“I need to show her that she can count on me to be truthful. That I’m not too macho to communicate my feelings. And that I’m not afraid to make a fool of myself for love.”
“Is that all?” Sam asked dryly.
“Do you have any ideas for me?”
“None. I’m terrible at relationships.”
“Help me brainstorm. How can I show her I’m truthful?”
“Tell her you think she’s gained weight?” Humor creased Sam’s expression.
Eli chuckled. “You really are terrible at relationships.”
“Told you.”
“Other ideas?”
“Tell her you don’t like how that guy who works for her always keeps talking after a conversation’s over,” Sam said. “Or tell her that her chocolate pie needs a touch more salt.”
“There’s no way I’m going to criticize her weight, her employee, or her pie.”
“I thought you wanted to be truthful.”
“But not critical.”
“How come she’s worried about your truthfulness? Have you lied to her about something in the past?”
“By remaining silent about something important, yes.”
“Then don’t make the same mistake. Talk to her about the thing you didn’t talk to her about the last time.”
Sam was right. Of course Sam was right. But,shoot. If he told her what he knew about his squadron’s future, that would put him in a position that sucked. “What about communicating my feelings? Let’s brainstorm that.”
“Write her a poem?”
“I don’t read or write poetry.”
“Which is why she’ll like it when you make the effort to write a poem for her.”
Eli regarded Sam doubtfully. “What if I write her a letter?”
“Sure. Or a song?”
“I could hang a banner above her apartment door.”
“You’re a pilot. Say ‘I love you’ through skywriting.”
Their server returned to top off their drinks. She gave them both a flashing smile. They resumed their conversation when she’d gone.
“She also wants me to show her that I’m willing to make a fool of myself for love.” Eli scratched the back of his head. “How do I do that?”
“Rent a hot air balloon and land it in front of her house?”
“I could buy up a whole day’s worth of pie from her, then give it away free to celebrate Penelope Day.”
“Get a megaphone and walk around talking about how great she is?”
“I could serenade her from the sidewalk.”
