Amara waited another several minutes before Hillary arrived and moved to her usual table after getting her coffee. The woman hadn’t looked for Amara when she’d entered. Amara just kept staring at her laptop and knew she’d, yet again, be stuck with only glances at the woman.
“Hi.”
Amara looked up to see Hillary standing right in front of her. She held her breath for a moment and realized she needed to respond.
“Hi.”
“I didn’t see you in class on Tuesday,” Hillary said.
“I dropped the class.”
“I realized that when I saw your name had been removed. I’m supposed to sign off on add/drops, you know?”
“I didn’t drop it, exactly.” Amara realized she’d chosen the wrong word. “I changed sections. The dean signed the form for me.”
“You left my class, but you’re still taking the course?” Hillary asked and appeared to be hurt.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Did I make you uncomfortable last week?”
“No, you didn’t. It doesn’t have to do with that.”
“It doesn’t?” Hillary asked.
“The other section just worked out better with my schedule,” she lied.
“Sure. Okay.” Hillary had been able to see through that lie. “I guess I won’t be seeing you in class, then.”
“No, you won’t.” Amara tried to smile but wasn’t sure why that should make her happy.
“You know what? I can’t do this anymore,” Hillary admitted. “Would you like to go out with me? You’re no longer my student, and we’ve been staring at each other for the better part of a year. I keep running into you, and I can’t think about fate or any of that stuff, but it just seems like we’re supposed to know one another.” She paused. “And I think you’re beautiful.”
Then, Amara realized why she’d been happy at the thought of not seeing Hillary in class anymore: it meant she would no longer be Hillary’s student. She’d changed sections earlier in the week, and she’d known why without being able to admit it to herself until now.
“Okay.” Amara smiled up at the woman.
“Okay, you’re beautiful?” Hillary searched.
Amara laughed and couldn’t help but think Hillary was absolutely adorable.
“Okay, I’ll go out with you.”
“Holy shit!” Hillary exclaimed.
Amara laughed again and gripped her cup with both hands as if to steady herself on her feet, but she was sitting. She’d just said yes to a date with a woman. She’d just said yes to a date with the woman she’d been admiring from afar for so long; a woman she’d touched herself thinking about, despite knowing what her faith taught her about such activities.
“That’s quite a reaction.”
“I guess I wasn’t expecting you to say yes. You left my office so quickly,” Hillary replied.
“I think I was nervous.”
That was an understatement. Her heart was racing at the thought of going on a date with this woman. She had no idea where this could go or if she’d end up hurt at the end, if there was an end.
“But you do want to go out on a date with me?”
Hillary was giving her an out. She could say that maybe they should spend time together as friends first. They could sit at the same table, for once, and get to know one another before either of them committed to a date. That would give her time to see if there was anything here. It would help her figure out what to tell her father and plan the timing. She’d be able to think more, because she needed to think. This was so unexpected. She’d thought about how this might happen between them at least a thousand times. She’d thought she could be brave and ask Hillary to go out with her; the woman had agreed in that fantasy. She’d considered that Hillary could ask her out, and she’d say yes. They’d have an amazing time together. She’d thought about it all; but now that it was actually happening, she had no clue how to react. Then, she watched Hillary’s eyes flicker with concern, and she did know.
“I do want to go out with you,” she confirmed.
CHAPTER 10
Hillary didn’t know what to do then. She’d gone to the café with the intention of working, as always, but something had gotten into her. Maybe it was the comments made by her friends on Sunday, or maybe she was just tired of being a coward and not asking this woman out. She remained standing in front of Amara like an idiot, because she didn’t know if she should return to her table and work, or if since they were now going on a date, she should sit with Amara, and they could talk or maybe just work side by side.
“When do you want to go out?” Amara asked.
“I’m pretty much free whenever,” she announced and hoped it didn’t sound like she had no life.
“Me too.” Amara lowered her head to her laptop, and then her eyes met Hillary’s.
“Tonight? Is tonight too soon?” Hillary asked.
“No, it’s not.” Amara seemed just as eager.
“I can pick you up.”
“No,” Amara replied immediately. “I live outside the city. It’s a drive.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I can just meet you somewhere.”
“I get it. I do the same thing on first dates, too.”
“It’s not that.” Amara seemed to stop herself from whatever she was about to say and offered instead, “I can pick you up.”
Hillary’s smile widened, and she replied, “Sure. I’ll give you my address.”
“Okay.”
“And probably my phone number would help, too.” She chuckled.
“You could also sit down.” Amara motioned with her hand to the empty chair across from her.
Hillary sat. Amara took out her phone and entered the number Hillary gave her, along with adding her address to the contact. Then, they sat in silence for a few moments.
“Six or seven?”
“Sorry?” Amara met her eyes.
“Tonight? Six or seven?”
“Oh, either.” She smiled. “Where do you want to go? Do you pick the place, or do I pick the place?” she asked quickly.
