She moved her hand to my cheek and looked so hard into my eyes I forgot to breath. “I don’t even know what’s happening.”
I brushed my lips over hers. “We don’t have to know what’s happening. Day by day, right?”
She nodded. “Day by day.”
We walked down the sidewalk to Gino’s East Pizzeria.
“I think I’m overdressed.”
“You are perfection.” I stopped walking and took her hand in mine. “I knew you’d wear what I requested.”
“Oh, did you?” She rolled her eyes. “Maybe I do like you bossing me around a little after all.”
“Hmm.” I slipped my hand into her coat and down to the hem of her dress. Her eyes stayed with mine as I slid it up and caressed her upper thigh. A smirk made its way across her lips before she pulled me to her and kissed me. Everything was cranking up to something I hadn’t known before.
She pulled away and wiped her lipstick from my lips before looking in the window. “It looks closed.”
I pulled open the door. “Not for us.”
We entered as Step Two of the plan was right in front of us. The restaurant was empty and dark except for one table in the center of the room covered with a white tablecloth and lit by candles. I watched her scope out the room.
“Shut the front door. You did all this for dinner?”
I took her hand as our fingers laced together. “When are you going to hear my words?” I kissed her cheek. “I did this for Fern Ethel Novotny.”
We walked to the table as the man who’d served me pizza every time I was in town since college hockey approached us, and we shook hands. “Good evening, Gabe. Nice to see you.” He looked at Fern. “I’m Dontavius Gino, the owner.” He handed each of us a menu. “We’ve been in business since 1966, and it’s our pleasure to have you dine with us tonight.”
He reached behind him, grabbed a shiny silver bucket and set it on the edge of the table before pulling out two bottles of Miller Lite. “I understand this is the beverage of the evening.”
She nodded. “Damn straight.”
How was it that time stood still when I talked to this girl? After devouring the meatball pizza, she slid her plate to the center of the table. “I can’t eat another bite.”
“Well?” I sat back in my chair.
“Best freaking pizza in the world.” She nodded. “You were right.”
“I normally am.”
She snort-laughed and quickly covered her mouth. “That didn’t just happen.”
“Oh, I think it did.”
She jumped when I let out a sharp whistle before Dontavius clicked a button, and soft music filled the room.
“Are you serious?”
I stood, and she took my hand as I pulled her to her feet. Come Away With Me, by Norah Jones, surrounded us. The way she looked at me twisted everything.
While it continued to simmer in my mind, I wasn’t sure what the fuck would happen when she left Minnesota. We were supposed to be day by day. That was what we decided, and now I was hooked on this drug that would be gone too soon.
After some slow songs and having her in my arms, we thanked Dontavius and walked outside when she turned to me. “I don’t have words for tonight.”
“You don’t need them.”
She nodded.
“Hey, there’s an amazing cigar bar down the block.” He threw on an Italian accent, “I’m fixin’ to get in trouble. You comin’, doll?”
