Lark McCapSnatcher: LOL Nice try. TTYL
On Wednesday, I text her first.
Me: I just did a tattoo for a man who lost his whole family in a house fire. He was at work when it happened. He lost his wife and three children.
There’s a huge pause when she doesn’t respond. But finally, she does.
Lark McCapSnatcher: What kind of tattoo did he get?
Me: Roses, which were in honor of their wedding, and one symbol for each of the kids.
Lark McCapSnatcher: What were they?
Me: A building block, a matchbox car, and a set of jack rocks, all making up the shape of a baseball diamond. The block was first base. The car was second base, and the jacks were third. The roses were home plate. They met at a baseball game.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Will you come up with something like that for me for my other arm?
Oh, shit. I realize that I’m talking with a woman who lost her family in a fire about a tattoo I did for someone in a similar tragedy. I’m an asshole.
Me: I’m so sorry. I just realized the parallel. I never should have said anything.
Lark McCapSnatcher: I’m glad you told me. It obviously affected you.
Me: His grief was like a living, breathing thing there in the room with us.
Lark McCapSnatcher: My mother liked to play Scrabble. My father preferred chess. And our favorite thing to do on the weekend was go to the beach and fly kites.
Me: I can work with that.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Thank you. And thank you for telling me about them. Grief can either make you or break you. I let it break me for a long time. Now I think I’m ready to let it make me. I hope he gets to that point too.
Me: You’re there.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Got to go. The girls are looking at me like I’m messing up their whole day.
Me: TTYL
On Thursday, I really want to see her. There’s a famous book about how to tell if a guy is into you. I’m definitely into her. I can’t stop thinking about her. I want to talk to her. I want to hear about her day. I want to know how she’s feeling. I particularly want to know how she’s feeling about me.
Lark McCapSnatcher: What’s the dress code for your mom’s party?
Me: Dress code?
Lark McCapSnatcher: What will everyone be wearing?
Me: If I tell you nothing, will you show up wearing nothing?
Lark McCapSnatcher: I’ll show up and kick you in the balls. How’s that?
Me (instinctively putting out a hand to protect my nuts): It’s casual. A cookout. So you can wear something cookout-ery.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Cookout-ery. Okay. Will your brother be there?
Me: Why do you ask?
Lark McCapSnatcher: Because there’s safety in numbers. And I already met him.
Me: No need to be afraid. They’re harmless.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Said the spider to the fly. I have to go. Studio time.
Me: TTYL
On Friday, I text her to find out what she’s doing.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Girls’ night. My sisters and the Reed wives.
Me: Where?
Lark McCapSnatcher: I’m not allowed to say, or the Reed boys will show up to claim their women like cavemen on steroids. They’re all together at Paul’s. You should go join them.
Me: Who is watching the kids?
The Reeds have a million and one children now.
Lark McCapSnatcher: The kids are with the men.
Me: Then hell no. I’ll pass.
Lark McCapSnatcher: The kids are adorable.
Me: Maybe when there’s only one. But they have fifty or a thousand of them.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Do you want kids?
Me: Never thought about it.
Silence.
Me: Until I met you.
Lark McCapSnatcher: I want kids. Someday. A little girl so I can coach her softball team. Or a boy who will love books the way I do. Or they could switch up those gender roles. I wouldn’t care.
Me: Are we going to get to have another date anytime soon?
Lark McCapSnatcher: I think we’re past that. Got to go.
Me: TTYL.
Three hours later, I get a text from her.
Lark McCapSnatcher: Are you aware that I’ve never actually had sex?
Me: What?
Lark McCapSnatcher: I’m like totally a virgin.