“It’s your fault, Clay. You can’t make up your mind and you are scared of my Dad, and you can’t run away with me because you can’t afford it. Has it occurred to you that I can afford it?” Tina said over the phone.
“What? Run away with you and have you taking care of me? What kind of man would I be?” Clay spoke with heat. “Please drop that sublject. If I win a lottery I’ll drop college classes and we’ll run away.”
“Same old argument. I just want somebody who is man enough to take me away from Dad’s grip. Hmmm...I could run away by myself and take care of myself. Or run off with a white guy. In fact I was on a date with this white guy yesterday.”
“What? You went on a date and your Dad just let you? Without even a giant of a chauffeur sitting at the next table trying to hear every single word?”
When she hung up, she smiled as she recalled her date with Ron.
*
Tina smiled her best smile as the waiter brought her a cheeseburger. She thought her date, Ron, was very good-looking, and lean as he was, he looked very fit. He was white, and was lean but muscular enough, just enough.
“You may as well be the most good-looking woman I’ve watched eat a cheeseburger.”
“You may as well be the most good-looking guy I’ve watched drink a cup of coffee,” she laughed. “Did you say you are in the Los Angeles Devils’ second team?”
“I am. But I only get to play when somebody in the first team can’t make it. But don’t be surprised to spot me on the bench once in a while,” Ron said with a laugh that Tina really liked. You couldn’t laugh like that unless you were really cool!
“You really liked me when you saw my photo on facebook?” Tina asked as the waiter placed some serviettes on the table and moved away. He seemed to want Tina to notice him but her attention was fully on Ron’s face.
“Liked is an understatement,” Ron said in his baritone voice and grinned. “Let’s just say I fell in love. Forgive my stalking behavior, but I immediately looked you up on twitter as well.”
Tina laughed. “When you sent me a message on facebook I looked up your twitter profile too. I guess it happens naturally.”
“I guess it does,” Ron agreed. “Do you love speed boat rides? The city’s skyline is simply amazing from the sea. You should join me next weekend, Tina. I will have no commitments at the game next weekend.”
“Sounds great! Is it dangerous?”
“It’s only dangerous in the movies, trust me. It’s really fun in real life.”
“I see. You do love sports and danger and a charge of adrenaline, don’t you?”
He laughed his shy laugh. “I guess you can say I like to be on the move always...or to hit the ground running. Kind of a loose cannon, but I’m not a cheater. I’m a keeper.” He stared into her eyes as he said this.
Tina cupped her face with her hands, smiling. “Well, you are certainly keeping me happy right now,” she gushed. “So, tell me more about yourself!”
Ron frowned thoughtfully, then smiled. “What can boring-me say? I’m just a regular guy who loves sports and excitement and who happens to be single but ready to mingle. I finished high school four years back and may join college...or may postpone that and pursue sports for now.”
“Trust me, you are neither boring nor regular,” Tina said.
“Well, what about you? You don’t have to summarize your life like I did. I really would love to know,” he said, pretending to care. But she was hot, that was for sure!
“I’m a geek,” Tina said with a laugh. “But I feel like I can sing too. At least I hope can, and I’m planning to audition sometime.”
“Wow...a beautiful, stylish geek! Never imagined I’d ever meet one.”
When Tina got home at six P.M. on that Thursday evening, which was the same week as many of the events the reader has read about, she found Julia busy in the kitchen.
“Tina, I miss the days when you were a nice, innocent young lady who always helped me around the kitchen.”
“Julia, of course I’m still a young, innocent young lady who happens to be busy these days. But I do help when I can, don’t I? And I know you love the kitchen, anyway. You never let me help much, anyway.”
“I really don’t need the help, dear. I just want you to pretend to help...that makes me happy.”
“Okay, every day I will be pretending to help you, Julia,” Tina promised.
“Okay, spit it out.”
“Spit what out? I’m chewing nothing.”
Julia shook her finger at Tina. “You are looking flushed and all gushy and radiant. That has nothing to do with computers, as much as you love them.”
“What else could it be, then?”
“A date. You have either been on a date, or you have met a man you really like, or you have a date coming up.”
Tina laughed. “Are you psychic? You know...you could be right.”
Some minutes later she called a friend, Avyanna, yes, that was her name: totally unique.
“You know what, ma bitch? I was on a date...and he’s fiiiine, know what I’m saying?” she laughed. “You should see him sometime. I think fine is an understatement.”