Page 40 of Finding Jack
I checked the peephole and opened the door to a delivery guy with a sack of food for me. “Let me guess,” I asked him. “This has already been paid for, including the tip?”
“You got it,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said, closing the door behind him and nestling the phone between my ear and shoulder as I carried the bag to the counter. “And thank you, Jack. Whatever this is smells delicious.”
“I gambled on gnocchi and Yelp told me where to find the highest rated in the city,” he said.
“Well, that’s lucky for me, but what are you having?”
“Pizza.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“It’s not your fault there’s no Italian restaurant scene miles and miles outside of Portland. But I did make this myself, from scratch—and no kidding this time—I’m a good cook.”
I opened one of the containers and scents of garlic and pesto rose up. I took a bite. “I think I might die. This is so good. It’s so different from regular pasta.”
“It’s a potato pasta. I’m glad Yelp didn’t lie about it.”
“No, it told deep truth. But I’m sad you don’t get to try this.”
“Don’t be sad for me. I…I promise that’s the least correct way to describe my mood right now.”
It was the first touch of awkwardness I’d heard from him, and as much as I’d been having fun exploring the Colosseum with him, that slight hesitation was the first moment I felt total ease.
“Hey, Jack?”
“Yeah, Emily?”
“I know we’re only a half hour into this, but this is my best first virtual date ever.”
“Hey, Emily?”
“Yeah, Jack?”
“I know we’re only a half hour into this, but me too.”
We “strolled” through Pamphili Park while we ate. It was green and lovely until Jack said, “Check out that bird.”
“I don’t see a bird,” I said, scrolling around my end of the street view. “What kind is it?”
“I’m not sure. It’s right in that tree with the weird knot on the side.”
“I don’t see that either. Wait. This whole time I thought we were taking a walk together but now I’m thinking we haven’t been in the same park at all. I’m so confused.”
“Try this,” Jack said, pinging me with a link, and when I opened it, I could see the knotted tree and the bird.
“Okay, I’m with you again.”
“Whew,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. Maybe I was walking too fast. How tall are you?”
“5’7, with long legs.” I cringed as soon as the words were out of my mouth. I’d only meant that I could keep up, but it sounded kind of flirtatious.
Jack let it go. “I’m 6’1, so I guess I didn’t outpace you. I’m glad. That would be rude.”
“Maybe,” I said, now distracted by the fact that this hot man was deliciously tall. “But just so you know, I would never run to catch up. I’m full of dignity and stuff.”
“I respect that since I’m full of dignity and stuff too. But also good manners, so I’d never make you catch up.”
