Chapter 11 #2
“I feel … that it would be nice to … go out on a date. Just the two of us.” I swallowed, feeling slightly ill. Why had I said it? Now I couldn’t take it back.
“What would we do?” Delphine asked.
“What’s your favorite activity? If you could do anything?”
“A picnic on the beach. Or a night at home, cooking, watching a movie maybe?” She sighed, sounding exasperated. “I don’t even know. It’s been so long since I entertained the idea of a date.”
“Would you like to go out tomorrow evening? I’ll plan something.”
She didn’t answer for a moment, and when she did it was not exactly what I’d expected. “Can I be honest with you?”
“Please.” I went back to holding my breath.
“I think you’re handsome and intelligent. A little quiet. A little unnerving how closely you seem to observe everything, but also intriguing. Like there’s more to you, under all that reticence. I’m astounded to admit I want to know more.”
I let my breath out, tugging on one ear. What was she saying? “Would you like to go out tomorrow evening?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. No promises that I won’t run away screaming, but yes.”
A server returned with my credit card. I signed the receipt. Soon, we were ready to go. I slid from the booth first, offering her my hand. She took it, looking up at me. Sparks of electricity darted through me. For a moment, I imagined my hair standing on end, which made me smile.
“What?” Delphine asked as she stood, just inches from me.
“You’re pretty.”
“I used to be.”
“You still are. Trust me.”
“Some days I just feel like the casing of sausage with nothing inside.”
I laughed. “That’s strangely specific.”
“But do you know what I mean? The way the casing is just a soggy nothing without the filling?”
“I’m sorry that’s how you feel. And the metaphor’s kind of disgusting. However, I do get it. I’ve felt that way myself at times.”
We stood for another moment in front of the table, as if neither of us were capable of moving.
Finally, she gestured toward the entrance. “We should go.”
“Yep. Let’s do it.” I followed her, then raced ahead to hold the door for her. We stepped out into the glorious summer evening.
Annie was in the parking lot talking to Tyler and Robbie, the three of them with heads bowed together, clearly talking about something they didn’t want anyone else to know. Was I wrong to think it was about Delphine and me?
I walked Delphine to her car, standing aside as she unlocked the doors and opened the driver’s side. “What time tomorrow?” Delphine asked.
“Is six too early?”
“No, I can do six,” Delphine said. “What should I wear?”
“Something comfortable.”
“As long as you don’t make me run. I hate running.”
I laughed. “Promise. No running.”
A slant of sun illuminated her eyes, turning them into glossy stones with specks of green in the hazel depths. An ache I hadn’t seen coming swept over me. I wanted to draw her close, taste her mouth. Take her home and into my bed.
“What is it?” She squinted into the light. “Are you ill?”
“No, not ill. Not exactly.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets to make sure they didn’t wander in her direction.
“Um, okay.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Annie approaching. I stepped back a foot or so to let Delphine get into her car.
“Night, Dorian,” Annie said. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, kiddo.”
I gave them a quick wave and then headed to my own car. When I got there, I realized Robbie and Tyler had been waiting for me.
“Hey, boys,” I said. “Have you come to rob me?”
Robbie looked confused, but Tyler shook his head, smiling. “No, sir.”
“We wanted to give you an update,” Robbie said.
“I have run my compatibility test over again, now that I have more data.” Before I could ask, he confirmed my suspicions.
“Annie showed us your profile tonight. Comparing it to Delphine’s, I have to admit to an error.
You are now coming in at ninety-six percent compatible. ”
“Good to know.” I bit the inside of my lip to keep from smiling.
“Is there anything we can help you with?” Robbie asked.
“As in?” I asked.
“We know Delphine pretty well,” Tyler said. “Like if you had any questions about her.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling uneasy.
“My mom thinks you two would enjoy the same quiet lifestyle, surrounded by art and books. Delphine’s so much more than she shows people.” Tyler’s tone was somewhere between protective and hopeful. “She would do anything for any of us kids, for example.”
“She was different before Annie’s dad died,” Robbie said. “When she used to make cookies and play charades. Before her light went out.”
“I’m starting to see the real her,” I said. “Little by little.”
“Don’t give up on her,” Tyler said. “Or Annie. They need you.”
“And maybe you need them?” Robbie asked.
“She agreed to a date tomorrow evening, so it’s a start,” I said.
The boys fist-bumped each other.
“Well done, Dorian,” Robbie said. “We’ll be cheering you on. Silently of course. We’re not going on the date with you.”
“I think that’s best,” I said, deadpan, knowing of Robbie’s tendency to take things at face value.
Tyler looked behind me. “There’s my mom coming to pick us up.”
I turned to see Seraphina pull into the parking lot. The boys went to grab their backpacks they’d left on a grassy area in front of Mario’s.
I went over to say hello to my favorite writer. She rolled down the car window.
“Hi, Dorian. Beautiful night, isn’t it? I was writing and almost missed it entirely.”
She had her canary yellow sweater, which told me how focused she’d been before leaving to pick up the boys.
“Summer in Willet Cove. Can’t beat it,” I said. “Hunter still in Nashville?”
“Yes, but he’s home in a few days. Thank goodness. I miss him terribly.”
“It’s nice to have someone to miss.”
“Yes, it is,” Seraphina said.
“I have a date with Delphine tomorrow night.”
She smacked her hand on the steering wheel. “Finally. Gillian texted you were at Annie’s game.”
“Then we went to pizza and I somehow convinced her to let me take her on a date.”
“I’m so happy to hear this,” Seraphina said.
I pressed my left hand into the top of the car. “You have a good kid.”
“I think so too.”
The boys were upon us now, getting into the back seat.
I tapped the top of the car. “You all have a great night.”
“You too,” Seraphina said. “And I’ll come by to talk about the signing. Probably the day after tomorrow. That way I can hear about the date.”
“Looking forward to it.”
I walked back to my car, standing for a moment to watch them pull out of the lot, amazed by the turn the evening had taken.
I might be getting in way too deep, but my mother hadn’t raised a coward.
I had to try. Because I already knew how I felt.
What had started out as attraction had grown toward a real friendship.
One I hoped, over time and with a little patience on my part, would blossom into something neither of us could walk away from.