“Well, I’m sure for someone like you that would be true. I prefer to eat at venues where televisions are not an integral part of the décor. But I can’t imagine you’d understand.”
In truth, she loved Tulip's with its relaxed atmosphere and no fuss bar food and hated the role she was playing. She could tell Jimmy was affected by her snooty impersonation with the way his tone had lost its humor and his brow furrowed. How long would she have to keep this up before he quit and took her home? Was that really what she wanted? He’d cleaned himself up for her. His face looked freshly shaven and soft. His jeans weren’t the raggedy ones he wore to work, but crisp and new. And his red collared shirt fit snug, showing off his strong arms, muscled chest, and deep tan. He looked good grungy, but was irresistible in his date clothes.
They arrived at the restaurant and found a parking spot along the street. Lily waited for Jimmy to open her door. After stepping out, she exaggerated the need to dust herself off and straighten her outfit. She said, “I’ll need to wash my hands before eating,” and approached the entrance with arms bent at the elbow and hands raised like a surgeon before an operation. “I’ll just be a minute. Could you ask for a seat in the back? I wouldn’t want anyone to see me.”
Jimmy watched her head for the bathroom, dodging people and chairs. Friends saw him, called out, waved, but shot him a questioning look as Lily paraded by. He shrugged and pretended to laugh it off. He asked for a private table, and the hostess, who was also related, gave him a booth in the back. If Lily insisted on keeping up this performance, perhaps it was best that there’d be limited witnesses. He decided he’d play nice from now on and maybe she’d do the same.
After washing her hands and giving herself a pep talk in the mirror, it's for the best, it's for the best, she decided to see this performance through to the end. She was doing both of them a favor by ending things now. She spied him in the back corner in a spot that looked secluded and cozy, not the effect she was going for. He smiled his big hunky smile and she felt her resolve slip a little more. Think bitchy. Think bitchy.
“This chair is filthy. I can’t sit here.”
Jimmy stood. “Here, take mine. I wouldn’t want you to get your work clothes messed up.”
Lily sat, awkward and stiff like she was balancing on an egg, and waited for the arrival of their waitress.
“Hi, folks. I’m Tammy. Welcome to Tulip’s. Can I get you some drinks?” All smiles and enthusiasm, their waitress handed them each a menu.
Jimmy answered, “Hi Tammy. You must be the new waitress Tulip hired.”
“Well, yes sir. This is my first week.”
“So, how do you like it so far?”
“I like it very much. This is my first job. I’m saving up money to go to college and everybody’s been real nice.”
“Glad to hear it. I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Why don’t you bring me a beer to get started?”
“Yes, sir, and for the lady?”
Tammy's perky pony tail and trusting eyes almost caused Lily to abort her entire mission. Hesitating, Lily’s evil twin answered, “I’d like water in a clean glass. Check it for spots. I’ll send it back if it’s dirty. And I’ll need a new menu; this one is disgusting.”
Tammy’s smile drooped. “Yes, miss. Right away, miss.” She took the menu and hurried off.
Lily avoided Jimmy’s suspicious looks by inspecting, arranging, and re-arranging the condiments on the table. She detested herself and time's slow tick. When their now anxious waitress delivered their drinks and swore that she'd washed and dried the water glass and menu herself, Lily all but choked on her mounting guilt.
Jimmy had himself nearly convinced while he stared past the menu that he’d misjudged Lily. She no longer appeared to be the shy, beautiful woman that he’d imagined coaxing out of her shell and into his life with some good-natured teasing. What had started out as a sassy exchange back at the library parking lot now felt more like a viper attack. This wasn’t fun anymore. Not in the habit of giving up, he decided to give it another shot.
Jimmy asked, “How ‘bout we split a pizza? They have great pizzas, too.”
“I don’t eat pizza.”
He dropped his menu. “We had pizza at your house a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen you eat it. We could do a large pepperoni. How does that sound?”
“No, thank you. I don’t eat anything with a face. It’s quite uncivilized.”
“Really? Provincial and uncivilized? That night we ate pepperoni pizza.”
