served as the backdrop to my mental planning. I didn’t hear him approach until it was too late. We bumped into each other with enough force to pop the top off of my latte. Liquid spewed from the cup, splattering both me and the person I had knocked into.

Coffee fragrance hung in the air. A pair of nice dress shoes topped with dress pants coalesced in my view. Both had been liberally sprayed with latte. I hesitated to look up, guessing that the owner of the shoes was going to be a tad frustrated.

I took a deep sigh and pulled out one of my earbuds. “I’m so sorry, I—” The words stopped at the moment my eyes met his. Green eyes, incredibly beautiful green eyes.

My eyes zoomed out and saw a clean-cut, well-proportioned face. I was suddenly aware of how close we were. “Hi, I’m Adelaide,” I said in an unintended, breathy voice.

He cleared his throat, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed before speaking. “I’m Theodore, but most people call me Ted. And it’s okay, accidents happen.” He stepped back and wiped at the coffee that was all over his suit with his bare hand.

That’s when I got the full effect. His tie had a swirl motif that matched his natural appearance. An emerald swirl in the same green hue as his eyes. A sandy brown billow from his slicked-back hair. And brilliant white twist from his perfect teeth. The tie jumped off a crisp white shirt that was encased with a tailored dark gray suit.

Here I was, lamely holding an empty coffee cup, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. At least I mirrored the latte splatters he had on his suit. I offered him the napkin off the coffee cup.

He grinned, taking it and using it to soak up some of the mess. “Thanks, but I don’t think this napkin is going to be enough. I just have to figure out how to get cleaned up in the next twenty minutes. My final interview... well, I don’t need to bore you with the details. It was nice bumping into you, Adelaide.” Ted walked around me so that he could keep going on his way.

Adelaide! Do NOT let this one go!

“Wait, I can help!” I said, leaning forward to block his path.

Quick, brain, come up with a plausible way to help...

Ted stopped and arched his eyebrows with a question.

Light bulb!

“My brother, Will, was here this weekend for an interview. He left his suit hanging on the back of my door. I was going to send it back to him, but he said to wait and bring it home at the end of the semester. He’s about your height and build. You could come and try it on. It’s not like I need it, and my dorm is right there.” I pointed to the brick building in front of me.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. It might be better to explain the situation. After all, the coffee smell might keep the people in the interview awake.” Ted grinned, making the edges of his eyes crinkle as his dimples peeked out.

I smirked. “My latte started this, so I need to do what I can to fix it. I will not take no for an answer.”

Ted’s grin turned into a full smile. “Well, Adelaide, I don’t have the time to argue with you, so lead the way.”

Thank you, Will!

It took less than two minutes to make it to my room. When I opened the door, Mitzi was waiting for me. “Ads, where have you been? We are...” She paused mid-sentence, seeing Ted walking behind me.

“Mitzi, this is Ted. Ted, this is my best friend, Mitzi. Here is the suit.” I gestured to the rack on the back of the door. “And we’ll be right outside.” I grabbed Mitzi’s hand and pulled her into the hallway with me.

“Hello, I need details on that right now,” Mitzi shout-whispered as the door shut behind me.

“Not much to tell. We bumped into each other, and my latte ended up splattering all over both of us,” I said.

“That explains the delicious vanilla coffee vibe he had going on. One that you seem to be matching,” she said, eyebrows raising. “But seriously, there is a super hot guy you don’t know undressing in your room right now. There have to be more details than that.”

“He’s good-looking? I hadn’t noticed.” I waved my hand, dismissing her comment.

“Yes, you did! Fess up, now!” Mitzi said as she stomped her foot.

“Okay, I wasn’t paying attention. I ran into him. The top of my latte popped off. I was going to apologize and run, but then I... well, you saw him. He’s got this big interview, and I remembered Will had left his suit, so I offered it to him. I didn’t take no for an answer.” I grinned.

“Nice move, Ads.” Mitzi nodded as she gave me a mini-golf clap that echoed a bit in the concrete-block-lined hallway

“Ahh! Mitzi, you should see the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles... so cute! I need—” The door opened, and Ted stepped out in my brother’s suit.

