Page 18 of Red Zone Realizations
“Sure, but he was the best replacement for Michael.”
“Glad we agree on that. I’m not sure I could even be friends with someone if they didn’t likeThe Office. We wouldn't have the same sense of humor at all.”
I take another sip from my beer. At this point it’s going to take me all night to finish it. And I’m okay with that. “What about movies? Are you a Marvel guy?”
“Not really. I think all superhero movies feel the same.”
I nod, I’ve seen a total of three superhero movies. “I’m the same way about movies as I am music. Nothing’s as good as what they were doing in the nineties and two-thousands.”
“They definitely don’t make stupid funny movies like they used to,” he says, and I nod in agreement. “I would rather rewatch an old movie I’ve already seen than watch any movie that’s currently out in theaters.”
“What’s your favorite nineties’ movie?”
“Tommy Boywith Chris Farley. We had it on VHS when I was a kid, and we watched it all the time. I basically have it memorized line by line.”
“I haveTalladega Nightsmemorized.” Thank God he’s not going to suggest going to see the newest classic animated movie remake.
“That’s the perfect stupid movie. They just don’t make them like that anymore. I love when I watch a movie and there’s only flip phones.”
“Did you have a flip phone?” he asks.
“Until I went to college. My parents thought if we were going to have a smartphone, we needed to pay for it ourselves.” Needless to say, I was never the coolest kid in school.
“That’s crazy.”
I take another sip of my beer. “Nicole had a pink Razr and I was so jealous of her. I had a stupid ugly black hunk of plastic.”
“I had the Blackberry with the full keyboard. I was always messing up my texts because my fingers were too big for the tiny buttons.” My eyes drop to those hands, taking in just how right he is about their size.
I laugh out loud at the thought of his giant hands punching at little buttons like a caveman. Then I sigh. “Every now and then I think about going back to a flip phone, but I really need my Apple Maps. I am horrible at directions.”
“No one wants to go back to printing out directions from MapQuest. My mom and I used to fight when she would miss a turn going to a football game. She’d be like, ‘it said a quarter mile, that doesn’t feel like a quarter mile’ and we would have totally missed the turn already.”
“You’re right. That’s the only technology we need.” I giggle. I pick my beer up again only to realize it’s empty.
“Another one?”
“I don’t know. What time is it?” I reach for my little purse and look at my phone. “Holy shit, it’s one-thirty! This place is going to close soon.”
Noah rises from his seat. “I’ll go close out.” I can’t help but watch him walk away again. I can’t believe we just killed more than four hours at this bar. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to stand being in a bar that long. I always get overstimulated by the music and am ready to go. That’s when it hits me that I couldn’t tell you a single song played after the one I heard everyone singing. I haven’t heard anything but Noah’s voice. My focus on him and our conversation let the night slip away like sand through an hourglass. I didn’t even notice.
When I look up again, Noah is back, holding his hand outto me again. “Come on, I’ll wait with you while you call an Uber.”
I nod and take his hand.
We stand out on the street, cars whizzing by and people jaywalking without a care in the world. I glance down at my phone, keeping an eye on Matt in a white Mazda as he moves slowly down this street on the map. Noah squeezes my hand to get my attention. I look up at him and he’s smiling. “I had a great time tonight.”
I smile back. “Me too.” And honestly, I’m not sure how to leave this. It’s been years since I talked to someone whom I had any physical interest in. When I was with Hunter, I was extremely loyal and never looked anyone else’s way. After our breakup, I swore off men and that led us to this moment. With this man who has been so kind and easy to talk to that I lost all track of time. I didn’t even think about work except when I explained to him what I do. It’s nice. More than nice. It’s kind of addicting. I want to know what he thinks about everything. I want to know if he’ll give up his coveted spot on the back wall and put his mat next to mine at yoga. But I don’t say any of that.
When Matt in the white Mazda pulls up to the curb, Noah leans down to the open window. “For Audrey?” Matt nods in response and Noah opens the door for me to get in the back seat. I step off the curb and down to the car, making Noah tower even farther over me.
“Thank you for everything.”
He leans in and places one chaste peck on my left cheek. “It was my pleasure. Let me know you made it home safe.”
I slide into the car and set my purse on the bench seat. Noah shuts the door and steps back so the car can leave.
When I get home the house is dark and I realize I forgot toturn the entryway light on before I left. I let myself in, kick off my shoes, toss my purse on the couch, and head straight to the kitchen for a glass of water.
