Colin took his time getting home, driving through Wilmington’s prettier back streets and basking in the warm afterglow of his day with Maria. His body felt surprisingly well used by the afternoon of paddleboarding, his mind still circling the mystery of Maria. Getting out of his car, he was just ambling across the newly cut lawn toward his apartment when he heard Lily calling from the porch, her cell phone in hand.
“There you are,” she said, her drawl almost a singsong. As always, she was perfectly coiffed. Tonight, though, in something of a rarity, she was wearing jeans – albeit with pumps, a pearl necklace, tastefully sized diamond studs, and a gardenia artfully pinned in her hair.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked, veering toward her.
“I was speaking to my mother while I was waiting for you,” she answered, skipping down the steps toward him. Lily was the only girl he knew who actually skipped when she was happy. She leaned in for a hug. “Evan told me you were going on a date today and I want to hear all about it before we go inside.”
“Where’s Evan?”
“He’s on the computer researching some pharmaceutical company for his clients. You know how serious he is about his work, bless his heart. But don’t try to change the subject. For now, we’re going to sit on the steps while you tell me about this special young woman, and I won’t take no for an answer. And don’t leave anything out. I want to hear everything.”
She took a seat on the steps, patting the spot beside her. Colin knew he had no choice but to do as he’d been told, and he gave her the basics. Lily interrupted frequently, pressing him for details. When he finished, she squinted at him, obviously disappointed.
“You really must work on your storytelling skills, Colin,” she chided. “All you did was recite a list of activities and the topics you talked about.”
“How else was I supposed to tell it?”
“That’s a silly question. You were supposed to make me fall in love with her, too.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because even as poorly as you told the story, it’s obvious that you’re smitten with her.”
He said nothing.
“Colin?” she said. “This is exactly what I mean. What you should have said was something like, ‘When I’m with Maria… I just… I…’ and then trail off and shake your head because words are inadequate to convey the intensity of what you’re experiencing.”
“That sounds more like you than me.”
“I know,” she said, sounding almost sorry for him. “That’s what makes you such a poor storyteller, bless your heart.”
Only Lily could insult him in a way that made it sound as though it was harder for her to say than for him to hear. “How do you know I’m smitten with her?” he asked.
She sighed. “If you didn’t enjoy spending the day in her presence, you would have given me that blank look of yours and said, ‘There’s nothing to talk about,’ when I asked you about her. And all that, of course, brings the primary question to mind: When will I have the chance to meet her?”
“I’d have to ask her.”
“And do you have immediate plans to spend more time with your lady friend?”
Colin hesitated, wondering if anyone besides Lily still used the term lady friend. “We’re supposed to go out next weekend.”
“Not to a bar, I hope.”
“No,” he said. He told her about the warehouse.
“Do you think that’s a wise decision? Considering what happened the last time you went to a club with Evan and me?”
“I just want to take her dancing.”
“Dancing can be very romantic,” she admitted. “And yet…”
“It’ll be fine. I promise.”