Page 33 of Two Chances With You

“No.”

“Oh, great.”

I wait a few seconds. “For the moment.”

Gin looks at me with some annoyance: “You always want the last word, don’t you?”

“Always.”

“Well, let’s put it this way. We’re not a couple for now, and for sure not for the rest of the evening. And if you continue to argue, then I’ll add other, much later dates. I could even stretch it out for months, is that clear?”

“Crystal clear.” I smile. “I have learned one thing, which is that certainty, when it’s too emphatic, is synonymous with insecurity. Should I make things even clearer?”

“Yes.”

“It would have been better if you’d just said ‘for now.’” I smile again.

Gin shakes her head. “For now I’m going to stop because I’m sick of this. And do you seriously think we should be sitting here arguing about the fact that we’re not a couple?”

“True, usually people only argue when they alreadyarea couple. It must mean that we got started backward.”

“We haven’t gotten started at all, in any way, shape, or form.”

I slowly brake to a halt and pull over.

Gin looks at me with a hint of worry. “Now what are you going to do?”

“The plan was to meet here, but I don’t see anyone. They must have left because we were running late.”

“Thenyou’relate.”

“Okay.I’mlate.”

“And why on earth are you agreeing with me?”

“If we start arguing about every single thing like this, we’re going to break up before we ever become an item.”

This time Gin breaks into laughter. I laugh along with her. We look at each other, in the aftermath of an appointment that never existed.

The music is blasting, loud. They’re playing a mixed sequence of golden oldies and new hits. “How great! This one is the best!”

Well, of course it is. They’re playing the mythical “Love Me Two Times” by the Doors.

“Love me two times, girl, one for tomorrow one just for today…Love me two times, I’m goin’ away…But I’m not going to translate that for you.”

“I think I understand what it’s saying.”

All around us is darkness. But for now, maybe she’s right. It’s probably better to go.

“Where are you taking me?”

“We’re going to dinner, just you and me. That’ll mean that you meet my friends some other time.”

***

“What other time?” I look at Step, waiting for a reaction. I decide to accept the truce. “Well, if it ever happens.”

“There, that’s better.Ifit ever happens.”

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