“I picked them off.”
“No you didn’t. I was sitting right there watching you.” Jimmy leaned toward her, daring her to keep going.
“Well then…” Lily searched her mind for a good come back. Tense and exhausted from this charade, she blurted, “I ate around it.”
Jimmy let out a deep laugh and relaxed back in his chair. That proved it; he’d been a one man audience for Lily’s one woman show. “Come on now, that’s a load of crap and you know it. I’d like to see it though. You’d probably make yourself one big mess and still be hungry to boot. We’ll order a pizza. I bet all this actin' has made you work up an appetite. I have to admit I almost bought that nasty girl stuff.”
Defeated and miserable, but glad the game was over; Lily slumped in her chair. It was time for plan B, the truth, or some uncomplicated version of it.
Tammy returned to take their order and Jimmy asked for a half cheese and half pepperoni pizza with two side salads. After she left, he reached for Lily’s fidgeting hands and urged, “I’ll play nice if you’ll play nice. I’d like very much to get to know you better. Can we start over?”
His voice sounded warm and inviting, his hands calloused and strong, and for a moment she imagined herself giving in completely. She wondered what it would be like to let herself want something or someone, to start over. Since the day her father dropped her off at the children’s home, her faith in people, in love, in relationships had vanished. She couldn’t trust her dad or her sister to return her love; she decided long ago no one else would get the chance. She liked Jimmy, but there was no point in pretending she could be more than she was.
Lily slipped her hands away from his. “Jimmy, this isn’t going to work. I like you, but this would end badly. It always does. I don’t want to hurt you. Friendship is all I can offer.”
“Darlin’, I’m a big boy. I’m guessing you can’t do any permanent damage. Besides, I like a challenge." He winked. "After getting a little taste of what you feel like under those clothes, friendship ain’t enough.”
She ignored his last comment and willed the rising heat inside her to stay buried. He'd changed tactics and was playing the part of seducer, but his nice guy grin exposed the truth. “Jimmy, you’re not listening. I can’t…”
“Now Lily, you’re over-thinking this whole thing. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and stop things before they’ve had a chance to start. I’m just asking to share a pizza with you tonight.” A mischievous grin appeared. “We'll talk about what else we're gonna share, later.”
Lily took the bait and snapped, “Damn it!”
Arriving with salads in hand at that same moment, Tammy assumed Lily’s anger was directed at her. She dropped the food on the table and ran off crying.
Jimmy and Lily watched their distraught waitress disappear behind the kitchen doors. He snickered, “Oh, you are in big trouble now. Tulip gets mighty upset when her staff’s harassed.”
Lily didn’t even get a chance to defend herself before up to their table stormed a woman as big around as she was tall, wielding a wooden spoon and dressed in an apron smudged with sauce. By the murderous look on the woman’s face, had this been a crime scene and not a restaurant, Lily could have easily believed that was blood on her clothes.
“Jimmy, what’s this all about? I’ve got a crying little girl in that kitchen who says your lady friend here cussed at her. You’ve always been a good customer. I’d hate to throw you out on your keister, but I will if you can’t keep he
r in line.” She glared at Lily.
“Ah, Tulip, she was cussin’ at me, not Tammy. She misunderstood that’s all. I told a joke but Lily here didn’t think it was too funny. Send her back out here with that pizza. I’ll make it right and give her a big tip, too.”
Satisfied, Tulip harrumphed and turned toward the kitchen. But before disappearing behind flapping doors, she called, “And make that lady friend of yours watch her mouth.”
Tammy reappeared with pizza in hand and puffy red eyes. Jimmy helped her find a place for the food and apologized for his friend’s rudeness, winking at Lily. Soon, he had Tammy talking about her high school friends and teachers, many of whom he knew, like nothing had been amiss only minutes before. Feelings mended, she bounced off to serve another table.
Jimmy reached for a slice. “Now that our mess is cleaned up, let’s eat. I’m so hungry I could eat the ass off a porcupine.”
