Page 8 of Lily
5
BEN
It’s incredible how we can pick up almost exactly where we were yesterday. The easy-going feeling between us doesn't feel forced like on a typical first date between two people who just met.
“I haven’t been here in years,” Lily squeals with excitement as she loops her arm in mine.
“I think the last time I was back here was in sophomore year in college.”
"Did you bring a date then, too?" she asks.
“No and yes.”
"Well, that's not an answer."
"Okay, here's the deal," I say as we make our way over to the corndog stand and get in line.
I love that she doesn’t even blink an eye at the thought that I’d buy her a corndog for dinner.
“I’d gone with my friend, Matty, but he ‘forgot’” I use my fingers to make air quotes. “To tell me that he had intended to meet up with some girl and her friend. I was meant to entertain the friend.”
Lily wiggles her eyes brows. “Did youentertainher?”
I don’t miss the double meaning behind her words.
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
She smirks. “That’s a no.”
She has no idea.
“What about you?” I ask. “Have you been here on a date before?”
“Yes, Jessie Fink in tenth grade. He tried to feel me up in theTunnelofLoveboat ride, and I sent him into the water before he realized what happened."
“Noted.”
She laughs and squeezes my arm. “Jessie deserved what he got. But I wouldn’t mind another shot at the ride with someone new.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “Noted.”
We each get a corndog and lemonade and sit at one of the picnic tables near the food trucks. Lily tells me about her work at the coffee shop but how she’s still looking for something bigger to inspire her.
I talk about how I used the inheritance from my grandfather to open the comic book store. And how my family thinks it was a huge mistake.
“I think it’s amazing that you took a risk on something you are passionate about.” She says before taking a sip of her lemonade. “I don’t have anything that I’m passionate about.”
“I don’t think that’s it,” I tell her. “I think you just haven’t found it yet.”
“I spent most of my younger years wishing for the perfect family that I never really focused my attention on anything else.”
“What happened?”
“Oh, the usual.” She waves her hand. “My parents were always yelling at one another and liked to use me as a pawn to hurt the other."
I squeeze her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Lily only shrugs and tries to put on a brave smile. I’m not even sure she knows she’s doing it. But I see the way it still hurts her. If I could take the pain away from her, I would, in a heartbeat.
