Grill Cheese on Saturday?

Slowly Tony filled his lungs with the evening air. He was still holding her hand. Was it sweaty? His hands were so much bigger than hers.. and rough. What if she didn't like this? Was she really ready? Did she want this? He did, oh he did, but what if..? "Do you," he blurted out suddenly. She glanced over and waited patiently, "Maybe.." he dropped her hand to wipe his on his pants.

"Maybe?" she couldn't help mocking, just a bit.

He gulped. Lord why was his throat so dry?? "Wanna go out with, with me? Tomorrow? Or, or anytime you can." He stammered over his words. How stupidly eager he must seem.

She chuckled lightly, but nodded. His fumbling was sweet when he was normally so confident and sure of himself, "I have work tomorra. How bout Friday?" Jazzabella offered, letting her arms swing by her sides as she walked. "Or Sat?" she asked, knowing Fridays were his busiest days.

He cleared his throat and nodded, "Saturday's perfect. Perfect," He said with a smile. "What uh, time can I pick you up? I close up at 3:00 on the weekends." He explained with a smile.

"7?" she shrugged, hiding her growing excitement. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and spun it around for him to see the screen, "Here's my number. Text me the deetz of the place when ya can."

"Sure, will do." He said with a nod, creating a contact for her.

"Sorry um...sorry it's been so long for me to ask you. I just didn't want to ruin our friendship." He said a bit nervously before offering her his hand.

She smiled and nodded, "Don't apologize. I didn't ask either. Was gonna try again tonight." She shrugged as he seemed confused, "Beat me to it," she said with a small chuckle.

He smiled and nodded, "Oh ok." Truthfully, she'd had many opportunities. She simply wanted this to be different. She wanted to be chased a bit, to have someone who really cared.

They talked quietly as they walked down the road. The awkwardness faded bit by bit as they went. "The sun's settin," She commented before glancing to Tony. She smiled while walking slowly. He seemed to care.

He looked up at the sky and nodded. "Yeah, it is." He sighed and glanced around the area. He hated that home was so close already, "Love the mix of orange and pink. Sometimes I forget how beautiful it is. Guess it's lucky you live so far out. The buildings block most of the view." He explained with a smile.

Jazz gave a nod, "Perks of the country, suppose." She was so subdued now. Perhaps it was the mesmerizing beauty of the setting sun?

He glanced over to her and smiled softly. "I'm glad we're finally doing this." he said gently, giving her hand a small squeeze.

"Me too." self-consciousness made her drop his hand and crossed her arms behind her head, She breathed a soft sigh, "Sorry if I've been a bit much," she felt the need to apologize.

He shook his head. "No, It's fine. You haven't been. I just.. wasn't sure if you were--" he let his words fall for the lack of better forms.

"Yeah." she glanced at his face and reoffered her hand, "I wasn't for a long time." she confessed somberly, still trying to figure whether this was the right decision or not. Was this the right time to be letting someone new in? She didn't know how they were going to manage this with the work schedules they both had.

Tony answered with the utmost patience, "I know." he noticed her hand and smiled.

"Sorry bout the mix signals." Thankfully, gladly, his fingers wrapped around hers, "I know, beating around the bush is pointless. You're mega cute, Tones. Better ta just lay it out, y'know?" she asked with a small snicker. Sometimes it was embarrassing, but she'd rather be honest from the beginning.

With warmth rushing to his chocolate face, he replied, "Thank you." For a moment he simply studied the bright colors a head. Truthfully, that was the most openly she'd ever blandished him. She didn't seem to be only flirting. It seemed genuine. Didn't she deserve the same? "You are too, I mean, you're," He stumbled over his words once again, but continued on, "You're so beautiful." He finally managed, sounding more like an awestruck puppy than an accomplished business owner.

Her cheeks darkened with a red tint as it had been a long time since she'd been complimented so sincerely. "Thank you." she grinned at the sun.

After around 15 minutes, they reached Jazz's shop. Tony stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. "I've liked you for a really long time, Jazzabella," he confessed softly, reluctantly releasing her hand, "Thank you, for saying yes."

She scoffed and kissed his cheek,"Bye Tones." she turned to unlock her door, her heart humming excitedly.

His cheeks darkened with a light blush. "I'll see you on Saturday then?" He asked with a small grin before he started slowly backing away. "Bye Jazz!" He hollered as he waved goodbye.

"Cya Cadillac!" she looked back to him over her shoulder before stepping inside. She squealed as soon as she shut the door.

"Wow! You were gone for for *ever*! What'd he do, ask you out?" Jesseye gasped at her sister's nod, "What?! Omg! He asked you out?! Did you hold hands?! Kiss?!" Jesseye bombarded her with questions. The dark woman's eyes widened. Chuckles flowed out of her full mouth as she pat her back.

Shane smirked as he sat at the table. "So many questions."