“Watch your mouth,” Lily parroted. She was feeling better, like a release valve had been hit and the tension she'd been manufacturing evaporated. She'd surrendered to Jimmy's charms for tonight, like Tulip, like Tammy.
Jimmy filled his plate with pepperoni pizza and grabbed for the jar of hot pepper flakes. As he turned his wrist to sprinkle the flakes, the lid fell off and the half-full jar emptied itself. He looked up to see Lily attempting to stifle a giggle.
He asked with one brow raised, “You did this?”
She could only mouth the word, "No," as she shook with laughter.
He’d never heard her laugh before, not a big, full laugh that started in her belly and warmed her emerald eyes. He was mesmerized. With peace declared between them, he was determined more than ever to have her.
He tapped the hot flakes from a slice, but it was still heavily covered, sticking to the oil and cheese. He exhaled and opened wide.
Lily gasped, “No. You can’t!”
Stopping himself mid-bite, he replied, “I have to. Tulip will never let me eat here again if I waste her pizza.” He took another deep breath. “Pray for me, Lily. I’m going in.”
“Maybe you could eat around it?”
He winked at her again, and took half a slice in his mouth with one chomp. Almost immediately, he flushed and began perspiring. First guzzling his beer, he motioned for Lily to give up her water. By his third bite, her glass was drained, too.
Tulip returned to check on them. “How’s everything tastin’?”
With his mouth full and his face damp, Jimmy gave a thumbs-up.
Tulip grunted her approval and sent Tammy over to fill their glasses.
Lily’s face and stomach hurt from laughing.
Moaning and desperate for relief, Jimmy finished his half of the pizza along with three pitchers of water. Rubbing his belly and wiping his face, he announced, “I need ice cream.”
After putting out the fire in his stomach with some soft serve, he drove them back to campus and this time parked legally. Lily realized during the ride back that she needed to make up her mind about how to execute the “good-bye” part of tonight. She’d let him hold her hand as they walked down Main Street in search of an ice cream stand and she hadn’t objected when he rested his hand on her hip. When she stopped worrying, she found she was content with where he led. She'd happily rode along on Jimmy's current and let him do all the work. No matter how nicely the evening had evolved, her conscience nagged that she needed to end it.
As he opened her door and reached for her, the old fears returned.
She jumped from the truck and raced for the safety of the library, calling over her shoulder, “Thanks for dinner. I forgot a book at my desk I have to go back for. I’ll see you around.”
In a couple of long strides, he caught up. “Oh, no you don’t. You aren’t getting away that easy. I’ll go with you.”
“But Jimmy…,”
“My mother would be mighty disappointed in me, if I didn’t see you home, or at least to your car. Let’s do this thing so I can get my kiss.” He grabbed her hand before she could get away again and walked with her to the entrance.
At least, she’d bought herself a little more time to figure how to let him down easily. Kissing would be a bad idea. If she liked the way his hand felt in hers, she was certain his lips would feel even better. It was best to never know how his kisses felt; then she wouldn’t miss them.
The lights in the Government Documents section of the library were off. Everything was in shadow and creepy. It was Friday night and the building was virtually abandoned. She was grateful for the moment of Jimmy’s company. She hadn’t made up the book excuse. She really had left a book in Simon’s office; however, she could have waited until Monday to get it.
She used her key to unlock the office door and flipped on the lights. Simon appeared out of the darkness with pants down around his ankles, and what she presumed was Judith Davenport sprawled naked across his desk. Lily sucked in her breath, spun around, and bumped into Jimmy’s chest.
He wrapped his arms around her, letting her burrow deeper and called, “Sorry about that, folks. Go ahead and finish up what you started. Looks like fun.” He turned off the lights and closed the door behind them. Keeping a firm hold on the woman cowering against him, he walked back down the stairs and out the exit to the fountain.
They sat together in silence at their usual lunch spot where soft lights leapt across the fountain's surface. The spray unsuccessfully calming Lily's racing thoughts. How would she face Simon on Monday after walking in on that? And seeing… She shuddered. Jimmy's arms were clasped around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest. She felt his body quake, once, twice, .... She looked up. He was laughing.
