This morning was good, and I know I’ll be coming back to lead more Saturday classes. If I can wake up in time. I can’t help cracking a big yawn as I untie the laces to my chest protector and shrug the heavy weight off my shoulders.
“You look tired. Up late last night?” Michael asks with careful casualness.
“Yeah. Didn’t sleep until two something.” The studio door shuts behind the last kids, so I take my uniform off and pull on a faded T-shirt and an old pair of jeans.
As Michael does the same, he arches his eyebrows at me. “Did you go out? With someone?”
I shake my head, not sure how to explain last night. “Not really. I was texting.”
“Texting who?”
Busy packing my gear away, I say, “A girl. I met her on one of the apps.”
He doesn’t say anything right away, so I glance up at him and find him nodding with an impressed expression on his face. “Cool.”
“It’s not like that, so you can stop looking all pleased with yourself,” I grumble.
“What’s it like, then?” he asks.
“We tried to meet up for a one-night stand, but she panicked at the last second because she hasn’t done it before. So we just ended up texting and watching TV together.”
That same impressed look from before covers his face. “What did you talk about? And what did you watch?”
I duck my head as I admit, “She likes nature documentaries.”
“You watched nature documentaries?” he asks with wide eyes.
I pick up one of his discarded gloves and throw it at him. “Yeah, I watched them. They were interesting. I’ll probably watch more.”
He catches the glove easily and laughs. “Especially if she watches with you.”
“I don’t even know if I’ll see her again.”
“You liked her, though?” he asks.
I shrug. “Yeah.” I keep my tone light like it’s not a big deal, because it’s not. I know there’s nothing going on between us. But I do really like her. Last night was a little awkward, especially the part where I waited for her at the bar for half an hour, but texting about random stuff and watching nerdy TV was good. There wasn’t any pressure. Things flowed easily. I laughed a lot. It wasn’t the reintroduction to dating that I was looking for, but truthfully, I think it’s better.
Michael gives me a knowing look. “You guys are going to meet again. I bet you a hundred bucks.”
I’m about to say something sarcastic when my phone starts buzzing repeatedly from inside my pocket. I dig it out, expecting it to be my mom, but the screen says Anna.
She’s calling me. Not texting, but calling.
The knowledge that she felt comfortable enough to take this step makes my chest light up.
“Shit, is that her?” Michael asks, rushing over to peer at my phone over my shoulder. “Hurry up and answer.”
I draw in a quick breath and exhale through my lips before accepting the call and bringing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Anna.”
“Hi,” she says, sounding shy and awkward and entirely like herself.
I shouldn’t, but I break into a huge grin. “What’s up?” Michael is watching me with pure delight, so I turn around to get some privacy from his nosy eyes.
“I was wondering if you wanted to try again tonight? Maybe at my place?” she asks.
“Yeah, that would be great. Should I bring anything? I can pick up takeout,” I offer.
“Is that safe with your motorcycle?”
I laugh. “I have a car, too.”
“Well, I was thinking we could cook something, so it’s really not necessary. I’m usually better when I have something to do, and I’m okay in the kitchen as long as I don’t have to touch raw meat. It’s slimy.” She sounds so tortured that I can’t help laughing again.
“Are you a vegetarian, Anna?”
“No, but I don’t eat a whole ton of meat.”
“Because it’s better for the planet,” I guess.
“Because it’s better for the planet,” she confirms, and I can tell from her voice that she’s smiling. “Are you okay with pasta? And mushrooms? And white wine sauce?”
Grinning, I say, “Yeah, I like pasta and mushrooms and white wine sauce.”
“Does seven work for you tonight?”
“That’s perfect.”
“Great, I’ll see you then,” she says on a relieved breath. “I’ll text you my address. When you get here, buzz me in apartment 3A, and I’ll let you up.”