Page 31 of Baby, It's You
“I’m serious. By the next time I see you, you better have a name for it.”
“Okay, I will,” I promise her.
She holds out her pinky and I stare down at it momentarily. Olive smirks. “Everyone knows a pinky promise is a legally binding contract.”
I chuckle and shake my head slightly before I link my own with hers.
Since our cars are the only two there, she automatically heads over to my truck. I walk to her side first and unlock it, opening the door for her. She almost seems a little taken aback at the gesture as she slides into the passenger seat. I walk to my side of the car and wonder if she's not used to someone opening doors for her.
I get in the truck and start it up, the engine loud and commanding in the silence between us. The smell of roses and orange blossoms drifts to my nostrils. I realize it’s Olive; being this close to her makes me feel drunk on her scent.
I lift the aux cord towards her. “Want to choose the music for the ride?”
“Although I am highly honored that you just offered me your aux cord,” she teases, “I want to hear what kind of musicyoulike. I’m curious.”
“Okay. Where to start…” I say, feeling temporarily vulnerable. She might as well have just asked me to get naked. What if she hates my taste in music? Music compatibility is a big thing, I don’t care what anyone says. You have to enjoy the same music to coexist with someone. Imagine if you married someone that only enjoyed listening to bagpipe ballads all day. Nightmare fuel.
I scroll down my playlist and click my favorite band. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode begins to play around us. I glance over and watch Olive’s face for cues to see what she thinks. She listens intently and I see her fingers start to tap her thigh as the melody continues. After thirty seconds, she turns towards me.
“I like this song.”
“Good. Me too,” I respond. “Windows down?”
“Is there any other way to drive while listening to music?”
I manually roll down the driver's side window as she cranks hers down as well.
She reaches over and turns up the volume dial. That’s more like it.
Smiling, I back the truck out of the parking lot.
“Where are we headed?” I ask her.
“To see Mr. Ray’s wife, Sonjia.” She smiles. “She’s our first subject.”
Olive navigates the way for the fifteen-minute drive. We are currently curving up the side of Jewel Mountain, which happens to be one of my favorite lookout spots in town. Surrounded by trees as we head around a narrow turn, Olive suddenly points to the left.
“There!” she blurts out, and I slam on the brakes. I see the small dirt road she’s pointing to and take the turn.
“Man, they really live up here on their own!” I exclaim, heading slowly onto the rocky path.
“I know. Isn’t it amazing?” she gushes. Her eyes sparkle as she inhales the fresh air deeply. “We’re almost there. Just follow the road to the end. It’s the only house around here so you can't miss it.”
I nod and take in the nature around me; pine trees stretch as far as I can see. I turn the music off, so the only sounds left are my tires crunching over the crushed rocks and birds singing to each other. I see a small natural wooden cabin ahead and Olive seems giddy in her seat as we approach.
She claps her hands on her thighs. “You are just going to love Sonjia.” She pulls some hair back that has blown in her face. “Ihope you’re hungry, because you won't be leaving until she feeds you. It’s her love language.”
“I can always eat.”
I pull up in front of the cabin and take in the place. There are decorations everywhere: gnomes, little stone frogs, rocks painted in rainbow colors, wind chimes of assorted styles, and a porch swing with more pillows than space to sit on it. The wooden front door swings open suddenly, and a beautiful older woman with long dreadlocks wearing a floor length floral dress and lace cover-up steps out.
“Olive!” She holds out her arms and Olive hurries out of the truck to give her a hug.
I get out of the driver’s side and approach the two of them. After finishing the hug, the woman looks over her shoulder at me.
“And you must be Hunter,” she says warmly, as she walks around Olive, then pulls me into a hug also. “I’m Sonjia.”
Olive's smile consumes her face. “I’m glad Mr. Ray filled you in on all the details.”