Lily straightened. “Do you have a knife?”
“Why?”
“I’d like to poke my eyes out with it.”
He chuckled. "Even without your eyes that ain't a picture a person can just forget. No, I fear I'm gonna have nightmares about what I just witnessed for a long time. So I guess that was your boss’s ass I just got a good look at then. He might want to see a barber or maybe a groomer. That’s the hairiest backside I’ve ever seen.”
She couldn't remember ever laughing so hard, ever losing complete control, ever feeling so good. Just when she thought she'd regained her composure, she’d meet Jimmy’s gaze; he’d raise one eyebrow and it would start all over. Once she recovered enough to walk back to the car, she didn’t notice their arms around each other. She'd forgotten to plan her escape.
Jimmy turned to her and cradled her face between his big hands. “That was the strangest date I’ve ever had. But I learned one thing tonight; your smiles warm me like nothing else. I can’t let you run from me like I know you want to. What do you say to us just having some fun for a while?”
She couldn’t think with him so close; his breath teasing her lips, his thumbs stroking her cheeks, his blue eyes soothing her fears. Do I push or pull? Lily’s mouth crossed the distance and gave him his answer as he deepened his request. When the kiss finally ended, she felt the loss of his refuge from her burden and the old worries returned.
8
Kim spun around in Fido when she heard the familiar croak of her roommate's car. She’d rushed home from dinner with friends so she could get the play-by-play from Lily’s first date with Jimmy. Helping plan her roommate's abduction earlier that day had been exciting. Listening to Jimmy gush about Lily and then gush some more about what a good friend Kim was for helping was painful and nauseating. But she’d seen this scenario coming and accepted her role with grace, as always. Soon enough, she’d also know how much trouble she was in for being an accomplice.
The door finally opened and Kim called, “Tell me everything!”
Lily had anticipated this ambush. “Hold your horses. Let me go put some sweats on first.”
Good. She’s not mad. “I’ll go with you.” Kim vaulted from her chair.
“Nope. This is your punishment for being a co-conspirator. You’ll just have to wait.”
Flopping back into F
ido, she moaned, “This is torture.”
“That’s the whole idea.”
Lily decided on the short drive home that making her roommate wait for the details would be revenge enough for her part in tonight. Kim had never interfered in her dating life before, but always relished the debriefing part. Relationship fodder was her sustenance of choice. After feeding Kim the dirt from a date, she’d chew on it for days ---speculating, examining, predicting. Usually, Lily only politely acknowledged Kim’s analysis with a simple nod or a bland "You think so?" But after the kiss she shared with Jimmy, she'd need to pay closer attention to her friend's audit.
Lily took her time changing clothes and when she returned to the living room Kim looked frantic from the enforced delay. Satisfied that the sentence had been served in full, Lily gave her roommate the signal to commence the interrogation.
Kim blurted, “Start at the beginning. Don’t leave anything out. Did you kiss him?”
Lily treated her roommate to the long version, mostly because Kim would have accepted nothing less. The retelling showcased just how ridiculous the whole date had been from start to finish. When Lily got to the part about catching Simon and Judith in the act, Kim wanted more of a visual but Lily refused to comply. She would have liked to end the story there. No surprise, Kim wanted more.
“So did you kiss him?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“It was nice. And that’s all I’m saying.”
“Fine. Be that way,” Kim whined. “Just tell me, are you going to see him again?”
“I think he’ll be hard to ignore.”
This was the sticking point for Lily and only her roommate understood her well enough to know the reasons why. But Lily didn’t know if she needed help running him off or help convincing herself not to. Lying back on the cowboy couch, she hid her face with the bend in her arm. Thinking about how to handle Jimmy made her instantly tired and depressed. She muttered, “I tried to tell him I wasn’t interested and that I could only be his friend, but he wouldn’t listen. He’d change the subject or make me laugh and next thing I knew I’d forgotten I was trying to make a point. I’m almost tempted to tell him everything about my past to keep from dragging the inevitable out. If I can’t avoid him, maybe I can scare him off.”
The Blueprint Page 10