Page 45 of Just for Fun
The first light is green already, so I fly through the intersection. When I get closer to the second one, I see in horror as it turns yellow, but the car in front of me goes, so I go, too.
I am halfway to the third light when I see it turning yellow. This time, the car in front stops, giving me no choice but to do the same.
The clock on the dashboard turns to the time when I am supposed to meet Zara. I am annoyed beyond belief, but in the end, it is what it is. And it’s definitely not the end of the world if I am a couple of minutes late, despite her opinion of it.
Stressed out beyond believe, I wait patiently for the light to turn green again, then make it to the driveway to the small restaurant that’s my final destination. I park the truck and get out, walking toward the entrance with both hands in the pocket of my sweatshirt.
I am just about to pull the door open when something catches my attention in the corner of my eye.
“Zara?”
The person walking briskly toward the parking area to the side and away from where I parked stops in their tracks.
“Kyle,” she greets me in a very polite tone. A forced smile forms on her beautiful lips that I’ve been obsessing over for the last twelve hours of my life.
“Where are you going?” I chuckle. “The restaurant is this way.”
“I am aware of that, Kyle.” She doesn’t sound happy at all. “But you are late, and I am leaving.”
With frantic moves, I pull out my cell phone.
“I am three minutes late, Zara. It’s not that big of a deal.”
There is no amusement on her face. In fact, she looks so disappointment, that I am embarrassed to stand in front of her.
“It is a big deal to me,” she explains. “I don’t wait for anyone.”
She is almost turned around to leave when I jog lightly and press a hand to her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Zara.”
It takes a lot of effort for me not to roll my eyes at her. But I really like her, and I want to make this right.
“I’m on two hours of sleep here,” I explain. “Traffic was a bitch, and I would’ve been here right on time if that last traffic light had cooperated.” I let out a big sigh. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Her head turns slightly to the side, like she doesn’t want to look at me. I honestly don’t know what to make of it. I get that she likes being punctual, but this was supposed to be fun. We’re not clocking in for work, and no one is going to write us up over being three minutes late.
“Why didn’t you sleep last night?” she finally asks.
I take that as an olive branch of sorts, but I still can’t stop myself from teasing her.
“I had you on my mind.”
I’m only half lying. After I got home from her place, I figured I’d get caught up on some drawings I’d started. I was having a hard time concentrating on my current project because all I could see in my head was Zara’s face. So I switched to a new screen and worked on some drawings of her, then I went back to my actual work.
“I can’t believe you’re making fun of me like this.”
My eyebrows go up in surprise at hearing her words. “How am I making fun of you?”
“The way you talk…” She moves her hands around like I should know what that means. “You always sound like you’re about to crack a joke.”
I chuckle. “I thought girls liked funny guys.”
Zara rolls her eyes. “Girls may like funny guys, but only where it’s appropriate to be funny.”
She is chastising me like I am a little kid.
“There is a time and place for things like that, Kyle.”