“I don’t think there’s a rule either way,” Hillary jested. “We could both just think about it and text ideas back and forth.”
“Okay. I’m done with work at four today.”
“My last class is over at three. Gives us both time to run home and get ready.”
“Okay.”
Hillary wasn’t sure how many times Amara had said ‘okay’ since she’d approached, but she knew it was a lot. Amara appeared just as nervous as she felt. There was something about this moment between them that had them both understanding the importance of it.
“I’ll have some papers to grade,” Hillary said after yet another long moment. “Can I maybe grade them here?”
“Of course.” Amara smiled at her and moved her laptop closer to herself to give Hillary space at the table. “I’d like that.”
◆◆◆
“I need your help.” Hillary called Keira in between her classes.
“Hello to you, too, Hill.”
“Keira, I’m serious.”
“Are you okay?” Keira asked.
“No, I am not okay. I’m going on a date with Amara. And like a dumbass, I suggested we do it tonight, because I’ve waited so long. I couldn’t just wait for the weekend and give myself time to think about what we’d do. What the hell is wrong with me?”
“Hold on… You’re going on a date with Amara? When did this happen?”
“This morning.”
“I’m so happy for you, Hill. Who asked whom?”
“I asked her.”
“Then, I’m proud of you, too.”
“Keira, I need help. This is our first date. It has to be amazing.”
“I’m sure it will be. Lord knows you two have waited long enough.”
“I need something different. I don’t want to just do dinner and a movie.”
“This is San Francisco; there are a
million things you can do.”
“Help me figure out one?” she asked.
“Why me?”
“You’re an event planner. This is an event.”
“Hey, when you need your wedding to Amara planned, come find me. This is a date. A little different, don’t you think?”
“Keira, I’m freaking out.” Hillary leaned back in her chair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous for a date before.”
“Calm down, Hill. It’s only a date. Don’t build it up so much in your mind that you mess it all up.”
“I wouldn’t be if you guys hadn’t been giving me such a hard time about this forever.”
“Then, I’ll apologize for all of us. I’m sorry if we’ve made you nervous about this, but she’s just a woman, and it’s just a date.”
“She is not just a woman. She’s gorgeous, Keira.”
“So are you, Hillary.”
“What do I do?”
“Give me an hour to do some research. I’ll send you some possibilities.”
“You’re the best. Thank you.”
“I’ll add this charge to your bill.”
“What bill?”
“For when I plan that wedding reception.”
◆◆◆
“Hey, come on in.” Hillary motioned for Amara to enter her apartment. “I just need to grab my jacket.”
Hillary was beyond nervous. She hadn’t even laid eyes on Amara for more than an instant before lowering them to the doorknob and ushering her in. She was already ruining this date, and it hadn’t even started yet.
“Your apartment is nice,” Amara complimented.
“Thank you.”
Amara walked in. Hillary made her way toward the closet where she withdrew her jacket. She slid it over her shoulders before moving to the counter in the kitchen where she’d placed something earlier.
“So, I hope I’m dressed okay for this surprise outing tonight.”
“You look great.” Hillary emerged from the kitchen and took Amara in. She was wearing dark skinny jeans, with a light blue jacket and belt looped at her stomach to keep it closed. “I got these for you.”
Hillary held out a bouquet of daffodils. She passed it to Amara, who sniffed them delightedly.
“Thank you,” she breathed out.
“They mean new beginnings, according to the florist I got them from. I thought we could put them in water before we go. I got a vase.” She motioned back into the kitchen. “If you want to sit or something while I–”
“Can I just come with you?” Amara asked and lowered the flowers. “Should I have brought you flowers?” she asked as she looked down at the bundle in her hands. “I picked you up; I should have brought you flowers. I didn’t have time to stop before–”
“You didn’t have to bring me flowers, Amara.”
“I should have, though.”
“You could maybe bring me flowers for our second date,” Hillary suggested with a heart now beating out of her chest.
Amara smiled wide and then looked hesitant. Hillary worried she’d overstepped, until Amara nodded with a shyer smile. They walked into the kitchen in order for Hillary to place the flowers in water.
“How long have you lived here?” Amara asked.
“A few years. It’s close to campus, and they don’t raise the rent too much each time my lease is up.”
“That’s nice.”
“I have to confess something.” Hillary moved the vase with the flowers to the small round dining room table just off to the right of her equally as small kitchen.
“Oh?”
“I kind of called in a favor for tonight,” Hillary said.
“What do you mean?”
“I asked a friend to help me plan this date. She came up with the surprise.”
“Really?”
This seemed to please Amara, which pleased Hillary in return as she made her way toward the front door, with Amara following close behind.
“You’ve seen her around. She’s one of the women who sometimes come to the café with me. Her name’s Keira. She’s an event planner. I thought maybe she could help me figure out what to do tonight.”
