Consider Yourself Lucky

Fourteen

I'm glad I have a scheduled day off tomorrow that way I don't have to feel guilty for missing work. I know they said to take as much time as I need but I don't want to take advantage of that, especially if things with Grandma get worse. Which I really hope they don't. We stayed near the beach long enough to watch the sun set. There were little boutiques and a candy shop along the boardwalk, so we wandered around for quite a while just enjoying the smell of the salty breeze. Collin bought a bag of assorted candies from the candy store. Saltwater taffy, almond filled chocolates, and mini lollipops with bubblegum in the middle. We munched on them while we watched the sun set. It was absolutely beautiful. The sky was orange with a tint of pink and the reflection in the water made it even more magical. This moment was as perfect as I could have ever imagined. The relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was interrupted by a phone ringing. It wasn't mine. It was Collin's. He held the phone in his hand and watched it ring, neither declining nor answering.

"You can take that if you need to. I don't mind."

"No, it's okay. She can leave a voicemail." He shuts the screen off and puts his phone back in his pocket. She? It's starting to get a bit chilly, so we decide to head back. His phone rings again as we get closer to the car.

"For fucks sake!" I've never seen him yell. I don't know if he saw me flinch a little, but he instantly apologized. "I'm sorry Addy. I just hate when people don't get the hint the first time. If I don't answer the phone call, either leave a voicemail or send a text. It's not a hard concept."

I understand his frustration, but I also don't think it's something to get so outraged over. I get in the car and wait for him to get in too. When he does, he puts his phone in the cupholder. The screen brightens and I notice he has three text messages. I can't see what they say because they're hidden, but they are from the same person. He turns the car on and cranks the volume on the radio up. I haven't seen this side of him but then again, we haven't known each other long enough to see the ugly sides. The phone rings twice more and I notice the name same as I did before. Cece. I've never rented an apartment before so I'm not sure how often landlords contact their tenants, but this seems important.

"Collin. If there is something you need to take care of, you can drop me off at home." He lowers the volume on the radio before saying anything back.

"Yeah. I think that might be a good idea. I'm sorry for acting like this. I just wanted to give you a special day with no interruptions. Truly, I apologize."

"Aside from the news I heard this morning, this has been one of the most amazing days of my life. I have YOU to thank for that." He looks over at me and smiles then grabs my hand. For some reason I feel a little uneasy and I start to wonder if it's his landlord that's trying to contact him or not. I've never heard of a landlord being so adamant in trying to reach someone unless it was an emergency in which you would think he would take the phone call, regardless of me being next to him or not. Then I remember about what the waitress said about me being "prettier than the last one". Could he have someone else? No. He can't. He's spent so much time with me lately. He can't possibly be entertaining someone else. Right? I may have a way to find out. I reach for my phone and open the camera.

"Collin, can we take a picture together?" He pulls over and takes the phone from me. He holds it out so we're both in frame and takes a picture. Okay, he was willing to take a picture with me.

"Do you mind if I post this on my socials? I know we aren't official but it's a nice picture and I don't have to put a caption."

"Oh. Um I don't have any social media but if you want to it's up to you." Who doesn't have social media nowadays? Maybe he just likes to stay to himself. I can understand that. I start to get curious about his past once again. We have quite a ride home, so it seems like a good time to spark up a conversation about it.

"Want to play 21 Questions?" He chuckles as if he thinks I'm kidding.

"Sure. You go first."

"Okay. Where are you from?"

"I'm from upstate New York. I wanted a new start away from everything."

"Your turn."

"Have you always been so pretty?" I start to blush and can feel my face getting warm.

"Depends on who you ask. Grandma will say yes but the guys in high school would say otherwise. Hence why you were my first." Not that I minded, it was pretty amazing.

"Have you always been a ladies' man?" Looking the way, he does I would imagine so.

"Would you be jealous if I said yes?"

"Hey, it's my turn to ask the question. You can't answer my question with a question." We both laugh.

"I had a couple girlfriends in high school. Then during my senior year, I had one serious relationship with a girl named Clara. We ended it mutually because we just grew apart from each other and felt it was best." That seems genuine.

"Do you still talk? If you ended on good terms, then you could still be friends, right?" I try not to sound like I'm interrogating him. I'm just curious.

"I'm going to act like you didn't just take two turns in a row. But no, we don't talk still. If you're asking because you think you have competition so to say, then the answer to that is also no. I'm a single man until you agree to be my girlfriend." Huh?

"I can't agree to something I wasn't asked about." I also don't know if I can agree to something with someone I don't fully know. But isn't that the point of dating? To be able to grow with someone and learn about them as you go?

"You know, it's a good thing you chose to play this game because I have a perfect question for you." He's not about to ask me what I think he's going to ask me, is he?

"Adelaide Chase, will you do the honors of being my girlfriend?" He is. He did. He just asked me to be his girlfriend. Part of me is squealing with joy as if I'm in high school again and just got asked to the formal by my crush. The other part of me is nervous because I've never been in a real relationship before. I'm shocked he asked me but I'm even more shocked when my mouth says the words before my brain can comprehend them.

"Collin David, I would love to be your girlfriend." He looks over at me with pure happiness in his face. He pulls my hand up to his lips and kisses it gently. See, everything is perfect. Just like Grandma said. Everything will be okay.