She lets out a sigh. “Okay.”
“I want to take you to the movies. I want to take you on a real date. I wanted to spend the whole day withyou.”
“Okay…”
“I likeyou.”
I look forward at the rain hitting the windshield. It’s nearly dinner time and it’s still full daylight out. I need this day toend.
Ebie doesn’t say anything for a while. When I glance back over at her, she’s facing forward. I wonder how long the two of us can sit there pretending I didn’t just tell her I have real feelings for her like some stupid kid who just confessed his undying love to the first girl hekissed.
Five minutes. We sit there in complete silence for five minutes. Five minutes is a long damntime.
Finally I feel Ebie turn to me. “You’re tired. So let’s not goout.”
“Isaid—”
“Wait. Just hear me out. Where’s your favorite place to eat around here? That’s not that cafe. Where would you take me and do theydeliver?”
“I would take you to this Italian place I like calledAndeloni’s.”
“Okay and what do you like to getthere?”
“I usually get a familycalzone.”
“And I bet you can eat the whole family sized thing yourself. Theydeliver?”
“Yes.
“Okay. Let’s go back to the house. You take a hot shower. Wash this long day off. We’ll get in our jammies, order takeout and watch a movie. I’m pretty sure I saw a television in the family room. That is a perfectly good date night in. There’s no point in going into town if you’re actually tired. Neither of us will enjoythat.”
She has a good point. I don’t really want to go anywhere. I just want to be with her. “I felt bad making you hang around the farm the last fewdays.”
“Well you said you take Sundays off right? So I’ll Yelp us a little brunch spot and you can show me around town. There is a town,right?”
“Yeah there’s atown.”
“Sorry, I’m city people. This is all very confusing to me. But how does that plan sound? Two dates for the price ofone.”
“Yeah, thatworks.”
“Okay. Let’s do it.” Decision made, I back out of the lot and head back to myplace.
“I’m gonna pull up this Andeloni’s place and look at the menu,” shesays.
“The calzone is all you’re gonnawant.”
“Why? Is the rest of the food gross?” sheasks.
“No, ’cause you can get basically everything on their menu in calzone form. Why not addbread?”
“No, no, you’re right. I enjoy a quality calzone. You never go down to the city, doyou?”
“No.”
“Right. Scott. Well if you ever do, I’ll take you to my favorite Italianspot.”
I don’t say anything. We both know that’s not going to happen. Ebie seems to get it. She keeps her eyes on her phone. After a few seconds, though, she says myname.