Wildcards

Chapter 6

Everly decided that jogging would clear her head Saturday morning. The warm Seattle sun was out, birds were chirping. It looked like it would be a good enough day. Or at least that's what she anticipated.

On the way from the apartment, the jog was everything she'd expected. It was the freedom and exhilaration she needed.

Until she decided she'd walk back. That's when every little thing she saw reminded of her of him.

Like passing an ice cream parlor where they'd once had a date in one afternoon.

"I don't get how of all ice cream flavors, you'd like vanilla. It really just seems a little bit plain and boring from where I'm sitting." He had commented as soon as they found a booth.

"Hey. Don't knock it until you've tried it." A smile crept on her face. "Vanilla looks uninteresting,true. But there really is a nuance to the flavor."

Swallowing his cookies and cream; he crinkled his nose, as if he was having a hard time believing that.

Seeing his reaction she felt the need to defend her preferred flavor even more, "it's not for everyone."

Which he was quick to respond "true" to.

Smiling to herself, she was taken aback yet again when she walked past the Italian restaurant they went to for their first date. She still didn't know if it was a date really, considering the whole celebratory dinner theme riding on it. But it hadn't mattered that night.

"I want to travel." She had told him when he'd asked her about the items on her bucket list.

"There's just so much stuff I want to see."

"Places of interest?"

"I don't know. Anything along the lines of galleries, libraries,archives, museums, you name it."

"I see." His eyes gleamed with interest. "So, what's in your travel memorabilia so far?"

She chuckled at this. "Okay so this one time I went to visit a cousin of mine in Istanbul, and I got lost. It was meant to be a walk, really. I was so impatient for a tour of the place, to the extent of failing to wait for my cousin to show me around after work. Then all of a sudden, I couldn't find my way back or even see it. I hadn't even committed her apartment number or at least street name to memory. And my mind just started racing when I found myself surrounded by tall structures everywhere."

Totally enraptured by the story he asked, "What did you do?"

"I called her, but she was unavailable. So I just took a deep breath and tried not to look like the tourist I was." She said, earning her a chuckle from him.

She resumed the storytelling, "then an idea came to mind. I had brought a camera with me on this walk, so I started taking pictures."

Now he full on laughed, "now that's one way of playing it cool."

Joining in she said, "you know, it was nolonger even about that at that point. I was having genuine fun."

"In a strange city," turning thoughtful he said "that's impressive. I know I would've freaked out."

"I did freak out too in the beginning, remember? But during my emerging tourist photographer moment, I realized that I was so focused on trying to find my way back that I forgot to just truly look around and admire my surroundings. And with that realization, I started to notice the personality of the architecture. The way people would greet each other in the street. Even the beauty of the street art, which was unlike anything I had seen before."

Seeing him watching her studiously and with amusement, she asked sheepishly "I talk a lot, don't I?"

"No, it's not that. I know it's rude but trust me, I'm only staring because I'm intrigued."

That was a relief to her. Probing her further,he asked "so,how did you find your way back after your scenery photography?"

"My cousin called me back when she knocked off. I sent her my location, and she came to save me." She chuckled at the memory.

The restaurant was packed that evening, but she was engrossed by his presence such that they might've been the only ones in it.

She had been reluctant when he had invited her. She thought she 'didn't want to give him ideas'. But upon spending that first moment together, she was glad she finally agreed. They had talked, exchanged hilarious stories and laughed all night.

This whole block of stores seemed to have a lot of memories attached to him. She thought, as she passed a little corner cafe. She suddenly remembered one morning at their usual coffee shop; before they started officially seeing each other, he had eyed her mocchiato and asked "Does that thing even taste like coffee?"

"Where's that coming from?" She had wondered.

"Curiosity. Seeing that you're always drinking it."

"Aren't you always drinking your black coffee too?" She called him out on his double standard undertone.

"I am. Because it's real coffee."

"And this isn't?" She found their little back and forth game amusing.

"I don't know. All I know is that whatever it is, I wouldn't drink it." He said frowning.

"Just like I wouldn't touch coffee that strong. I wouldn't want to bounce on walls or who knows? Maybe grow wings and fly away." She teased.

"To each their own poison,I guess." He laughed heartily.

Thinking more about it, she realized that she had never pretty much tried any other coffees. And because of that she found herself saying "Maybe we both have problems with trying new things."

"I don't."

"Then prove it." She challenged.

"How?"

Him c*****g an eyebrow was the sexiest thing he could do with his facial expressions, she thought but kept it to herself. And mentally returned to their conversation at hand.

"You have to try a new caffeine beverage. We both have to, to put my theory to the test. You know,for science."

Chuckling at the science inclusion,he said "Just give me the time, and I'll be here."

"Time and place." She had smirked like she was concealing a secret.

"We're not trying this experiment here?"

"Nope. New things, remember?"

A week had passed before she decided to invite him to the cafe she was passing now.

They both grew more and more confused as they looked at the menu. It seemed both of them hadn't realized just how endless the options for such beverages had gotten.