It fit him.

It fit him quite nicely.

“Looks like it fits. Thank you, Adelaide. I hate to change and run, but I have to go, or I’ll miss my interview. I left my suit on the hanger as collateral. Is it okay if I return in an hour to swap the suits?”

My heart was beating faster. I felt my cheeks warm. “Of course, I’ll meet you outside.”

“Great, see you then.” Ted turned to head out, the scent of coffee and cedar blowing by me as he did.

“Good luck,” I called out after him.

He turned around and winked before continuing on his way.

“Holy guacamole! I see what you mean—that eye crinkle, yikes! That guy is fine. You sure know how to bump into people, Ads.” Mitzi whistled as we walked back into my room.

“I do, don’t I?” I said with a chuckle. “Here’s to hoping this one turns out better than Andrew!” We both rolled our eyes at the mention of the Prince of Bikes.

We spent the next hour chatting. Mitzi insisted I change out of my coffee-covered college uniform into something more appealing... her words, not mine.

An hour later, I waited on the bench outside of my dorm with a book in my lap. Her “more” was a pair of Daisy Dukes and a peasant shirt with my laced-up espadrilles. I was pretending to read when a shadow darkened the pages. The aroma of coffee mixed with cedar hit me. I glanced up. Ted’s face let me know that the effort had been worth it.

“How did the interview go?” I asked as I stood up.

“Fantastic! I think I got the job, all thanks to your brother’s suit.” He looked at me, and I forgot what I was going to say.

I closed my eyes and cleared my throat. “Well, let’s go up. The suit does look nice on you, but I hate to admit that yours looked a lot better,” I said as we walked up the stairs.

“It does, does it?” he asked in a knowing tone.

“Yeah, it does,” I offered as we went to my room. I reached around the door, grabbed his suit, and handed it to him.

“How about you follow me back to my place, and I’ll give you this suit back? I live above the coffee shop downtown, so I can also replace that latte at the same time.”

“Okay, but the coffee is unnecessary. It really was my fault.” I smiled and followed him back out of the dorm.

As we walked, I asked him more about his interview. He told me about how it was for a job in DC that he wanted. He sounded eager about the opportunity. And I enjoyed looking at his animated face as he shared. He was beyond adorable.

When we got to the coffee shop, Ted ordered a vanilla latte for me and a black coffee for him. He excused himself, saying he would be right back.

Once the drinks came out, I settled down on one of the couches behind the coffee tables sprinkled throughout the space. I sent Mitzi and Cynthia a quick text letting them know where I was and that I wouldn’t be at our yoga class that night.

I sipped the frothy deliciousness and looked around as I waited for Ted. The coffee shop was warm and inviting. The dark wood floors, hunter-green walls, and leather couches made it feel like you were sitting in a private library.

I might need to change where I get my coffee.

Several minutes later, Ted walked back into the shop in khakis and a button-down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, and a few buttons remained open at the neck. By the looks of his forearms, he worked out.

That’s a for-sure on changing where I get my coffee.

“I’m sorry I don’t have the suit, but while I was upstairs, I decided I should dry clean it before I give it back.”

I was about to protest when he put his hand up to stop me. The smell of cedar, minus the coffee, hit me.

“Nope, it’s my turn to take no for an answer. I’m returning the suit the way I found it. Plus, I owe your brother. He gave me an excuse to have coffee with a beautiful woman.”

Well, when you put it that way. I blushed and nodded.

“Tell me about yourself, Adelaide.”

The next two hours flew by. I was shocked when I saw the time on my phone. “Ted, I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ve got this huge project that’s due soon, and I need to work on it.”

“Say no more. I’ll walk you back.” Ted stood up and offered me his hand.

Less than ten minutes later, we were standing in front of my door for the third time that day. This time, we exchanged phone numbers and set a time to go out again. Ted stepped closer to me, placing his hands on my waist and leaning in. “I’m glad you didn’t apologize and run,” he whispered before he pressed his lips to mine.

Oh. My. Fairies.

My hands raised to wrap around his neck, and I melted into the kiss.

