gives Kate and me each a kiss on the cheek in greeting, murmuring, "You look lovely," to me as his mouth brushes my cheek.
"You too. I mean, you look great," I mumble.
"You kids have fun." Kate pushes us towards the door.
Ryan has just started the car when I turn to him. "This isn't a date."
He looks at me before moving his glance to the rear view mirror and backing out of the driveway. "Pity."
I cannot think of a response to that, so I just fold my hands in my lap and look out the window. We drive in silence until Ryan nears someplace called Ybor City. He takes me to a Cuban restaurant on 7th Avenue. It is dim inside, and there are a lot of people waiting for a table, but Ryan has a reservation so we are seated right away. While we look at the menu, I confess I have never had Cuban food before.
"Can't go wrong with arroz con pollo," Ryan suggests.
I think the Spanish-sounding dish sounds funny with Ryan's accent and ask him to say it again a couple of times before asking what it is. It sounds much more exotic than chicken and rice but something I'd like so when our server comes I order it. After dinner, we pop into a bar with a live band. I surprise Ryan by asking if he'd like to dance. The band plays cover songs of stuff I hear on the radio but with a beachy-sounding twist. Ryan is fun to dance with. He does not get too close but still takes my hands or rests his hands on my hips. I put my arms around his neck but the music stops for the band to take five.
Ryan leans his forehead on mine and breathes. "Why can't this be a date?"
I take a step back. What’s the point? Even if this could be a date, I’m leaving in two days. There’s no point getting all worked up over something that isn’t going to happen. In the long run, I'll have to forget about Ryan. It’s best to keep my distance. he gauges my reaction, and his face falls.
"Can I buy you a beer?"
He nods and follows me to the bar. The silence between us becomes uncomfortable.
Groaning, I try to lighten the mood. "Believe me. You wouldn't want to be on a date with me. I'm awful, and noisy, and no fun. You really dodged a bullet."
He smiles at me and holds his glass up for cheers. "To dodging bullets."
"I'll drink to that," I smile, clinking my glass to his.
The rest of our evening is free of any awkward moments. We stroll along 7th Avenue, checking out the different shops, bars, and restaurants before turning back towards Ryan's car.
"Red punch buggy, no punch backs!"
"Ompf!" Ryan gapes at me "Did you just hit me?"
"Mm hmm."
"Why?"
"Have you ever played punch buggy?"
"’Fraid not."
"It's kinda hard in the dark." I cringe, thankful he can't see me as I feel my face redden.
"I'm listening." He chuckles.
"Oh hush. What I meant was it's harder to find punch buggies when it's dark out. That red one was a lucky call ‘cause it was right in front of us."
"So how do you play?"
"See a bug, call it, punch, say no punch backs. That's about it."
"I don’t want to play a game where I hit you."
"Well, you don’t have to punch hard."
"You did."
"You looked like you could take it."
"Oh, I see how it is."
I just giggle, which makes Ryan shake his head at me. He drops me off in front of Kate's house.
"You're not coming in?"
"It's late. I have to get up early tomorrow. I have another fishing group going out."
"Oh, right. Well, thank you. I had a really great time."
"So did I."
"Will you be back in time for dinner tomorrow?"
"Should be."
"Oh, um, great. Okay. Bye."
The house is dark, and Kate has already gone to sleep. I change and get ready for bed. It takes me some time to fall asleep. I cannot help but think about how Ryan had wanted it to be a date. I wanted it to be a date too. I'm regretting telling him no. I try to think about Jon, try to picture his face, anything to not dwell on Ryan.
~*~
The smell of coffee wakes me the next morning. I head toward the kitchen. Kate is pouring herself a cup when I walk in.
"Morning, dear. Did you have fun last night?"
"Morning, Kate. Yes. I had a great time."
I set her coffee on a