Page 101 of Something Like Summer
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Chapter 28
The doorbell rang again,sounding more mechanically grumpy than it had the first twotimes.
“I’m coming, I’mcoming!”
Ben stumbled for the door,kicking off the shoe that he had been putting on. He expected alate-night package delivery or someone handing out religiouspamphlets as he opened the door. Instead he found an elegant womanwearing a black sequined dress and a hairstyle complex enough topuzzle M.C. Escher.
“How do I look?” Allisonsaid, gesturing over her body like a showroom girl sellingherself.
“Fabulous, but since whendo you ring the doorbell?” Ben asked. “ The door wasn’t locked andyou have a key anyway.”
“We have to conductourselves properly,” Allison said in her best English accent as sheglided into the house. “We are on a date, you know.”
“Well, I still need to getmy shoes on and check my hair.” Ben found one shoe in the hallbefore searching the living room for the other. “Jesus, you lookgood,” he said, eyeing Allison as he tied his laces. “I think Imight be underdressed.”
“Hm,” Allison consideredhim over eyelashes that were longer than they’d been the daybefore. “Do you still have that grey sports jacket?”
“I think it’s clean, yeah.But grey with a pink dress shirt? Isn’t that kind ofeighties?”
“You can pull it off, andthere will be more colorfully dressed people where we aregoing.”
“I wish you would tell mewhere that is,” Ben complained.
“But that would ruin oursecret romantic mystery date!”
“Stop calling it that,”Ben scolded.
“I need a date!” Allisonpouted. “They never seem to happen when you’re married.”
“Take that up with Brian,”Ben said as he ducked into the bedroom to find hisjacket.
“You could use a date too,you know,” Allison said when he returned. “It’s been two years,”she added as delicately as possible.
Ben shrugged in his jacket,trying to make it sit right on his shoulders. He stopped suddenlyand fixed Allison with a stare. “That’s not what you’re doing, isit?”
“What?” Allison asked abit too casually.
“No,” Ben said, beginningto take the jacket off. “Forget it, then.”
Allison rolled her eyes.“I’m not fixing you up with anyone.”
“No blinddate?”
“Not blind, deaf,amputated, or anything else. It’s just me and you going out for anight on the town. Promise.”
Ben eyed her a momentlonger before feeling satisfied. He glanced over at the framedphoto of Jace on the end table. The full-length shot showed Jacesharply dressed in his flight attendant uniform, every detailimmaculate from the white starched collar down to his pointedshoes.
Ben smiled. He had growntired of Jace’s name being synonymous with sorrow. No longer wouldhe tarnish his memory. Jace had gone out of his way to make himhappy and it wouldn’t please him to see Ben moping around. Thememories they had made together were all that was left, and thesedays Ben tried his best to find joy in them.
“Ready?” Allisonprompted.
“Yup.”
The roles were a bitreversed for a traditional date. Not only was Allison driving, butshe was also paying. Ben had been happy to oblige since he wasperpetually strapped for cash these days. A meal out anywhere wasappreciated, but he was nevertheless taken aback by her choice ofdining establishment.
The restaurant was supposedto be Cajun, but how Mexican food and karaoke factored into thatwas beyond comprehension. Ben and Allison were severely overdressedconsidering the rowdy vibe of the dining room, but he was at leastglad not to see any romantic hopefuls waiting at their table.Knowing Allison, she had only chosen this dive so they could singtogether, which was fine by him. They picked over their greasymeals before abandoning them for the stage, where they crooned anumber of their favorite songs together.
