He sits on his towel, so I make my way to mine.
“What’s on the menu, sir?” I ask, acting dignified with an accent.
“PB and J.” His expression makes me giggle as he holds up the sandwich in a ziplock baggie. “And”—he sticks his finger in the air before he takes out one item at a time—“a fruit cup, chips, and”—he pauses for dramatic effect before he pulls the last item out—“a White Claw, just for you.”
“My dream lunch!” I celebrate overdramatically, but I’m being honest. This is just my type of food, especially with the White Claw to top it off.
We sit on our own towels while we talk and eat our lunch. Every second that passes by, I feel more comfortable with him. He tells me about his time in the minor leagues—holy hell, I had no idea how crazy that could be—and then I tell him about why I went into teaching.
Afterward, we go to the water, and he teaches me how to skip rocks. We take off our shoes and stick our feet in the lake. With the sun on our backs, the cool water actually feels good.
We spend all day like that, together yet apart.
When I realize it’s Thursday, I have to pause and reflect. Talk about finding the bright side to a really shitty situation. On any other day, I would be walking out of my classroom, heading home and trying to figure out what to do for dinner, all while being alone.
Now, here I am with a guy I’m really starting to fall for, lying next to a lake and feeling happier than ever. Funny how the world works.
Would Drew have even opened up his Tinder app if it weren’t for this quarantine? Probably not. He’d be playing baseball, traveling to who knows where.
It’s hard to be thankful for such a horrible situation, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t at least think that. I guess everything happens for a reason, and for me, this was the universe’s way of introducing me to Drew.
I tilt my head and say a silent thank-you to whoever is listening before turning my attention back to the gorgeous man sitting eight feet away.
8
Day 8
April 3
My new favorite song blares through my phone, and I clap myself on the back for changing Drew’s ringtone.
“Well, good morning,” I sing into the phone.
“Good morning, sunshine. What are you up to?” he asks, sounding so upbeat that I can’t help but smile bigger.
“You’ll never guess what I just did.”
“What?” he says like a kid who’s dying to know a really big secret.
“I went for a run. All by myself!” I say so proudly that I could burst.
He laughs under his breath. “You did not,” he says in disbelief.
“I totally did.”
“I have to admit, I’m proud of you. Good job.”
“I had to! I was watching that showWAGSlast night, and it got me thinking. If this really goes somewhere between us and I’m going to date a Major League Baseball player, I have to step up my game to be able to fight off any girls who think they can take my spot.”
There it is. That deep belly laugh I love on him so much.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“Have youseenthat show?” I ask, dramatically. “Bitches be crazy when it comes to their men. Are you forgetting I’m just a little ole elementary teacher over here?”
“Sharee, you’re more than any one of those girls or the other girls I’ve ever met.”
I normally come back with something snarky or playful, but in this moment, I’m speechless. Hearing him say that melts my heart.
