His excitement is contagious and I chuckle. “Well your day sounds much better than mine. Your job must be fun.”
“Sometimes,” he replies somber again for some reason. “Let’s go. I decided we’re going the long way today to give you a guided tour of the city.”
Finn takes my hand in a tight grip and leads me out the door to the waiting Escalade.
“A tour? Can you point out a nice place to eat? I’m meeting friends Sunday and we want to do the whole San Fran brunch thing.”
Finn pauses in front of Jake and puts his hand up to stop him from opening the door. “There is so much wrong with what you said, but let’s address the worst one. You live here now. You’re one of us. I don’t want to hear you ever say San Fran again. Yes, we will wait in line for hours to eat brunch, but we would never say San Fran.” He stares at me and waits with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Um, okay. Sorry. No more San Fran.” Geesh. I’ll have to warn Amanda.
“Good.” Finn steps back so Jake can open the door and jumps in first. We settle and he continues, “Now with that out of the way, let's discuss issue two.”
I’m not sure I want to know what else he finds offensive, but I nod in his direction.
“Before I tell you where to get the best brunch in the city, tell me more about these friends of yours. Are they girlfriends or boyfriends?” he asks.
I’m relieved but hold in my laugh at his ridiculous question. “Girls that are friends.” I say and watch as Finn visibly exhales.
The rest of the ride is spent with my nose to the glass as Finn points out all the various tourist attractions. Two hours later we order In-N-Out Burger while he apologizes for not taking me somewhere nicer. At the door to our complex, he offers to show me the local attractions on foot one day, and then he and Jake leave with a promise he’ll see me tomorrow. I have no idea why he didn't come in with me, but I was so wrapped up in his attention I didn’t think to ask until their taillights were in the distance.
It was simply riding around in a car looking at landmarks. We didn’t get out except to grab our food, but somehow tonight felt date-ish. More than a neighbor showing me the sights. And worst of all, I loved it. I’ve started to look forward to seeing Finn before and after work. It could become a problem. Especially since I spent most of our car ride wondering if he was ever going to lean over and kiss me. He didn’t. Not even as our night was ending. Is it a first date if there isn’t a first date kiss?
