Finding Me

"The waitress never brought us the check," Becky said.

I waved my hand in a forget about it gesture."I never have to pay," I said," and I guess since you were with me , you were included."

"Oh okay," she said. I could tell she was surprised but in the pleasant surprise way.

Our jackets zipped up, we made our way to the door. I held the door open for her and we walked outside.

"Would you put your coat over a puddle for me too ?" Becky teased.

"Probably," I replied. I was so relaxed that I didn't even realize that I was smiling. Becky was smiling back at me. It was a perfect moment.

We were silent as we walked into the parking lot. I was concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other while trying to get my brain to come up with something interesting to say. It was to spot her car. I knew Lydia's car and the waitress'. There was only one other can other than mine and when I saw it ,a low whistle escaped from my lips. It was a Camaro. Not new but still very nice.

"Nice car," I said.

"Thanks." Silence hovered in the air between us. This was the only time since we met in the diner that the silence was uncomfortable. Becky missed the car lock the first time she tried unlock the door. Was she nervous?

She got the door opened and then looked back at me. "Listen," she said,"I had a really nice time with you tonight. " I kicked at a piece of loose asphalt and averted my eyes.

"Yes it was very nice actually."

Becky laughed. "You say that like you're surprised you had a good time."

I laughed back. She was right. A part of me was surprised. "I guess I am. Like I said I'm not much of a talker so I don't have a lot of deep conversations."

"It wasn't that deep."

"For me it was." There's a snake ring on my right ring finger that I fiddle with when I get nervous. I was turning it around on my finger as we were talking.

She had her right elbow on the hood of the Camaro. She leaned her chin on her hand. "How come you were able to talk to me so easily during dinner? Especially after how I treated you earlier."

"I don't know. After a while it was just really easy to talk to you. As for how you were earlier, you were having a bad day. We all have them."

Her eyes softened and there was something in her eyes that I couldn't place. Like maybe? Or desire? No one ever looked at me like that before. Whatever it was in her eyes, it made courage blossom in my heart.

"So how about that number?" I asked. "Maybe we can figure out a time where we could hang out or something."

Becky knew what I was trying to do and she smiled at me. "You mean like a date ?" she asked .

The tone of her voice seemed teasing to me but there was also a kindness. Like she didn't want to do anything that might hurt me. I could already feel my face burning and my mouth could not seem to make a coherent sound.

Becky held out her hand. " Let me see your phone," she said.