“You asked an event planner to help plan a date?”
Hillary took a risk as she closed and locked her door behind them. She placed her hand on the small of Amara’s back and turned them toward the elevator, leaving the hand there as they walked.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this chance. I didn’t want to blow it.”
When the elevator arrived, she lightly pressed Amara’s back, and they moved inside.
“That’s sweet. You’re sweet.”
“I’m nervous. Nervousness took over when you actually said yes today.”
“And it’s still around?” Amara turned her head to her.
“Yes.”
“I’m nervous, too.”
“Yeah?”
“It might help my nerves if I knew where we were going. It also might help my sense of direction; I’m driving.”
“Leave your car here. We’ll take mine. I’ll keep my secret for a bit longer if you don’t mind.” She gave Amara a wicked smile.
◆◆◆
“We’re at Fisherman’s Wharf?”
Amara looked around as Hillary managed to park her car in a relatively close spot to their destination.
“We are. You ready?” Hillary turned and smiled at her before opening her own door.
“Are we eating here? I don’t think I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant at the wharf.”
Amara joined her on the sidewalk. They faced the water and the many businesses that lined the coast of the bay.
“We’re not,” Hillary began. “I wanted to do something special tonight. I have no idea what’s going to happen between us, but I thought a nice night on the water might be a good place to start.”
“On the water?”
Hillary pointed at the ship off to the right. The passengers were boarding to soft jazz background music playing from its speakers.
“We’re going on a cruise?”
“It’s a sunset cruise. Is that okay? There’s a bar and appetizers. I don’t know if you’re a vegetarian. I looked at the menu earlier. They had spinach puff pastry things and an antipasto platter if you are though.”
“I’m not,” she replied, turning to Hillary with a smile. “This is amazing.”
“I hope you don’t get seasick.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Amara shrugged.
“You’ve never been on a big boat like this before?”
“The closest I’d come was a canoe during church camp when I was ten.”
“Then, this should be an experience.” Hillary chuckled. “We don’t have to do this. We can just find a restaurant.”
“I want to. This is already the best first date I’ve ever had.” Amara smiled again in Hillary’s direction.
Hillary was certain she could look at that smile forever.
“We’ll watch the sunset as we head toward the Marin Headlands and past the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ll see Alcatraz and Angel Island. On the way back, we’ll see the Presidio and Fort Mason. It’s only two hours, but it’s supposed to be very nice,” she explained as they crossed the street.
They walked up the boarding plank to the ship where Hillary pulled out her phone, opened her email, and the attendant scanned the tickets.
“Welcome aboard,” he told them. “Lower level has inside viewing and heat, along with the bar and bathrooms. Upper level is outdoor seating. No seats are assigned; feel free to roam around.”
“Thank you,” Amara replied.
They made their way inside the small cruise ship. Hillary resisted the impulse and urge to take Amara’s hand. The ship was scheduled to leave in five minutes and was only about half-full, by the looks of it.
“Inside or out?” Hillary asked.
“Out for now?”
“Sure,” Hillary agreed. “Do you want a drink first? Beer? Wine?”
<
br /> “Water?”
“One sec.”
Hillary made her way to the bar while Amara stood off to the side. Hillary ordered water for Amara and coffee for herself. As much as she wanted wine to help calm her nerves, she wasn’t sure how the sea would affect her. It had been a long time since she’d taken a cruise. She handed Amara her water, and they made their way up the staircase to the outdoor seating where they found a cushioned booth that lined the majority of the exterior of the ship and rows of bench seating with a smattering of tables bolted to the floor.
“Where do you want to sit?” Amara asked her.
“Anywhere is fine.”
“On the outside, so we can see the most?”
Hillary nodded with a smile toward the cushioned bench near the front of the ship. They sat next to one another, placing their drinks in the cup holders provided. And they both remained silent for many moments as others joined them up top and the music played softly in the background. Hillary wanted to look at the sights, but she couldn’t take her eyes off a very excited and happy Amara. Her hair was pulled back as usual, but she’d only pulled up half this time. She’d left the lower half down and pulled the top portion together, braiding it. She looked gorgeous and totally out of Hillary’s league.
“I guess we’re about to take off,” Hillary commented once the captain made the announcement for all passengers to board and Amara turned to her with a smile. “What are you thinking about right now?”
Amara seemed surprised by that question. Hillary couldn’t help herself. She reached out and placed her hand on top of Amara’s that had been lying between them on the bench. Amara looked down at their hands for several moments before she looked up to meet Hillary’s eyes.
“The time I first saw you in the café,” she finally replied.
“Really?”
“I’d never been there before. I felt like doing something spontaneous and decided to grab some coffee and work in the café. You walked in, and I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” She smiled at Hillary but still appeared nervous. “It was easier to stare at you back then; you hadn’t notice me yet.”
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