He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his glasses. Glancing at the comic, he started reading. His lips mumbled the words as he jumped from one text box to the next. When his finger stopped at a word, I waited for him to look up.
“Dem-o-lih-ty-on.”
“Li-shion,” I corrected. He let out a low growl. “You’re close.”
Months ago, Tony would have thrown his hands in the air and stormed out. I had worked with young readers at the school. There were comics for every reading level, even for adults who never learned.
“Demo-li-shun. Oh. Demolition.”
He cracked a smile. I looked away as he stood, trying to maintain some semblance of the ‘bro code.’ When I first asked Tony if he could read, he had been furious. He had come back into the store a few days later, tail between his legs, and apologized. Having dropped out of school to work in the woods with his dad, reading had never been a priority.
“Think you can handle it?” I invoked the challenge.
“I think so.” He had once admitted that Nancy helped him from time to time. She tattled on him about how he practiced before sitting down and reading them out loud to her. Now that I thought about it, Tony and Lucas weren’t so different.
“If you like the story, let me know, and I’ll set them aside for you.” It wasn’t asifhe could read them. I had faith he’d get through them.
“Thanks.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a credit card. He didn’t need to say anything else. I knew first-hand the power of words combined with images. It made me smile as he tucked the bag into his jacket and headed out. He’d never proclaim himself a geek, but I knew better.
My phone vibrated as I basked in the afterglow of a good deed. I picked it up and saw a text from Simon.
Simon: Is it wrong to admit I’m a little jealous?
I leaned over, looking through the front door to see Simon standing in the Bistro's window. He waved. I had a hankering for a late lunch.
Jason: Don’t worry, he didn’t get the back-room treatment.
Simon: I’d watch that.
Me too. I wandered through the store, heading back to the guys. I wanted to ask him out. Again. Had I alreadytaken up too much of his time? How much was too much? I was getting in my head as I tried to think of a witty reply.
Jason: Dinner tonight?
Simon: After I put Lucas to bed? Good with you?
He was even cuter when he played the part of a loving father. If it meant another cooking session, I wouldn’t say no.
Jason: Sure, dad.
Simon: That’s daddy to you.
Woof. I thought about running out of the store and charging across the green to jump him. Running? He must know how to press my buttons if I considered that.
Jason: It’s a date.
“So…”
“So…”
Julie sat in an oversized armchair, legs crossed under her. I had taken a perch on the couch on the opposite side of the living room. I had assumed another night of cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Her presence meant Simon wanted to go out. Did I mention we were going out for food to her?Did she know about the date? Even if I didn’t confirm it, Julie wasn’t dumb.
“You look uncomfortable,” she said.
“You look uncomfortable!” Where did that come from? Before I could apologize, Julie laughed. “Glad I can amuse you.”
“Did you buy him a corsage?” I didn’t follow her question. “Cause you look as uncomfortable as my prom date last year.”
I frowned. “I’ll have you know; he’s the one who bought the flowers.”
