Chapter 2

Edward's fingers tightened on my profile.

He looked at the balcony a few more times, and then, with something like disappointment, he let me into the car.

I was pleased with how I'd handled it.

But I took the front passenger seat so I wouldn't get on his nerves.

Neither of us said a word on the drive.

I was too nervous.

As for Edward, I stole a couple of looks at him.

He was probably still stuck on the fact that my sister didn't want him.

His brows were drawn together, and there was a faint sadness on his face.

I didn't mind.

I looked out the window and let him be.

Halfway through the ride, my mom suddenly called.

I looked at the screen flashing her name, and after one ring, I hung up on her.

Maybe the ringtone on my cheap flip phone was that loud because Edward finally spoke.

"It's fine. If it's important, take it."

I turned to look at him.

"It's not important. Right now the most important thing I have is a date with you."

Edward didn't say anything.

But I saw the tips of his ears go red.

Edward took me to a trendy restaurant that was all the rage online.

The car had barely stopped when the driver hurried to open my door, and only then went around to open Edward's.

While Edward was getting out, I smiled at him and said, "Mr. Carter, I've always wanted to eat here.

"One of my roommates recommended it a while back.

"But I never had the money, so I never got to try it."

Then I took a notebook out of my handbag and opened it to the middle.

In the middle of a page packed with handwriting, I found the line that said "eat at that restaurant" and put a check next to it.

Edward was a full head taller than I, which put the notebook right in his line of sight.

"One Hundred Things to Do With Edward Carter. What is that?"

I grinned. "Last night I asked my sister whether she liked you. When she said no, I stayed up and wrote this."

I ducked my head, a little shy.

"I'm sorry if I'm being too direct. I only thought that even if you and I never end up together, at least I'll have something to remember, and then when I look back, I won't have regrets."

Edward didn't say anything, but his ears turned red again.

So he had heard me.

That small discovery made me so happy that I was practically bouncing on the way upstairs.

And when I was happy, my mouth didn't stop.

The ads in the elevator, the floor numbers, anything at all could turn into a few sentences aimed at Edward.

When we finally sat down, Edward was a perfect gentleman. Before he ordered, he asked carefully what I liked and only then spoke to the waiter.

I smiled at him the whole time.

After the waiter left, I looked at him with open admiration and said, "Edward, you're exactly the way I imagined. You're wonderful."

His ears went red again.

After that, it was like I'd discovered a new continent, and every sentence out of me had a compliment for him in it.

I praised him without holding back, and I told him how I felt without holding back.

Edward didn't talk much, but every time I said something, he answered.

That had me so excited I could have jumped out of my chair.

It wasn't until the food was about to come that Edward asked his first question of the night.

"Why do you like me? Have we met before?"