When we broke apart, he said, “I’ll see you soon, Adelaide.” He turned around and walked away, leaving me with weak knees that required me to lean against the wall for support.

Over the next few weeks, we spent as much time together as our busy schedules allowed. I was thinking about the possibility of a long-distance relationship with him. I knew he was going to DC, and I still had three more years of college, so that was pretty much our only option. But we avoided the subject of the future when we were together.

After my last final, Ted and I had agreed to meet and catch some alone time before we went our separate ways for the summer. We hadn’t seen each other much in the past week, and I was leaving to go home right after his graduation.

At the entrance to my dorm, I greeted him with a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. He seemed distracted.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“What?” He looked up at me like he was seeing me for the first time. “Oh, yeah, everything is fine.” He took my hand, and we started walking in the arboretum’s direction.

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the park. He had said nothing the whole time, and I started to worry. “Ted, is there something bothering you?”

“Yeah, we need to talk,” he said with a sigh.

Oh, no, this can’t be good.

“Adelaide, I’m graduating tomorrow, and then I’m taking the job and moving to DC.”

This wasn’t news to me. Where was he going with this?

Ted looked down at the ground. “And you’re worried about what SPF you need to have on hand for all the beach days you’re going to have this summer.”

Uh-oh...

Ted looked back up at me. “I like you, and the last few weeks have been fun, but we’re just… too far apart in the stages of our lives. You have three more years of college fun ahead of you, and I need to settle down into real adult life. I wish you all the best, but this should be the last time we see each other.”

What?

My brain struggled to process words as he leaned down and put a small box in my hand. He gave me a quick peck on the lips and whispered, “Goodbye, Adelaide,” before he turned around.

I was stunned. I stood there like a statue as he ran in the other direction. The sound of his pounding feet mixed with the chirping of the birds. The tiny box was a lead weight in my hand. He hadn’t even given me a chance to say a word. Not even a goodbye.

My feet dragged as I walked back to the dorm and up to Mitzi’s and Cynthia’s room. I knocked, and Mitzi opened the door. Taking one look at me, she ushered me inside.

“What’s wrong, Ads?” Cynthia asked.

“He broke up with me.” The floodgates opened as I flopped onto Cynthia’s perfectly made bed.

I told them the whole unbelievable story through my sobs. When I was done, I wiped my tears and held up the box. We opened it together. Inside, I found a tie-shaped charm. It had the same colors as the one Ted had been wearing the day we met. He knew about my bracelet, and I guess he wanted me to have something to add to it.

I wasn’t so sure I wanted it. But the whole point of the bracelet was to remember people—the good, the bad, and the ugly. So I took off the bracelet, added the charm, and put the chain in my purse.

That night, I ended up staying in their room. We watched romcoms and ate ice cream. By the time we went to bed, I felt so much better.

The next morning, Brenn and Stretch joined us for the trek home. They were coming back with us to enjoy the beach for a few days.

I had planned to stay for Ted’s graduation, meet his family, and join everyone the next morning. But the Prince of Suits had changed those plans. Instead, we all drove down in a compadre convoy.

That evening, Brenn and I were walking on the beach. “So, are you ready to talk about what exactly happened with that Ted guy?” Brenn asked.

“He broke up with me and said I was in a different ‘stage of life’ than he was. He needed to go be an actual adult while I played one at college.” I harrumphed and rolled my eyes.

“Did he really say that?” Brenn asked through a clenched jaw.

“Not those exact words, but yeah, he did.” I turned to face Brenn. He opened his arms, and I leaned into his solidness.

“Unbelievable. I knew he wasn’t good enough for you anyway,” Brenn whispered in my ear as he hugged me.

When he let go, he stepped back, and we stared at each other. In his emerald eyes, I tried to find the reason why he thought Ted wasn’t good enough for me. Ted was a nice guy who was going places. He would be the prince of many a girl’s dreams.

Before I could find answers, a stray beach ball bounced off Brenn’s head. I doubled over in laughter. When I got myself under control, Brenn and I turned back toward where we had been sitting. We walked hand-in-hand back to our chairs and our friends.

That’s fine, Teddy. I like this stage of life just fine...