In Two Years

Chapter 14: The Past

I'm doing homework for one of my classes in the library when my phone vibrates on the table.

Riley: Hey Jo. Do you want to grab some lunch together?

My heart lights up. I need to put a pin in her. This is just a get-together with a friend.

Me: Absolutely. What were you thinking?

Riley: How does pizza sound?

Me: Perfect.

The drive to the pizza parlor was a shit show. I arrive 5 minutes late. This is the second time I've seen Riley sitting alone at a table waiting for me, and this time it hurts. I wonder how anxious I would feel if the tables were turned. If I was the one waiting for him.

"Want some company?"

"From a stunning girl, absolutely." I hate him for saying that. I actually love it. I force a smile to hide my awkwardness.

"I'm glad you texted. I was yearning for a change of scenery."

"What were you doing when I texted you?"

"Just doing homework in the library."

"Good, so not important stuff." I lightly kick him under the table. "Ow!"

"Oops." I sarcastically say.

"I want to know more about you. I thought pizza would be a great way to do it."

"Pizza tends to get people talking. So, if I start bringing up childhood trauma, it's on you." I look up at him, and he's staring at me with empathy in his eyes. I guess it was too soon to joke about trauma. "What are your preferred pizza toppings?" I try to switch topics to lighten the mood back up.

"Pineapple and ham, and I will defend that until the day I die."

"I'm not a hater of pineapple on pizza," I say reassuringly. "I like pretty much anything except for green peppers."

"So she's a hater of green peppers. Noted."

We order a medium Hawaiian pizza to share. Riley's eyes light up when the pizza is placed in front of us. He's like a little kid who was just offered an ice cream sundae. I take a mental picture of this moment.

Riley has been such a light in my life these past few months. There are not many reasons why. His presence is just enough to make my world brighter.

"I still don't know a lot about you. I spilled my guts at the cabin." He says as I put a piece of pizza in my mouth. I nod in agreement. "Where are you from?"

"Here."

"You've been going to the University of Massachusetts since you were born? Damn, that's impressive." I shake my head while a smile appears on my face.

"I grew up in Boston." The smile is still lingering, and now he's smiling too. "We've lived here my entire life. My dad was a nurse until I was twelve, and my mom was a fashion designer."

"How did they meet?'

"Through mutual friends. My mom's friend thought my dad was perfect for her. She wasn't wrong. My mom was mesmerized by my dad the moment she saw him. Their first date was at the movies. They were supposed to see a cute romance movie, but when they got there, it was sold out. So they saw Die Hard instead."

"Well, that sounds like the beginning of a love story to me."

"It is. I've always wanted my story to be like my parents."

"So should we see Die Hard this Friday then?" A laugh bursts out a little too loud.

"My dad always had the dream of owning a cafe. He expressed it to her before they got married. They were so careful with their money, just in case his dream could eventually become a reality."