Everly deciding "I'll have the lotus biscoff iced coffee topped with whipped cream, biscoff crumbs and lotus sauce." She giggled as soon as she said it because she knew that he was frowning before she even looked up to check his face.

"I don't even have a vague image of what that is, but I'll have the same." He told the waiter who was watching both of them with an amusement,as if thinking about the kind of surprise they were in for.

"Not bad." She had said as soon as she tried it.

And all he gave her was, "Mmm."

She had smiled to herself as she realized that that's all she was ever going to get.

Maybe they should try new things more often,she thought. Because the total look of frustration and confusion on his face was that priceless.

When her eyes wandered further she saw the swings they had sat on, on another date. The day he had showed up at her door unannounced with Chinese takeout.

"I brought food." He had grinned,lifting the takeout bag high as soon as she had opened the door.

"This is a pleasant surprise." She had said,stepping aside to let him in.

"Me or the food?"

"Both."

"Yeah, I was in the area and thought I'd swing by" he lied through his teeth.

Everly had given him a pointed look upon seeing right through the lie, which made him retract his statement.

"Okay, fine." His hand raked through his hair, a habit she had noticed him always resorting to when frustrated.

"You said you'd call when you had decided about seeing me for dinner again," he spilled the real reason.

She had promised. But also, she hadn't been done thinking about it. Besides "It's only been a week."

She pointed out. "Maybe I am still thinking."

"Not avoiding me?"

"Not at all." She assured him. "In fact, I was going to call you this afternoon to see if we could do something later."

"And I just ruined it." He frowned.

"Well, only a bit. We could still make something of the day."

Relief spread over his features, and she saw him physically relax.

Making himself at home, he asked "where do you keep the plates?"

They had then eaten in silence. Stealing glances at each other here and there. Even during these early days when they still didn't know much about each other, their silence had been comfortable.

They both didn't feel the need to fill it with unnecessary chatter. After the meal, they'd gone for a walk around the block. He'd picked a flower that looked vaguely like tulip and placed in her hair just by the ear, which resulted in her blushing flushing bright red.

They'd crossed the road, and sat on the swings while talking about anything and everything until the sun set.

There was no escaping the memories, she thought defeated. They'd even gone for a drive with the destination totally hidden from her, on the very same road she walking near.

"Where are you taking me?" Excitement of spending even more time with him coursed through her veins that morning.

"You'll see"

"I don't like surprises." Her brows had knitted into a frown.

"I don't think it's that at all."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think you dislike surprises. Maybe you think so because you're feeling particularly impatient right now."

"I don't know. Maybe playing music will make my impatient mind wander and distract me a bit?" She eyed the stereo in his dashboard.

Smiling at the idea, he put on one of his recently created playlists.

"Classical music?" She had checked a while later.

"Yeah. A Beethoven playlist."

Seeing her frown at this, he said "I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head. So,why don't you go on and tell me how much you don't like my taste in music."

"I don't hate it. I just think it's... an unexpected genre preference."

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He could tell that she had struggled to find the right words to string together. Not that it mattered, she hadn't liked it. And was just being nice about it.

But his amusement came from memories of their ice cream date. "It helps me think clearly."

"You must think a lot," she teased him.

"It feels like it most days." He chuckled, "but as you like to say- it's not for everyone."

"Using my words against me now, counselor?"

"I couldn't resist," he admitted.

He had finally parked the car in front of a small lake, covered by just a thin forest. The place looked tranquil and breathtaking.

"Was it worth the patience?" he had held her hand as they walked towards the edge of the water.

Looking around in awe, she beamed "You have no idea! This is so beautiful." She wrapped her arms around his neck, for an appreciative embrace and a quick kiss. But they got carried away. As always. And it went from a 'this is a lovely surprise kiss' to a 'maybe we should get naked kiss' real quick. And without holding back, they ended up in the backseat of the car- devouring each other.

"This isn't what I had in mind when I brought you here," he had whispered as he held her after. "But I'm really not complaining."

She only blushed at this before asking, "how did you find this beautiful spot?"

"I was driving by shortly after moving here, about three years ago. I saw the dirt road and decided to investigate. And it became a safe haven for me since then. I come here a lot when I need to think or just to clear my head."

"You come here alone?" She inquired.

"Are you jealous?"

"Just a bit." Usually, admitting that would've been a problem for her. But something had felt right about letting him in on that little secret.

"Don't be. I've never brought anyone here before."

"Well, thank you for bringing me."

On their way back, she was happy. Her eyes were half closed as she soaked in their beautiful energy. Funnily enough, she even decided classical music wasn't that bad after all. Except she couldn't tell if she was just on a Michael drug or was genuinely having her taste in music educated. But she didn't care enough to dig deeper. She was on cloud nine, and didn't want to come down.

By the time she reached her house,she was exhausted. Not from the run, but from the images running around in her head. Not knowing what to do, she threw herself on the couch.

"Will this ever end?" she groaned loudly.