Chapter 17
Lila
I was sitting in a laundromat when I realized that I would always love Caleb Caldwell. It was rare in life that one found something worth committing wholeheartedly to. It was rare to find something that you could attach yourself permanently to with no fear, doubt, or regret. But I felt that way about Caleb I was having permanent thoughts and feelings about him. I had gotten to know him already, but something about the conversation while he sat with me in the laundromat solidified it.
We sat comfortably, loosely tangled on the bench for the process of washing, and those were quite possibly the best moments of my life. We observed other people and spoke lightheartedly about ourselves and anyone else who came into our line of vision. We never kissed, but we also never lost physical contact.
Caleb and I got up after the washer was finished to put the shirt into the dryer. We had some extra quarters when we finished with the dryer, and we decided to go to the vending machines for candy and a soda.
I gave him the corner of the bench when we got back to our spot. I sat curled up next to him, and he sprawled out with his leg on mine. We ate candy and talked and laughed while we waited for the dryer. The conversation was amazing, and the music got turned up while we were sitting there, making all my laundromat dreams come true. It was pop radio, and I knew the lyrics to all of the songs, which cracked Caleb up.
It was the most perfect date ever. I was fixed on staying close to Caleb Caldwell for the rest of my life, and I hoped and prayed that everything would work out that way. It seemed like he wanted that too.
We walked over to the dryer after the shirt had been in there for a while. I watched as he took it out, took off his larger shirt, and then replaced his undershirt before shrugging into the larger one again. I had another good view of his upper body in the process. It was brief, but I had seen enough to have some warm feelings in the pit of my stomach. He left me breathless. I remembered him from the show, and it was surreal to see the tattoos. What made it better was that they were worn by an amazing, sweet teddy bear of a guy. I felt in my heart that he was going to be mine forever. I hoped that was true.
After tacos, we drove to an overlook where we watched the sunset. We were there for a half-hour or so before heading to golf. We were at the first hole at the mini golf place when someone asked for a picture with Caleb. They called him by his name on the show and asked if they could take a photo with him.
There were six of them in the picture, and I took it for them. It was something I had done before with my dad and brothers. I loved to volunteer since I didn't want them to feel awkward about inviting me to be in it. They thanked us and left us alone after that. There were a lot of people at the course, but that was the only group who approached him.
The course itself was huge, colorful, and fun, and there was never a dull moment with Caleb and I teasing each other and trying to get around the obstacles. We laughed because we were both competitive and tried to outdo each other on the silliest things.
I had grown up with two older brothers who were both gifted athletes. I had no choice but to be better than a complete goober. I was serious about the game and tried my best at every putt, and Caleb thought it was remarkable that I was so good.
"You're beating me, and I've only got one hole to turn it around," he said, staring at the scorecard like he couldn't believe it. He glanced at me, blinking comically. "I’m trying my best here," he said, looking confused and making me laugh.
"Are you surprised that I'm so good?" I said.
"No, I guess that's why you brought me here… because you knew you would destroy me. You must study miniature golf in your spare time. Did you bring me here to tell me that?" He stared at me and moved closer, and it made me laugh.
"No, I haven't done this in years. I'm just used to being a little try-hard because my brothers were relentless with competitions when we were growing up. They were almost better than me at ice skating, and that was my thing."
"I still haven't seen you skate," he said.
It was his turn to putt, and he made the stroke right after he said it. We took time to watch his ball go across the green. We were on the eighteenth hole, and there were quite a few obstacles—first up a hill, then a tunnel, down a slope. Then it had to narrowly avoid a rock before making it to the area near the hole. Amazingly enough, it did all that, and I let out a yell when it passed about an inch away from the hole. It kept going and then settled in a spot a foot or so from the hole—an easy second shot on a par four.
"Nice one," I said, looking at him with surprised confusion. "You may beat me with that one."
Caleb shrugged hopefully, and I watched as he went to finish his shot. He hopped over one of the obstacles and went to where the ball was sitting. Before he hit the ball, he looked up at me with an expression like he had just thought of something.
"Show me a video!" he said.
He looked down and easily hit the ball into the hole before quickly bending down to pick it up. He jogged back to me.
"What video? I asked.
"You. Skating. I'm sure you have a ton of videos. How have I never seen a video before?" He came closer to me when he was saying that. He was so serious and concerned about it that I grinned, thinking of which one to show him. He was so gorgeous that just coming to stand near me took my breath away. There were people on the course, but none were on the hole directly behind us. I knew we didn't have to be in a rush.
