It’s my turn to ask another question according to our little game. “Was the coffee date a test?” I ask and I notice that he stiffens up. Vi once said I was never good atCluebecause I wasn’t observant, well joke’s on her. I’ve definitely become more observant because I caught that nonverbal response. “Never mind, I got my answer, I’ll give you an easier one.” I think for a second. “You still like pirates?”
“Yes,” He sighs as he responds “but I would like to explain the coffee date. I’ve been obviously working through some things, and I didn’t know if you were a jersey chaser or just wanting to find out the scoop about Cassie and I for a quick buck. Which was unfair to you. I’m sorry about that.” Archer takes a drink of his water. “I’m apologizing a lot tonight.”
“It’s okay, I accept your apology and I feel like you are allowed to be skeptical. Now, let’s turn this conversation away from this Debbie downer. What is the coolest pirate fact you’ve learned recently.”
The question earns a chuckle out of Archer. “Really? Pirates, that’s how we’re diverting this conversation?”
“You just said you still liked pirates!” I exclaim throwing my hands up, “pirates are cool, learning is cool, I figured you could sharesomething you learned!”
“You are such a teacher.” He teases. “Okay, give me a minute. I need to think of a fact that will really shiver your timbers.”
“Oh my god. That was awful.” I laugh.
“Okay,” he says all business now. “Did you know that pirates captured Julius Caesar? But when they asked for the ransom Caesar laughed in their faces and told them he was worth at least double than what they were asking for.”
I try and fail to contain my glee at the new pirate fact. “That’s amazing. I love that you’re still a huge fucking nerd.” That was one of my favorite things from our history class, he was so into it. He didn’t try to act like he was above it like so many of our peers. He truly enjoyed the class and learning the information.
Archer grins. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Chapter 5
Archer
Ihaven’t had this much fun on a not date-date in a long time. It started out rough. I felt like I was constantly apologizing, but when Ellie asked about a pirate fact, I couldn’t resist that god awful pun. What was even better is that she loved it. She tried to pretend she thought it was awful, but her face lit up the same way it did when she got her cheese dip.
I can’t believe she figured out that I fed her fake information on the coffee date, well she didn’t say that explicitly, but she figured out it was a test. I still feel like dick about it, but she seems to have moved past it.
“Okay, I do have another question.” I ask. We’ve both finished our meals and are just enjoying the atmosphere.
“Yeah?” She takes another drink of her margarita.
“When did you go from Ellie to Elle?”
“Oh, well, that’s kind of an embarrassingstory actually.”
I wait expectantly. She chooses to continue drinking her margarita instead of indulging me. “You going to leave me in suspense or?”
“No, it’s actually probably more sad than embarrassing.” She messes with her straw instead of maintaining eye contact. “I was dating this guy Tom, we had been together a couple of months at that point, and he mentioned how I needed to drop Ellie and go by Elle because Ellie made me seem juvenile.” She looks dejected as she tells the story and my heart squeezes in my chest. “Anyway, I started going by Elle for him and he ended up breaking up with me anyway.” She quits messing with the straw and instead takes a bite of the chips and queso. “Everyone I love and care about for the most part calls me Ellie. So I guess it doesn’t really matter what Tom thinks. But he did kind of have a point. Elle does seem a bit more professional than Ellie. And well it is my given name and whatnot.”
I decide that if I ever meet this Tom, I’m kicking his ass. It doesn’t escape me however that she says everyone she cares about calls her Ellie. I still call her Ellie. The thought warms me. “Well Ellie,” I say to change the subject, “do we want dessert?”
“We have to split it if we do, I’m stuffed. But I will never say no to fried ice cream.”
“A woman after my own heart.” I grin as I place the order for fried ice cream.
As we wait for dessert the two of us continue to catch up after so long apart.
She tells me about her best friend Sadie, her friend Violet who has made a living with her art degree actually creating art. She tells me about her cat, who sounds like he might be a mythical being stuck in a cat’s body. I tell her about Ty and the other guys on the team and how we like to have game nights once a month during the off season. We discuss how much we both dislike last season of The Office. Our conversation redirects to Old Mill Brewing, a craft brewery that opened up a few years ago. We both really like it and hope it stays around.
The server places the fried ice cream in front of us with two spoons and we eagerly dig in. Once we finish our dessert, I discreetly pay the server. “Want to go for a walk along the river?” I ask, I really hope she says yes. It’s been a great evening and the weather is perfect.
“I would love to!” Elle says as she takes the arm, I hold out for her. “What do you do on weekends when you don’t have a game?” She asks as we meander through the riverside park that is across the street from the taqueria.
“Usually, I spend it decompressing. Like I said I like to play fantasy RPGs, I read about pirates. I also wanted to pick up a legit hobby, my grandma offered to teach me to crochet. That didn’t last long though.” I feel the tips of my ears burning, which means they are more than likely pink, which tells me that I’m embarrassed. I don’t know what I’m embarrassed about considering I feel like she knows more about my quirks than most people, save formaybe Ty and my parents.
After our short walk, we both admit it’s time to end the night, she has school the next day and I have an early morning appointment with Dr. Mondary.
Chapter 6
