“Sweetie, here’s a little news flash.” Her voice shed a hundred thousand tons. The Mira of old emerged, almost musical in the way she continued, “If she has put up with six, count ’em six, chaperoned dates with you, the lady is hooked.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, yeah. I know.” She paused for a chuckle. “Is she hot?”
“She’s really pretty. Chinese Hawaiian pretty. She’s also older than me. She’ll be seventeen the first week in October.”
Mira laughed again. “She’s hanging out with you and the chaperone, six dates in … how long have you known her?”
“Three weeks almost.”
“Colin, that lady is so totally into you it’s not funny. Actually, it’s hilarious. But you know what I mean.”
“What do Ido?”
“That’s simple. Ask her out. Unchaperoned. See how it flies.”
“What if I mess it up?” He rubbed the hand not holding his phone up and down his pant leg. Trying to erase the fear sweat that beaded everywhere. “What if I …”
“What if you fall in love.”
He nodded. Unable to speak. Hating that it was out there in the open. And loving it.
“Colin, honey, that’s what life is all about. Taking risks.” Her voice fractured then. “Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and there’s nothing you can do about it. And when that happens,ifit happens …”
“What?”
She sniffed. “I have to go. But do it, Colin. Now. Ask her out. And call me when you’re done. I want to know everything.”
So they had a date. The same as with Sofia, and totally different. Colin held to the same routine because at least that much he knew she would enjoy. He drove them to the Cineplex. They took in a film he couldn’t remember a thing about two minutes after they left the cinema. He drove to Nori Asian Fusion on Market. She chatted with the same rapid-fire ease as when Sofia was present. There were no awkward pauses because Tiana did not allow them.
Fun.
Colin called Mira the instant he walked through the apartment door. Voice mail. He didn’t want to leave a message, but on the third try he did just that. Thanked her. Said it went great. Thanked her again.
Mira never called him back.
The following week, Tiana announced, “My aunt and uncle want to meet you.”
Colin had no experience with either dates or their parents, so he said, “Okay.”
“Just like that, okay, the man says. Like he didn’t avoid being alone with me for years.”
“We just met.”
“Whatever. They are inviting you to dinner on Saturday.”
“Sure … Wait, that’s the fifth of August.”
“And once again the math genius is correct.”
“I can’t. I’m … I have plans.”
She did not grow angry. Her face simply went blank. Like a wax mask. “You have another date.”
“No, well, sort of. Not like you’re thinking.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”