12. Logan
12
LOGAN
I don’t know how long Daphne and I sit on that bench, kissing and talking, but the park the lighthouse is in closes at dusk, so it’s time we leave.
“Are you riding with me?” Daphne asks as we approach her car. “I assume you flew down here?”
“Nope, I drove down. I’m parked over there.” I point to a spot near the entrance to walking trails where I parked my Jeep. “I can’t carry my wallet and phone if I fly, and I needed to follow along on your adventures today. I shifted when I got here and waited on that branch so I could see when you arrived and surprise you. I created quite a stir.” I preen. “You know Cape May is a mecca for birders, so to have a fine golden eagle specimen like myself hanging out for the afternoon put a star on quite a few birders’ life lists.”
I regret my decision to drive my car since that means we’ll drive home separately. I hate being apart from her for even a moment now that I have her. I should have Ubered. I give her one more kiss and force myself to pull back. I can’t not touch her, so allow my hand to linger on her cheek.
“We need to go home.” I consider her house my home since that’s where I stay when I’m in the country. It didn’t make sense to rent an apartment that I wouldn’t be in often. I could stay at my parents’ house, but I’d always rather be with Daphne. We hang out and watch movies. She puts up with me watching baseball and cheering way too loudly for the Phillies, and I pretend to be interested in the DVR full of Hallmark Christmas movies. We both enjoy watching rugby and hockey together. I watch the play, but I’m pretty sure she’s checking out the rugby thighs and hockey butts. We both cheer for the Flyers and have attended games together over the years. Maybe we can get to a couple this year. I’ll have to check the schedule to see if they’re home before I leave on my next trip in just over a week.
“And we need dinner,” I say. “Do you want to stop somewhere?”
She stares at me a bit dreamily with her deep brown gaze. Our kisses affected her as much as they did me. “I like it that you call my house home. I need dinner, but I don’t want to stop anywhere to sit and eat. We can get takeout or delivery.”
“Honey, once we’re behind closed doors, I don’t want to see anyone but you for the rest of the night, at least. No delivery people, no friends, nobody, just me and you. If we’re getting food, we’re getting it before we get home. What do you want? Pizza? Burgers? Chinese?” I can’t help my smirk when I consider what I want to do once I have her alone.
Daphne must be able to read the thoughts on my face because she declares, “Pizza. It’ll be good for breakfast too.” Ah, a woman after my own heart.
We walk hand in hand to her car. We decide I’ll pick up pizza from our favorite shop and meet at home. I get in my car and follow her out of the parking lot, and we head toward the heart of Cape May so we can go through town and get on the Parkway to drive north toward home. I use voice control to call Daphne.
“Hello?”
“I’d like to speak to my girlfriend, please.”
She giggles. “I’m your girlfriend?”
“Considering you spent an hour making out with me on that bench and now you’re luring me back to your lair to, hopefully, take advantage of my virtue, you damn well better be my girlfriend. What kind of man do you take me for?”
More giggles. “You’re such a goober.”
“I’m your goober.”
She sighs. “I still can’t believe you’re here. I’m afraid my alarm is going to go off and I’ll wake up and realize this was all just a dream. If that’s what this is, it’s going to break my heart because it feels so real.”
My heart clenches at hearing her vulnerability.
“Daphne, if this is a dream, it’s a dream we’re both having. It’s real. When your alarm goes off, I’ll be there.” There’s silence on the line. I peek at my dash to make sure the call’s still connected. “Daph?”
“I’m here. Do you have E-ZPass for the toll?”
We’re approaching a toll booth. The miles are passing quickly, thank goodness.
“I do. Go through the express lane.” I don’t know what brought about that change of subject. Another mile or two passes.
“Logan, we’re getting close to home. Did you want to call and order the pizza now so it’s ready to pick up?”
Okay, we are changing the subject. “Sure. Did you want anything other than pizza?”
“Soda, if you want something other than Diet Pepsi. I don’t have any wine or beer.” I hear her take a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll let you go so you can order. See you at home. Drive safely.”
“Daphne?”
“Yeah?”
“See you soon.” Those weren’t the three words I wanted to say, but I don’t know if she’s ready to hear “I love you” from me.
I disconnect and then call in our order at the pizza place. I order a plain cheese pizza for Daphne and a pepperoni and sausage for myself. Not that either of us is eating a whole pizza tonight, but I don’t want to leave the house for a couple of days. We need to keep our strength up. I thought about garlic knots, but considering how much kissing I plan on doing, maybe that isn’t the best choice. I add a chicken Caesar salad for lunch tomorrow. After placing our order, I contemplate what’s bugging Daphne. She seemed to get quiet suddenly. We reach our exit and take the off-ramp. She turns right to head to the house, and I make a left to get dinner.