Page 27 of The Funnel to You

Fifteen minutes later we are settled in at Olive Garden enjoying breadsticks and people-watching. I may have made sure to plan this for when they were doing the endless soup and pasta this week for the date night. Sasha loves carbs and isn’t afraid to order what she likes, and I absolutely love this. Over an hour goes by of us talking and laughing and I find it is so easy to get out of my shell with her. She is so easy to talk to, and not just behind a screen. I feel like I already knew her before tonight, but seeing her relax and just be present with me is amazing.

“I so needed this.” She admits as she uses a breadstick to sop up the rest of the sauce in her bowl. “It’s been crazy since Ashley went back to school and I needed a night to just not be ‘on’. Does that make sense?”

“It definitely does. I’ve been waiting for a good time to take you out and just let you have a night to enjoy yourself. Where do you want to head to go watch something? Or is there something else you want to do?”

Her eyes light up as she connects with mine – “Boba?”

After finding a place that is still open with Boba, we head back to Home Depot to grab my car then off to my house to watch something before we call it a night.

“So, this is the first time I’m at your place, Matt. It’s honestly exactly what I expected.” She says to me as I let her inside and then make my way in after her.

I have a simple layout space, and I like to keep it clean. My kitchen is an open concept style opening up to a breakfast nook area that I’ve turned into my full dining area. My living space has a couch, a comfy chair, and a massive rug on the floor in front of a wood-burning fireplace. The floors out here are plank flooring that looks like real wood, but definitely isn’t. The dark color shows quite a bit of dust so I stay on top of cleaning, but it contrasts nicely with the light green walls and my throw blankets on the couch. Ashley made sure I had plenty of “cuddle fabrics” at the apartment for when she comes to visit me. Down the hall I have a full bath in the hallway, my office, and then my bedroom that also has an ensuite. The office has a couch that converts to a bed for when I have friends over. All in all, it suits me well and I’m close to pretty much everything I need.

I haven’t quite decided on what I am going to put on my walls, so right now it’s pretty stereotypical with cityscapes and mountain pictures that my parents have found for me at the farmers market. My office has some neat schematics of different sci-fi ships and stations – it’s where I let my inner geek out to play. But out in my main spaces, you have to look closer to find those parts of me.

I have mini Spiderman figures and symbols all over the place, you just have to know where to look. I smile as I notice Sasha finding a few as she peruses my bookshelf and window sills. The planters with my succulents have little figurines inside of them holding up the plants. Well, at least it looks that way. The throw pillow on my couch is black against the grey couch, but the pattern on it is a web if you look close enough to see. I have several book ends that are nods to Spiderman in other ways too and Sasha chuckles lightly as she sees those.

“So, there is a geek inside there somewhere, isn’t there?” She asks me as she grabs her water bottle then heads to the couch. She looks right at home as she grabs the oversized throw blanket and cuddles up underneath it. “What are we going to watch tonight?”

“I am glad my geekiness doesn’t offend you. I try to keep it kind of subtle out here so I don’t come across like a six-year-old obsessed with their favorite superhero. I have several streaming services, so whatever you want to watch, we can probably make that happen.” I tell her as I sit next to her on the couch, leaving plenty of space between us, even with her feet curled up beside her.

“I don’t want to have to pay attention too closely to anything today if that is okay. I want to be able to zone out a bit so maybe something we have seen already – are you opposed to a Disney movie?”

“How does Big Hero Six sound?” I grab the remote and start making my way to the appropriate app on the TV.

“Absolutely perfect.” She responds with a smile.

An hour or so later, I’ve popped popcorn and we are halfway watching the movie and halfway chatting. I’m impressing her (at least I hope that is what I am doing) with the little Easter Eggs throughout the movie nodding to other Disney movies or Marvel characters. At some point, she stretched out a bit so I was able to grab her feet and put them on my lap and start giving her a bit of a foot rub.

“Is this okay?” I ask her as I start tentatively rubbing the soles of her feet.

She groans softly. “It is very okay. Standing on concrete for nine hours today is not kind to my feet.” I chuckle back at her as I rub her feet and ankles, taking my time to work out the sore spots and help her relax a bit. I make a mental note to start researching more supportive shoes that she can wear that will still go with her style. And maybe some at home oils or soaks that would help too.

By the time the movie is over, she is fully laying out on the couch, her legs spread across mine and a lazy smile on her face.

“Feeling better?” I ask her and she nods back at me, her hair a bit messy from being up against the couch and in the blanket. “Do you want me to follow you home or do you want to hang out for a bit longer?” It’s fast approaching midnight and I don’t want to push my luck tonight. This is new and I don’t want to pressure her at all. But I definitely wouldn’t mind a little more time with her so close to me like this.

“I should probably head home. This was amazing, but I want to get some content prepped in the morning. Oh, or maybe we can go for a hike and then work on content when it warms up?” She suggests as she stands up. She folds the throw blanket and places it back on the couch as we walk towards the kitchen.

“Sounds good. I can pick you up at your place at seven and then we can head out?”

“That will be perfect. We should be able to grab breakfast on the way up if that works,” She smiles at me. I know she has been wanting to go hiking this summer, but with all that we have been working on, we haven’t had the time to devote to it like we wanted. Normally I go out a few times a week in the summer rotating between Horsetooth trails and some of the others in the area. And I usually finish off the summer doing the incline at least five times and I haven’t been down there once this year.

“Perfect.” I agree with her as we head towards the door. I unlock it and open it as Sasha shrugs on her cardigan and puts her things back in her purse.

“This was an amazing night, Matt. Thanks for the low-key evening. I really enjoyed it.” She smiles up at me in the doorway.

“Text me when you get home, okay? I want to make sure you make it home safely.”

“Will do. Thanks again, Matt.” She stops and lingers for a moment. Waiting.

“Am I allowed to kiss you goodnight, Sasha?” I ask her quietly, as I lean in a little bit, so my voice is almost a whisper. I hold my eyes on hers as I wait for a response and her shy smile tells me it’s probably a ‘yes’ but I want to make sure before I assume and get smacked in the face. It’s been a long time since I’ve attempted to date anyone, and I don’t want to ruin this.

She doesn’t respond with words. Instead, she steps a little closer to me and goes up on her tiptoes as she places a tentative kiss on my lips. Her right-hand rests on my shoulder and mine comes to her waist to keep her steady. The touch is soft, almost barely there, but the reaction is immediate. I smile up against her lips and then place my other hand softly on her neck, brushing her hair with my fingertips. I lean in again and press my lips to hers. I take the reins this time. It’s not hard or desperate. It’s soft and intimate and just us. I take in her scent of berries and bits of wood that lingers from her day at the store. She smells like summer and I hope my blanket smells like this when I go back inside.

A moment later I lessen my hold on her and she steps back. The smile she gives me is one of contentment.

“Goodnight, Matt. I’ll see you in the morning.”

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