She sat by him before answering any of Jesseye's questions,"Nice. We're going ta dinner Sat at 7, and no smooches." Jazzebella sighed and shook her head,"The air was much too tense for that." she explained, fluffing her large mahogany curls up.

Shane shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "What a shame." He said with a small laugh.

She shrugged as Jesseye whined,"Awwee, I'm sorrryyy."

"But hey. You got a date. Congrats." He said with a smile. He never really felt jealous of people in relationships, but the other woman was.

Jazz nodded, "Thanks. Tony's kind. I'm thinkin it'll be a good one." she hoped out loud. How she prayed this date wouldn't destroy the relationship they already had.

The spunky ginger wouldn't let her envy get in the way of their sisterhood. "I'm sure it will be." she said with a sweet smile before letting out a yawn. "I'mma head to bed, cuz y'know, big day tomorrooww." she snickered lightly and started up stairs.

"Night," Jazza glanced to Shane to inquire what the hell she was talking about, "You know what she means?"

He thought a second then nodded, "I think we're gonna start planning the next job?" he shrugged his shoulders. Jesseye was still such a mystery to him.

"Who knows what she's got." Together they laughed.

One she recovered, Jazza stood and tossed Shane a spare set of keys, "I'm gonna clock out too. Lock the door before ya head out," she ordered before turning towards the back of the shop.

Shane smirked and gave her an army salute. "Yes ma'am." He said.

She scoffed as she walked off, "That kid." she mumbled to herself.

*&^%$*&^%$*&^%$*&^%$*

Jesseye's day started out great. She spent her morning reading her bible and studying Jesus Christ's works. Like always, it renewed and encouraged her. This was the God who saved her. He healed her, forgave her, gave her hope, and joy. Once again she was reminded that He was all the man she needed. 'Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them,' she laughed at that verse.

"I trust you," she whispered, pecking the silky pages. "Bring me someone to love. A man who loves you," she pensioned His grace, looking up to the ceiling. She sighed happily as she closed her book to start breakfast. "You're so good." She whispered to Him while scrambling herself some eggs. She spoke to her father the entire time then knocked on Jazza's door to serve her.

Shane got up a little late in the day. The bright eyed ginger greeted him with a smile, "Still tired?" she asked with a little giggle.

Instead of answering her rhetorical question, Shane proposed his own, "What you makin'?" he asked groggily.

She shrugged, pressing her spatula into the butter soaked bread,"Fancy grilled ham and cheese." She said with a little giggle.

"Oooo." He cooed with no added sarcasm.

She nodded, patiently watching the cheese melt. "You want one?" Really it was like five different cheeses, but she figured he didn't care to know the names of them all.

A goofy smile crept onto his lips. A grilled cheese sounded perfect, "Sure. I'll take one." He said with a nod before glancing down to his growling stomache.

Snickering lightly, slid the plate in front of him then turned back around to start another, "Careful, it's hot." she shook her head at his scoff, but melted some more butter in her cast iron skillet.

After only a minute, he picked up the sandwich and blew on it before taking a bite. "Thanks Jess." He said through a mouth full of cheese. "This hits the spot."

She looked back to him and grinned, "You're welcome!" she chimed. While she finished fashioning her sandwich, he looked over her notepad of schemes.

Shane shook his head as she joined him at the counter, "What's with all these shops, Jess?"

Her ginger head cocked in confusion, "What do you mean? Are they bad picks?"

"No, they're fine.." as if to spite him, he had to cross one off, "Mostly. I mean, why are you only targetting small jewelry stores?"

Jesseye looked down at her plate while chewing and shrugged, "I dunno.." What else could she say? 'Because I'm not good enough, because I can't shut off alarms or cameras, because...'

His stark comment broke her trail of doubts, "We both know you're better than this."

"B-but--"

"C'mon, Jess," he said rather harshly, taking hold of her shoulder to get her attention, "Besides the planning, you hardly needed my help last hit," he reminded her with a shake of his head. She blinked. Did he really mean that? Or was he just playing her? Or.. she didn't even want to think it -- what if he only wanted a bigger job so that he could get out sooner? So that... he could leave her sooner.

He hated to admit it, but her silence, her blank expression worried him. "It's true, Jess." he tried to convince her gently. She took another bite of her grilled cheese, "Don't you want that restruarant?" Her scarlet head bobbed yes, "If we only stick to smaller stores, then it'll take *years*. Wasn't that what we're trying to avoid?"

Jesseye stopped eating all together. It was, but.. at what cost? She glanced to him with teary eyes. "But what if we get caught?" she asked at a near whisper to hide her real, dream crushing feelings. Maybe, just, maybe, she *wanted* years with him.

He shook his head, but resisted pulling her into his arms, "We won't. I'll train you." he insisted his services while taking a bite out of her own (the grill cheese), "We're not gonna be stupid. When I say you're ready for something bigger, you're ready."

She nodded at her sandwich, but couldn't make herself ask the dreaded question, 'But what happens after? Will you stay?'