“Let’s just see if we can get you the opposite of ‘meh.’” His deep voice reaches into me, stirring something deep inside. I like the feeling—it’s uncomfortable in a good way, but automatically I want to fight it. How can I stopthat?
Isaac pulls back, and the lid on the metal trash can slamsshut.
“I have to run out for something.” He says. “Will you be readysoon?”
“I can be. I need to finish Claire’s pasta.” The water is just starting to boil. “What should Iwear?”
Isaac’s already on his way to the front door. “Casual.” He winks and walksout.
Dropping in the pasta, I mentally sift through myclothes.
While I stir, I pair one thing with another and then dismiss it until, finally, I think I’ve gotit.
“Lucia,” I call out. She and Claire are playing in the living room. I’m spooning food into a pink plastic bowl when they walk in. “Claire’s dinner is ready. Do you need me to do anythingelse?”
Lucia waves me away. “I could’ve made pasta, youknow.”
“I know,” I sayquickly.
“You’re still used to doing everything yourself.” She hugs around my shoulders. “You don’t have toanymore.”
I nod and thank her, leaving the room as fast as I can go while still looking like I’m not rushing. I have to get away from the motherly affection. Because I love it, but I love it too much, and the force of it is toogreat.
When I get to my room I go straight for the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. I’m almost done getting ready when my phone chirps with a textmessage.
Isaac- Someone’s at the front door. Can you answerit?
What?
I slip on my shoes and go to the front door, tossing a glance at Lucia and Claire on my way. Lucia glances up at me from the coloring book she and Claire are sharing. She's filling in Strawberry Shortcake’s legs while Claire tackles herhair.
Why didn’t Lucia get thedoor?
I pull it open. Isaac stands there, beaming. He extends a tub of ice cream with a note on thetop.
Notflowers.
A tiny laugh escapes me, like a breath, then it's followed by more. I take the ice cream from him, it's chill giving me shivers, and turn it in my hands. How is it that he remembers his curbside declaration? It was so longago.
“No death wrapped in tissue paper for Aubrey,” he says, taking the ice cream from me and walking to the kitchen. Grabbing utensils from the drawer, he spoons out a bite for me. I reach for the handle of the spoon but he pulls back and raises his eyebrows. I roll my eyes and open my mouth, allowing him to feedme.
Claire and Lucia giggle, and Claire asks for her own bowl. “Big,” she tells Isaac, her eyesserious.
He gives her twice the amount I would, but I don’t say anything. Lucia’s the one who will have to deal with her sugar-high and inevitablemeltdown.
After ice cream kisses from Claire, we leave. Isaac locks the front door behind us, then pauses. He lifts a piece of hair and tucks it behind my ear. “That’s how our first date would havestarted.”
“It would have been a good firstdate.”
He puts a curled finger beneath my chin and lifts it. “Itisgoing to be a great first date.” And then he gently presses his lips tomine.
Like a gentlemen,Isaac opens the car door for me. Though I don’t need it, he offers a hand. My first instinct is to ignore it and climb in without help. I could pretend not to see the gesture, and then it would be attributed to typical Aubrey behavior. But Idon’t.
I slip my hand in his. His other hand lands on the small of my back, guiding me into his truck. It’s so proper. So… first date. Considering he had the milk before he purchased the cow, I’m surprised he’s being sogallant.
Maybe the milk is different now. Maybe the cow haschanged.
The slam of the passenger door brings me back to themoment.
