Page 8 of You & Me: Part One
Our conversation continues with more mundane questions about our likes and dislikes but getting to know her feels far from mundane. I feel like I’ve known her my entire life; like we’re long lost friends just seeing each other again for the first time in years. This is the best Saturday night I’ve had in a long time.
Before we know it the sound of spoons scraping the bottom of our dishes is upon us. Watching her try to get every bit of caramel out of the bottom of that sundae is something I could sit and watch all night. When she finally waves the white flag she puts the spoon down, leans back in her seat, and raises both arms with pride and says, “That was amazing!”
The server walks up as her arms are still in the air and says, “I see you finished, nicely done.”
“Thank you! Hey, Marcie don’t leave me hanging,” she says as the server realizes that she wants her to high five her.
This brings a smile to Marcie’s face and she gives her a high five. It’s then I realize that this is something that Emily does. She makes people smile. She notices and remembers our servers name and she picks Buzzy Bears off the ground so that his little boy doesn’t forget him. She also compliments a rough around the edges bartender on her pink hair. Special is what she is and how she makes people feel. She’s the kind of special you just want to be around.
“Marcie, if you could bring the check for us when you get a chance that would be great.” I ask. Not that I want our time to end.
“Of course, darlin’. Anything else I can get either of you while I’m at it?”
“We’re great Marcie, thanks. Oh and I love your nails, that color is awesome,” Emily says with all sincerity. She isn’t saying it just to be nice. She really means it.
Marcie holds her hand out and looks at her nails like she’s just noticed they’re painted. “You’re right, they are awesome, thanks.”
Special.
With that Marcie clears our dishes and it’s just the two of us again.
“So, Emily Grace, how ‘bout we go for a walk along the pier? You up for that?”
“I would love to go walk some of this sundae off and the pier sounds great, but you aren’t really going to call me that now are you?”
“I think Grace fits you well. What’s wrong with it? Is it after anybody special?”
She smiles and says, “It’s after my Grandma Grace. Her middle name was Grace as well but my grandpa always called her his Gracie. Grace stuck with all of us in the family. Only Gramps called her Gracie though. It was his subtle yet romantic little way of making her feel special. It was never spoken but we all just new Gracie was his name for her so we all just stuck with Grace. She was an amazing woman but passed away when I was around ten. So, you see it’s not that I don’t like the name, I’m very proud to be named after her, it’s just when you say both names together it feels like I’m about to get into trouble or something.”
“Duly noted,” I say as I put the money for our ice cream down on top of the check that Marcie has left for us. I can see Emily start to get into her purse but I just hold my index finger up and wiggle it back and forth and say, “Shush,” as she starts to protest. I know she doesn’t date and I just shake my head from side to side as she tries to open her mouth to complain. Shockingly, it works and she puts her purse down.
While we casually walk down the street on our way to the pier, I force myself to walk with my hands in my shorts pockets. The urge to reach out and hold her hand while we walk is almost too much to resist. I know it will make her feel uncomfortable though and that’s the last thing I want. Her hands are busy texting Cami to let her know what the new plan is.
“So, Jonathan, do you often take girls out for ice cream and a walk on the San Clemente Pier on Saturday nights?” She asks nonchalantly as she puts her phone back in her purse.
“Actually, no I don’t, but I’m having a pretty great night so far. Maybe I’ve been missing out?”
“Me too,” she says with a little giggle.
“What, you don’t do walks and ice cream dates often? I would think you would have Jacob and all those college boys keeping your calendar pretty full.”
As much as I don’t want to admit it, I really asked that question because I wanted to know if there is somebody else. Just the thought of her going out with other guys makes me a little sick to my stomach—and it’s not because I had too much gross chocolate shake.
“Like I said, I don’t really date,” she says as she puts her head down and sounds as though she just lost her puppy.
Trying to lift her mood I say, “Ah, that’s right. That’s why tonight is not a date. Just two new friends getting to know each other. I mean if the one new friend with the ponytail wanted more with the new friend without the ponytail I’m sure that could be arranged, but until ponytail friend wants that, new friends it is.”
“And what if the friend with the ponytail isn’t sure that she’ll ever be ready for that?”
“Then friends it is,” I say with a shrug and a smile but inside I’m hoping we become more than friends. Although, I’m drawn to her regardless and have a feeling that if being her friend meant being around her every day then being her friend would be fine with me. That’s a lie. It would suck. But I would take it if that is all I could get.
As we pass Fishermans Restaurant we start our walk on the pier and I notice she’s playing with her necklace again. It may be dark outside but the lights that guide our walk to the end of the pier shine bright enough that Emily and her necklace are perfectly clear to see.
“I like your necklace. What is it? A dragonfly?”
“It is. My brother got me this on my eighteenth birthday. I kinda have a thing for dragonflies.”
“Oh yeah? What is it that makes them special to you?”
