Page 14 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
Chapter Six
Jay
In the bright light of day, it’s easy to see what appeals to Kate about this neighborhood. I arrived early for our lunch date, a little too early. I’ve been sitting in the park across the road for the past twenty minutes, taking in the scenery and people watching. There seems to mostly be a mix of college students and young, working professionals in her complex. I’ve also seen a handful of people walking dogs, one couple with a stroller, and an elderly woman being escorted from one of the first floor apartments to a waiting van with the local senior center logo on the side.
The most obvious characteristic is that it’s rich. Aside from maybe ten cars in the parking lot, they’re all expensive sports cars, luxury vehicles, high-end sedans and classy SUVs—Kate’s car included. One of the many reminders that this girl is completely out of my league. I know from her letters that her mother is a lawyer and her father is some kind of doctor—a plastic surgeon maybe? So it’s obvious she comes from money. Hell, even the car that broke down years ago had been a Mercedes.
I’m sitting at the same picnic table we sat at last night, only I’m backwards on the bench and leaning back against the table. I have a straight view to her apartment from here, so I’ll be able to see when she comes out. This spot seemed like a better place to wait than in direct sunlight in the parking lot. I wasn’t sure if she’d want me to knock on her door. A guy who looks like me—biker boots, worn jeans, plain t-shirt, and sleeves of tattoos—in a place like this? Someone might call the cops.
About ten minutes before noon, her apartment door opens, and I stand up, ready to meet her. But it isn’t her who comes out, it’s a girl with brown hair. She looks to be the same age as Kate, though. I sit back down and watch as the girl walks down the stairs and gets into an older model Honda, then drives away. Must be her roommate.
A few minutes later, the door opens again and this time Kate exits. I stand, and, instead of running across the street like a fool the way I want to, I take her in. Her long, blonde hair is loose, hanging down her back in curls—just like it had been the first time I saw her. She’s wearing a yellow dress. She really is like sunshine. I make my way across the street—surprised I don’t get hit by a car since I definitely don’t look both ways before crossing—and walk up to meet her on the sidewalk.
“Hey,” she gives me a beautiful smile.
“Hi,” I say as I step up beside her.
“I didn’t hear your bike,” she says, looking around the lot.
I point to the shady corner of the lot. “I got here early, I’ve been sitting in the park.”
“Oh,” she frowns. “You should have come up.”
I look away from her, not wanting her to see my shame. “I didn’t know if you’d want me to.”
“Why the heck wouldn’t I? I invited you here.”
I look back to her and smile. She’s got a heart of gold. The sweetest person I’ve ever met. “Shall we?” I ask.
“We shall,” she says with a laugh.
“So where’re we going?” I ask as we start walking.
“Right around the corner. It’s this little café that has the best salads and wraps.” Rabbit food. Super. Her steps falter. “I’m sorry, I should have asked if that was okay with you. It’s just one of my most favorite places to eat and I assumed…”
“It’s okay. I’m a guy. I’ll eat just about anything.” I smile to reassure her and hope she lets it go. No, I’m not excited to be eating at a place that has the best salads and wraps, butshe’sexcited and that’s good enough for me.
“I’m so sorry,” she says again, looking down at the pavement with a frown.
I touch her arm, and she looks up at me. “It’s okay. Really.”
She gives me a small smile and nods. “Okay. But you get to pick the place next time.”
Next time…so she plans to go out with me again. I think I can get on board with that.
***
I’m pleasantly surprised that the rabbit food café serves more than just salads and wraps. Granted, it’s more “clean” eating menu items—whatever that means—but at least I can order a burger. When it arrives, it seems to have more vegetables on it than Kate’s salad. She giggles at my grimace, and I love the sound. They can serve me a salad burger every day if I get to hear that laugh along with it.
“So, how have you been? What have you been up to?” she asks in between bites.
“I’ve been…good. Things are different, you know?”
“That’s probably to be expected, though, right? Things change. Three yearsisa long time to be away from home.”
One of the things I like about Kate is that she doesn’t mince words. She’s a straight shooter, through and through. I got a glimpse of that in the short time we spent together years ago…how she says what’s on her mind. And I picked up on that in her letters, too. She speaks so freely. It’s nice after being at home with the people I used to know tiptoeing around me. That shit gets old. Fast.
“Yeah,” I nod.
