Page 84 of Third Time Lucky

‘I want to romance this woman, Aaron, not do her in the back seat of my car.’

He mocks me under his breath, sounding nothing like me at all. ‘Fine, Mr Romantic, let’s brainstorm. How about a hot air balloon ride at sunset? Or a hike to a private waterfall for a picnic? Multnomah Falls!’

I shake my head. ‘It’s not a proposal; it’s a first date.’

‘You said big,’ he argues.

‘I meant, first date big, and I really like her but don’t want to go so big I’ll never top it. What else you got?’

Aaron’s eyes light up with an idea. ‘What about a pottery class? You could recreate that scene fromGhost?’

‘Ghost? You spent too much time with Mom as a child.’

He nods enthusiastically. ‘Dude, the eighties were awesome and Swayze was a God.’

‘You never lived through the eighties,’ I remind him.

‘My God, you’re lame,’ he says with disappointment. ‘The best part of having Gen X parents was the eighties nostalgia they brought with them. Back when McDonald’s sold copies ofGhostin the nineties, Mom bought one on VHS. She’s still got it, and it is worn.’

‘Yes, I’m aware that our mother still watches VHS in twenty twenty-five. But it’s never been my decade. The only eighties movies I’ve seen are the ones you’ve forced me to watch,’ I admit.

‘Ugh,’ he groans. ‘You missed so much good shit. Wear your tightest pants, sit behind her, and help her with the pottery wheel. And don’t forget to channel your inner Swayze.’

‘Eh, no Swayze. In fact, if we can steer clear of anything requiring tight pants or the eighties, that’d be great.’

‘You’re so dull,’ he laments with a heavy sigh. ‘How about something adventurous like a nighttime kayaking tour on the Willamette River?’ he suggests eagerly. ‘You can see the city lights from a whole new perspective, and it’s pretty romantic if you ask me.’

‘Wedid that once,’ I remind him. ‘Atyourinsistence. Did I miss a big sign there?’

‘Actually, never mind. Scratch that thought – it’s definitely not romantic. More of a brother sport. Especially when one of us ends up drunkenly falling overboard.’ He taps his fingers against the door frame while contemplating.

For the record, the drunk man overboard was him. I had to fish him out with an oar when he was too scared to get back in his boat because he felt something swim against his leg and was sure it was a shark (in a river). I tied the two kayaks together while he sat uncomfortably close, shivering the whole way back to shore. Nope, don’t want to relive that with a woman.

‘What about a wine and paint night?’ he suggests. ‘Girls love wine and crafty shit. Plus, you can unleash your artistic side – paint one another, naked – and share a laugh over each other’s masterpieces.’

‘Why’s everything gotta be naked with you?’

He shrugs. ‘Naked’s more fun.’

It wasn’t fun the time I walked into his apartment and found him nakedly attempting to unclog the toilet, but his suggestion sparks an idea.

‘Actually, remember the idea we had to graffiti one of the walls in the dining room?’

‘Yeah…’ Aaron says.

‘What would you think of me hiring someone who lets Lucy and me help as our date? Two birds, one stone, it’s crafty, and I have boxes of the best wine.’

‘Yeah, do it. But pay for the wine ’cause half that shit is mine. Then, bring her to the roof for a romantic picnic under the stars. I’m not done up there quite yet but close. You can tell me what else it needs.’

Aaron designed our rooftop as a private dining experience for small parties and couples. I’m completely out of the loop and don’t even go up unless he’s invited me. This part is entirely his baby. A romantic date night hot spot – maybe he does have that romantic bone.

Suddenly, a thought pops into his head. He raises a finger and points it in my direction.

‘I just remembered something. I recall Madi mentioning that they sometimes like to have dessert and cocktails for dinner.’

‘You listened when a woman spoke?’

‘Sometimes, I’m a gentleman,’ he rebukes.

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