“You’ve never seen Casablanca, before?” I asked, astonished that she had never had the pleasure before.
“I’ve heard of it, yeah, but I really don’t watch black and white movies,” she responded, causing my heart to sink in disappointment.
“Well, in that case, you have to come,” I insisted.
“Do I, though?” she debated, leaning her arms on my kitchen counter.
“Well, I mean, you’re not obligated to attend, but how often does the drive-in have good classics?” I replied in my most persuasive tone and body language.
“I guess,” she said plopping her chin down in a defeated manner.
“I’ll pick you up at seven then,” I lingered with my response.
“It’s a date,” she perkily answered, using the counter to prop herself up.
I couldn’t believe it, she said it, not me. A date, finally, a date with Meredith. We had been good friends, as long as I could remember. I had dreamt of this moment for so long, a date, and now that we were finally out of college it’s happening. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part, and she could have very well been joking, but to me I internalized it.
She left with little word except the standard good-byes. Tomorrow night was going to be my chance. I tried extremely hard to keep my concentration at work, but it was no use. Thoughts of even a goodnight kiss from her were enough to keep my mind off spreadsheets and databases and focused completely on what I was going to do, and what I was going to say.
In preparation, I took a shower, shaved any stubble I could locate, and found a nice button-up shirt to wear. I rinsed my mouth out with a minty wash, hoping that at the end of the night I might be able to taste her lips on mine, and I didn’t want her to be disappointed.
I’m here. I sent as a text to her when I pulled up in her driveway.
Be out in a min. My phone dinged, and I read her reply.
As the door opened, her mother gave me a nice wave. For two twenty-five-year-olds, her gesture made it seem like we were in high school again, and I was taking her daughter to the movies. I didn’t pay attention to it much, however, and simply returned the wave. I was more focused on Meredith; she was a stunning beauty. In any matter, she could have rivaled Helen of Troy. She walked closer and I desperately tried to hide my growing erection.
At this point, I knew she was trying too; her hair was nicely styled showing off a powerful blonde dye. She wore a summery dress with a nice floral pattern and with every whisk of it against the breeze I could imagine the outline of her body. A pushup bra expressed her breasts in a way that made me appreciate her 32D’s. It was a far cry from the sweatshirt and sports bra style she usually held, which don’t get me wrong, totally works for her too.
“Get a good view, did you?” she laughed as she noticed me staring at her rack.
“I mean, I, I,” I stammered trying to answer such an awkward question. Of course, I got a great view, but that’s hardly a great response.
“It’s ok,” she laughed.
“Let’s get going, this movie better be as good as you said it is,” she continued as she put her purse in her lap and buckled her seatbelt. We drove off, still able to see the porchlight illuminating her mother underneath.
The ride was rather boring, I mostly just tried to continue the small talk and avoid the larger thoughts in my mind. I didn’t want to alert her to the thoughts brewing about, even if I wanted her to embrace them. For whatever reason, I wanted to seem cool.