Chapter 12 Samir #2
“Do you mind if I ask why you feel that is? Is it your… your religion or something else? Sorry, was that rude to ask? That was rude, wasn’t it?”
I shook my head with a chuckle.
“It’s a valid question. And honestly, I don’t know. I guess I’ve been scared. Scared of what might happen if men don’t like me and don’t want to be with me, scared if they do and want a future with me.”
“Men? Are you after, like, a lot of men or is there a hard limit?”
I looked up confused and saw the cheeky grin form in his face that made me smirk too.
“You know what they say. The more the merrier.”
“Sounds fun. Count me in,” he said before we both burst out laughing.
Just in time for our food to be served.
“Okay, I’ve never seen a sadder salad in my life,” Cole said, looking at my dish.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” I said and took a bite.
It was bland and dry, but I persevered under Cole’s watchful gaze.
“Yeah, you look like you’re enjoying it as much as a man having to use sandpaper as a loofa. Come on, let’s go someplace else. I won’t let you suffer like this.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s not that bad. We can’t leave just because I’m not happy.”
“Yeah, we can,” he said.
“Cole, come on. Eat your food. I’ll be fine. I can eat when I’m home.”
Cole took a small bite of his fry and declared it was still frozen before standing up and dragging me out of there.
He handled the check, and we escaped into the Christmas market that was out in full force on the waterfront, stretching all the way up to Main Street.
“I’m so sorry about that dreadful place. I have no idea how it’s still in business when it’s had such a shit reputation for years,” he said after I’d guided him to one of the places I knew sold halal, and we ordered our four-cheese stuffed pretzels.
I shrugged.
“Tourists, I guess.”
“Poor tourists.” He passed one pretzel to me, and after he got his own, he touched them together, saying, “Cheers!”
I laughed a “cheers” back, and we bit into the gooey, mouthwatering treat. Steam rose from the hot filling. The heat in my mouth and throat was a small reprieve from the December biting cold.
“Oh, look. Isn’t that magical?” He pointed behind me, at the blur of lights in the sea that looked so much like real fairy lights dancing in the dark.
“Is that the cruise ship? I thought the holiday cruises didn’t start until next week,” I said.
We walked toward the water, walking along the edge, watching the ship’s dizzying lights while enjoying our pretzels.
By the time we were done, we’d reached port, which was even more crowded than the streets if that was even possible.
“Come on. This way,” he said, dragging me toward an alley and away from all the commotion.
The street was narrow, and the houses looked crammed next to each other as if supporting one another in odd angles. Windows flashed with led lights while green garlands were so spread out, it left patches of the alley in darkness, yet it wasn’t scary. If anything, it was scenic.
“This is so pretty. Mayberry manages to surprise me more and more each day.”
“You’re not from around here?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“New Jersey.”
“Oh, nice,” he said. “I’ve never been, but I’d love to visit. Go anywhere, really. I’ve never even set foot off the island.”
“For real?”
Cole nodded.
“Wow. Though your island is very pretty so it’s not such a tragedy.”
Cole laughed.
“Yeah, I suppose not. How come you left New Jersey?”
I sighed.
“Too many questions about kids. We were sick of being hounded about it constantly.”
“Your family?”
“Everyone, really. We just wanted somewhere new to start fresh. I guess we had a much fresher start than we thought we’d get.”
“I’ll say.”
“But I’m glad we did it. It might be a lonely life, but it’s still a dream. Taking care of the cats, making a living out of recommending books, being surrounded by community. It’s nice.”
“I’m glad Mayberry has been so welcoming to you,” Cole said. “And…” He glanced at me but quickly looked away. “I hope it becomes less lonely from now on.”
I smiled.
“Me too,” I said, staring at the side of his face, hoping he meant what I thought he meant.
“Besides, with eleven more dates on the horizon, I’m sure you’ll be too busy putting up with me to get bored.”
“You make it sound as if hanging out with you is torture.”
Cole grimaced.
“Trust me. It is. I’m the least interesting person I know.”
I reached for his hand, and his head snapped around so fast it made me drop it again.
“You’re very hard on yourself. I’m having a great time.”
He rolled his eyes as if he didn’t believe me for a second.
“I’ll try and do better for the next date. Can you believe they made us have twelve of these?” he said.
And just like that, whatever I was about to say next, whatever I was about to suggest, dissolved into nothing. The self-consciousness took over again.
And here I thought we were having a good time when he was just forcing himself to get through the first of twelves dates.
“We don’t have to do that,” I said.
“Oh no. Enzo will kill me if I bail. And I’m sure he’ll get Hwan and my brother to kill me too.”
I nodded and looked away.
“I didn’t mean… I’m enjoying your company. Oh gosh. I’ve done it again. I told you I was rusty.”
I glanced at him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just…never mind. I had a great time. To be honest, I thought I was going to dread this—dating, I mean. Not you. Oh God. Shut up, Cole. Maybe we should call it a night before I put my foot even further in my mouth.”
I smiled, and we walked up to Books and Claws before Cole waved goodbye and rushed away like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs.
“Well,” I said to the clowder of cats that gathered around me when I entered the bookstore. “I guess, as far as first dates go, this wasn’t as bad as it could have been.”
Which wasn’t much of a consolation, but it was something.
It wasn’t his fault. Like he said, he hadn’t been out on a date in ages. Maybe that was how awkward all first dates were. I’d never even dated, so who was I to judge?
And here I thought our age difference was going to be the awkward part.