"Now?" I asked.
"Yes. Please. Even just a clip."
"I have so much video," I said, fishing for my phone in the bag that hung near the side of my waist. "I have some recent stuff handy for sure. I'm not competitive anymore, so I've let a lot of my skills go, but you get the idea. I'll show you old stuff later."
I tried to give Caleb my phone, but he let me hold it. He came to stand behind me, close enough for me to lean against him while he watched. I rested my head lightly against his chest while I held the phone for him. His hand came around my waist and rested on my mid-section. He held me close as he watched.
I paused it and took a step away after thirty seconds or so, stashing my phone.
"Lilaaa," he said moaning.
"What?" I reached out for his hand and held onto him as I waited for his answer.
"That was you in that video?"
I laughed. "Yes. You can tell it was me."
"I can't believe you can do that, or that you've never shown me a video. Why didn't I go with you that day? I needed to see you do that."
I shrugged. "I just skated laps that day. I do it for fun now. I was at my peak about seven or eight years ago, when I was competing."
"Maybe you were at your peak for skating," he said.
I smiled at him.
"I want to see you do that in person," he said.
"You have to come to Chicago with me," I said. I took a step toward him, hoping I could convince him to come with the way I was bumping into him.
"Okay, I will," he said as if he didn't even have to think about it.
I glanced his way. "You will?"
He shrugged.
"When?"
"I wanted you to ask me to come when I said I wanted to see you skate. I was hoping you'd say I should go to Chicago."
"It's no secret that I want you to come. I want you to go back with me tomorrow."
He leaned ever so slightly closer. I felt vulnerable, and I was happy that he was regarding me with such love. I remembered the sight of him, all shirtless and nonchalant in that laundromat. I felt safe and happy with this man, and it was the best feeling in the world.
Our faces were so close now that the only logical thing for him to do was kiss me. The tension was palpable. My heart was pounding out of control. I could hardly remember to breathe. I meant it when I said I wanted him to come back with me, and he was looking at me like he was going to do it. I hoped that happened. I wanted to never be apart from him again.
"I want you and need you," I whispered, flirting and feeling desperate for him to go ahead and kiss me.
And then he leaned in and our lips touched. I closed my eyes, and for a few glorious seconds, I felt nothing but the swirling physical sensation brought on by the kiss. The contact of Caleb's lips to mine gave me the sensation of being on a roller coaster. Different. Better. Something happened to my body when we kissed. It gave me such a bodily sensation that I felt weak in the knees and I held onto him for support. I wanted to stand there all night, but I knew that wasn't going to happen with people around. After only a second or two, we both reluctantly pulled back.
I stepped away from him, smiling and squinting playfully, pretending that I wasn't all hot and bothered by the feel of his mouth on mine.
"You're trying to distract me from my big shot," I said.
He laughed and tossed his hands in the air in surrender as he stepped back. "At this point, I can't even remember what sport we're playing. I'm pretty sure you can lie to me about your score. In fact, let's just mark yours a hole-in-one. You won this game."
"No, no, no, we're not marking that. I didn't do it for real," I said. "Watch me while I win this fair and square. I'm getting that hole-in-one right now. Is that what I need to win this?" I breathed on the ball and rubbed it on my shirt as if to clean it. Then I placed it onto the little mat with all the confidence of someone who was a much better miniature golfer than I was. "Watch while I sink this one right here," I said, lining up my shot.
I didn't think about it too much. I just pulled back and hit the ball, letting it rip, hoping to match Caleb's trajectory as much as possible.
And there it went. We watched as the ball went over the hill, through the tunnel, down the slope, and around the rock. It went slower at some turns and then picked up speed. I let out a sound of anticipation as it got closer and closer to the hole. I yelled again as it approached and fell in. I jumped up and down. Caleb was looking at me in shocked astonishment when I crossed to him. He grinned and his disbelief turned into celebration. I jumped into his arms as he exclaimed. "What just happened? That was amazing! You're amazing!"
We were breathing heavily from all the celebrating, and I pulled back, smiling at him. "That was pure luck," I said, shaking my head.
"No such thing," he said, squeezing me. "You're a natural."
Our eyes were so locked that I felt like we were about to start kissing again. I was vaguely aware that people were coming up behind us. "Are you ready to go back to Drakes?" I asked.
He smiled. "You read my mind."