All I Want

4

If I were to sum up the conversation after the moment Harold said yes to my invitation, everything went pretty well. He told me he was going to pick me up and since I knew my mother wasn't going to be around, it worked perfectly for me. It took me close to two hours to choose the perfect outfit. I didn't want it to be flirty or too casual, I wanted something in between and finally, I went for a dress I haven't wore before. I nervously twirled around in front of the mirror and excitedly around the room. There's something about first dates that makes them thrilling and though it wasn't a date, it sort of was. Of course, I had my boyfriend and if he knew I was going out with some other guy that wasn't him, angry flames would literally escape from his ears and eyes, just like cartoons. I stared out the window for thirty minutes, approximately, just to be cautious with this whole situation. After a while, he reached the gates and I couldn't resist my lips from turning into a smile. I headed out the room, rushing down the stairs and got out of the house, before he could even reach the front door. 

"Hello there Harold," I spoke. "Are you ready for lunch?" He eyed me from head to toe and this time, I didn't feel uncomfortable. He nodded and we both walked to the car. I flaunted my yellow dress. I handed him the keys before I could get to the shotgun seat. 

"Wait, am I driving?" He asked, confused. I walked over to the right side of the car and flashed a smile.

"Of course," He smiled. "You're going to take me somewhere you like and besides, if anyone asks, there's troubles with my car." He chuckled.

"I don't think you'll like the places I go to and besides, you are not wearing the proper dress code." He joked. 

"Surprise me." He unlocked the doors and I entered. I crossed my legs and put on the seatbelt as I waited for him to get inside. I watched him slide into the driver's seat, starting the engine. Before he started driving, he offered me a smile. I smiled back and when I started to feel the tingles in my stomach, I looked away. I started to crack my knuckles, because the feeling of this thing being a bad idea hit me like a wave. We got out of my house and right before we could turn around the corner, I looked at him. I opened my mouth to say something about this whole thing not being right, but as I noticed the way his hair fell on his face, I shook my head. I knew this was wrong, but something deep inside of me wanted whatever this was headed to be. I didn't know if it was because of what Conor said or because of what my mother told Harold. After minutes of comfortable silence as he drove us to the surprise destination, he pulled over. It was a small house, with tables outside. People were eating and talking and kids were running around.

"Here we are," He said, unbuckling his seatbelt. "I know this is not your five star restaurant, but to me it is. I personally know the owner, she is lovely. And I have a feeling you'll enjoy the food."

"It's okay," I said. I unbuckled my seat belt and got out of the car. Seconds after, he was standing next to me. "It's looks nice." I said, honestly.

"Let's go." He ordered and we walked over the house. Kids greeted him with hugs. Harold waved hello to the people eating. We got the door and he let me go in first, like a true gentleman would. 

"Harold, dear!" A chubby lady in an apron said, extending her arms for a hug. I looked at my surroundings. The house had cheap flower paintings hanging on the brick walls, porcelain dolls on a shelf and a few books vertically positioned. The placed smell good, that I could tell since we got out of the car. The lady let go of him and right after she did, she smiled at me. "Is she your girlfriend?" She asked, reaching out for a hug. She seemed excited, as if I was some sort of mythological creature.

"Oh no," I said immediately. "Just a friend." I hugged her back. She smelled like she had been in the kitchen long enough. It was a good kind of smell, though.

"I work for her family." Harold informed. Her expression changed. Mine did too.

"That's a shame." She gave one last smile and walked over to the kitchen. 

"That was awkward." I mumbled. He looked at me for a few seconds and then got out of the house. I followed him. 

"We can sit here, if you like." He said, pointing at one of the wooden tables in the back. I nodded. We walked over to the table, he pulled out my chair and helped me in, as sunlight touched my arm. It was nice, it wasn't burning. 

"This place looks really cozy." He nodded.

"I used to come over here a lot with my dad when I was a child." He confessed. He was playing with the napkin holder, not glancing at me as the conversation flowed.

"Why did you stop?"

"I still visit, just not as often. I get busy with work. My mom can't do it on her own, you know?"

"Yeah, I understand." It hit me. His father bailed on them. I didn't know what else to say about it. It was the kind of thing that's uncomfortable to talk about, specially if you know the person three days ago. 

"You don't," He slightly shook his head. "Listen, I'm starting to think this was a bad idea after all." Even though I thought the same a while back, it hurt hearing it from him. 

"You're right." I let a sigh come out of my lips without making any eye contact. I didn't want to look at his eyes.

"You can take your keys and leave me here, it's okay." He handed me the keys. I furrowed my eyebrows. 

"Are you seriously going to pull that move on me?" I chuckled. "I don't like when boys play the victim." I started to have the feeling the whole dad topic made him feel that way. 

"Leave, seriously. I'm not pulling out any move, I really want to be here with Clara and the kids." I rolled my eyes. I took the keys from his hand and walked away. I got in the car and could still see him, even at this distance. I started the engine and drove. The house became smaller from my rearview mirror. After minutes of driving, I got home. I parked the car and rushed inside the house. I walked toward the living room, in hopes of catching some movie on the tv. My mother was sitting on the couch, reading her favorite politics magazine. I cleared my throat to catch her attention.

"Taylor, my love, please join me," She put the magazine on the coffee table. I sat next to her. "Where were you, love? That dress suits you perfectly." She mentioned, as she played with my hair.

"I was somewhere," I let a sigh come out. "Can I just ask something?" I walked closer to her. 

"Go ahead." She offered me a condescending smile, as if she knew what I was about to say. 

"Why did you go to talk to Harold?" 

"Just a little experiment darling," She chuckled. "He's head over heels for you. He's a fool if he thinks you'll reciprocate those feelings." 

"Mom, he is a nice guy, don't threaten him just because Conor is insecure." I furrowed my eyebrows at her, not understanding one bit why out of a sudden they both felt threatened by Harold.

"Woah, you're defending the mechanic?" Her thick eyebrows were furrowed, as her blue eyes pierced mine.

"Mom, this isn't about taking sides or defending," I looked down. "I was out with Harold, he's a good person. I don't have feelings for him," I explained, using hand gestures. "Please, don't talk to him. Just drop it."

"Listen you," She pointed at me with her index finger. "You keep talking to this mechanic, and there's no money, no car, no clothes, no engagement. Think about everything you're going to lose."

"I won't lose anything," I smiled. "But if you keep acting this way, you'll lose your daughter," I stood up from the sofa and started to walk away. I stopped after a few steps. "I was trying to make myself believe that Harold was lying, but he wasn't." I headed upstairs with a feeling that was a complete stranger to me. I didn't like this, at all. For some reason, I didn't want to stop talking to Harold. I was yet to figure that one out.