ADRIENNE
After dinner, Jason asks if I would mind walking for a bit before we end the date. Of course I don’t mind. Any more time I get to spend with him is a bonus. He’s a lot of fun to be around. Who wouldn’t want to hang with him?
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
“You know I did,” I say, rubbing my protruding tummy. I’m not even embarrassed about it. Not with him.
“That’s a full tummy well earned,” he mocks.
“You know, a lot of off-the-beaten-path restaurants. Are you a foodie?”
“I’ve never been to either of those places before. I just did my homework and heard they were good spots for authentic cuisine.”
“You’ve never eaten at either place?”
“No, why?”
“They treated us like VIP customers. Both times we basically had part of the restaurant to ourselves. I thought it was because you were a favorite customer.”
“I think Thursdays are slow nights for both places. I was looking for a quieter type atmosphere.”
“Privacy is important to you?”
“I just remembered what you said about my shoulder and crowds. I didn’t want to risk bumping into anyone, especially with all this new hardware they put inside me keeping it together.”
“That’s good to know that you’re actually listening to me.” I grin.
“Oh, I’m definitely listening, darlin’.”
We walk in silence for a few moments and I’m completely at ease. For once, I don’t feel the need to fill the space with chatter. It’s just me and Jason and a lot of staring eyes.
That’s another thing.
I’m thinking he prefers smaller restaurants because he definitely garners a lot of attention from both men and women. It’s the craziest thing, but I imagine they gawk because he’s typically the tallest person in the room and usually the most handsome. It’s difficult not to speculate what people may think when they see me walking down the street with him.
Are they together?
He’s too good for her.
I know those aren’t healthy thoughts, but I can’t help it. If he and I had met years ago in high school, he is not someone I would have been friends with. That’s just a reality. I didn’t run in the popular circles of the beautiful people. I was the nerdy girl who spent most of her down time studying or watching old musicals with her mom.
“So last week you said you were studying?”
“Yes, with a few friends of mine at my house.”
“They’re all doctors?”
“Yes, we’re studying for our boards. When I pass, I’ll be a board certified pediatrician. It’s just another credential to let clients know that I’ve received attentional training in my specialty.”
“You said you were studying at your house?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“All female doctors?”
“There’s three of us and one guy– Owen.”
“Owen?”
“He was the first person to show me the ropes when I got into medical school. I was younger than the average student, and he took a special interest in me. He’s like a big brother.”
“I bet.”
I cock my head to the side unsure of what he’s suggesting.
“He really is like a brother to me.”
“Is he married?”
“No,” I chuckle.
“Was he friends with the ex?”
“Absolutely not. They didn’t really talk that much to each other. Just cordial greetings.”
“Yep.”
“Yep, what?”
“Big brother probably has a crush on you.”
“You’ve never even met him,” I scoff. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If he’s been hanging around you this long, I think I do.”
“Men and women can have platonic relationships, Jason. Look at us. We have a lot of fun together and there’s nothing romantic about it whatsoever.”
His face scrunches up into a scowl
“We’re different.”
I shrug my shoulders
“I don’t think so. Hey, can we stop in here?” I ask.
We stop at a local electronic store that’s open for another hour. One perk about living in Manhattan is that many of the stores will stay open longer than you see in other cities simply because there are more people out still shopping.
“What are we looking for?”
“I’m thinking about getting a new television.”
“That’s right up my alley. What kind are we looking for?” he asks excitedly.
“Something small. I just need one in the bedroom.”
“Do you have one in there right now? Is it broken?”
“No, um.”
“Don’t tell me. The ex had something against television.”
“In the bedroom he did. He needed a perfectly quiet room devoid of extraneous sound or light.”
“Or laughter.”
I turn my lips up in a sardonic smile.
“You saw my relationship at its lowest point. There were some good times.”
“You should set a higher bar.”
“Oh, really… and when’s the last time you were even in something that remotely looked like a relationship?”
“I think I’m offended.”
He grabs his chest playfully as if he’s clutching his pearls.
“I think you and I can both agree that you are not offended by the slightest. You don’t seem the type.”
“Ok, you got me. I’m not a relationship type of dude but there're reasons for that.”
“Which are?”
“I don’t want to disappoint someone that I love.”
“That might be inevitable.”
“Not the way I do it.”
“And what magical way is that?”
“I’m honest.”
“Please explain.”
“I spend time with women who understand that our relationship will be a physically satisfying connection and nothing more.”
“And they go for that?”
“I have had no complaints yet.”
“I could never do that.”
“Why not? We both get something out of it and there are no unmet expectations. No hurt feelings.”
“I doubt that,” I mutter under my breath.
“What’s that, beautiful?”
“I said what about this one?
“Twenty-seven inches is a respectable size. Not obnoxiously big. Where would you put it? On a wall or a tv table?”
“Probably just on top of my dresser. I don’t want to spend the extra funds to have it mounted on a wall.”
“This thirty-two inch is on sale. How about this one? I know someone who can mount it for you at a discount.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, get it.”
It takes ten minutes to find someone who isn’t busy to help us. I honestly was ready to leave, but Jason seems more excited about the tv than I am. He wants me to get it. So we wait. While the sales associate goes in the back to find us the model on sale because there are no more on the showroom floor, Jason watches a news program on one of the model televisions and becomes unusually quiet.
I tap him on the back of his good shoulder.
“Hey, you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“What’s this show?”
“It’s a sports newscast.”
“The Rangers again?”
“Not this time. They’re talking about football.”
“Oh.”
The program repeatedly shows a highlight where a player was hit pretty hard.
“Ugh,” I comment. “Football is so brutal. I don’t know how you watch it. Look at how hard they hit that guy. He’s probably still seeing stars.”
“Have you ever watched a football game from start to finish, Adrienne?”
“Nope.”
He seems displeased with my answer and I wonder if in someway I’ve offended him yet again. I seem to have a knack for that. I guess he’s a touchy guy.
“I mean, it’s just that I’ve taken an oath to care for human beings and save lives,” I explain. “To put your health on the line like that, every game seems self destructive to me. I know you enjoy watching it, but think about the men that are playing it. You’ve got to ask yourself why the put themselves in harms way like that.”
“Because it’s fun?”
“I think the more accurate word is dangerous.”
“It’s a highly strategic sport.”
“Yeah, like war.”
An irritated look covers Jason’s face.
“Where’s your tv?” he asks impatiently.
“He’s ringing it up. Crap, I didn’t even think about how I’m going to get this thing home. Let me ask him how much delivery is.”
“Uh-uh, we’re going to take this baby to your house and set it up so you and Mittens can watch Patrick Swayze and Baby all comfy in your bed if you want.”
“But your shoulder.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
And figure it out we do.