Eight
Craig
The rest of the weekend rolled away, which was probably a shame. The sun was shining and while my week hadn’t been great there were some good moments. Considering how things had been going, it was probably better than average. Even with the crappy interview.
Most of what made it good was Rilee, and that was unsettling.
How could the best thing be the most troubling?
It wasn’t fair. The easy feeling of being with Rilee just increased my frustration and confusion as the dream with the dancing cow repeated itself again and again. What had caused the change?
I floated in that funk through Tuesday evening.
Kathy’s chicken alfredo was heavy on sauce and needed pepper, but was better than I could cook.
My phone buzzed in my thigh pocket just as Kathy was finishing up Jackie’s dinner time lecture about college readiness.
The sensation was unexpected and I forgot the no phones at the table rule.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:You’re in. I just need your birthdate, full name, and address for registration. Rilee.
“Who is it?” Jackie asked, looking for any reason to change the dinner table conversation.
“M-my date.” I almost said Rilee automatically but caught myself at the last minute, still unsure about how dating my niece’s coach would go over.
Chairs squeaked as Kathy and Jackie skootched to get a good look at me as if there was actually something to see. Little Cami looked at her dad who shrugged and forked a mouthful of noodles in his mouth, already trying to stay out of the fire between his wife and daughter.
“Well?” Kathy asked, eyebrows raised. “Is this a good sign?”
Not able to contain herself, Jackie smirked, “It’s great. She got his number but never gave him hers.”
Kathy glanced from me to her daughter, “And you know this how?”
“We talk, geesh Mom.”
Lukas coughed on his noodles.
It wasn’t really an invitation for another date.
She was just being nice. Following through.
But I would get to see her again. And I needed the class.
All I had to do was share some personal details.
Like all the stuff an identity thief from a strange number would need to ruin my life.
Or a stalker. I could only wish for a stalker, I truly had nothing going on.
What the hell, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I texted her back the details then added.
ME: Glad to hear from you. I had a good time.
I texted like an old person. The ugly thing about text conversations is that you never know when they are over. I stared at the screen and my family stared at me. All at once at the next buzz everyone let out the breath they’d been holding.
RILEE: Me too. Class is in two weeks, on Saturday. I’ll send you the address when I have it.
Looking up, I said, “I’ll see her again in two weeks.”
“Way to go,” Lukas said.
Hands clasped together, Jackie gave a little excited squeak which drowned out Kathy’s long sigh. Not to be left out, Cami beamed at me with a clueless smile. Darren looked around the table and then asked for more noodles.