Popcorn Love

by KL Hughes

  Surely it would seem a little too eager to want to spend yet another full day with her after having just done so the day before. Yes, Elena told herself, it would be better to wait. She didn’t want to come across as too desperate or obsessed. Elena was not about to take any risks. What they had was new and delicate, and God help her, she really wanted it to work. It certainly didn’t stop her from babbling on with her son about Allison, though. They talked about having her around more often, to which Lucas clapped and agreed.

  “I share my dinosaurs with Alson,” he told her more than once, nodding firmly as if such an offer was sure to keep Allison coming back to see them time and time again.

  Given how much Allison seemed to love Lucas, Elena wouldn’t be surprised if it did. She kissed her son’s head. “That’s very generous of you, munchkin. I’m sure Allison would enjoy that.”

  “She can have sleepovers,” he added.

  Elena’s stomach flipped and she smiled. “She certainly can.”

  They visited two more galleries before lunch. They had plans to meet Elena’s father at a nearby restaurant, and Lucas was ecstatic.

  “Where’s Pop?” he asked on the way.

  “We’re not there yet, Lucas,” Elena laughed.

  “Oh,” he sighed. He waited only about ten seconds before asking again, “Where’s Pop?”

  * * *

  “She asked me if she could plan the second date.” Allison yawned. “I’m a little nervous that it’s gonna be something fancy and I’m not going to have any clothes that are appropriate to wear.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Macy told her, hating the insecurity lacing Allison’s voice. She knew Allison was a bit unnerved about dating a woman who was socially and financially the complete opposite of her. “It’s obvious Elena doesn’t care about any of that, Alli. She would’ve ended up with one of those rich blokes if that was the case.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s true,” Allison whispered, but her facial expression remained warped with concern.

  “Hey,” Macy said, “stop worrying. She obviously saw something in you, exactly the way you are. Whatever kind of date she chooses, it will be fine. Just be yourself.”

  “Myself is a broke orphan with secondhand clothes and not a damn clue which fork is the salad fork and which one is the dinner fork,” Allison told her, laughing despite the fact that her voice cracked.

  “Who the fuck cares about fork etiquette?” Macy scoffed, rolling her eyes.

  “Elena might.”

  “No,” Macy argued. “Elena cares about you, and even if you are a broke orphan with secondhand clothes, you’re a wonderful one that any damned woman would be lucky to hook. Understand?”

  Allison smiled, eyes glossed with tears, and nodded against her pillow. “Yeah, I hear you.”

  “Good,” Macy replied, grinning over her blanket. “Though again, let me just reiterate that a good orgasm can only increase your chances.”

  Allison burst into loud laughter, tears finally breaking at her lids and slipping down her cheeks.

  * * *

  “Look Lucas! There’s Pop!” Elena pointed across the restaurant as she patted Lucas’s bottom where he was propped on her hip.

  “Pop!” Lucas squealed, waving so dramatically that he nearly tipped Elena over. She held him a little tighter and made her way through the maze of tables to the small window table where her father waited for them.

  Lucas Sr. offered them both a wide smile, wrinkles forming around his eyes and mouth, and stood to greet them. Lucas gave no warning before launching across the small space and into his grandfather’s arms. The elder man laughed heartily. “Whoa, there’s my big guy.” He squeezed the toddler and patted his back.

  Lucas hugged his little arms around his grandfather’s neck and happily squealed. “Hola Pop!”

  Lucas Sr. chuckled again. “Hola.” He leaned over to wrap Elena in a one-armed embrace around the toddler still clinging to him. “Mija,” he greeted. “You look beautiful.”

  Elena kissed her father’s cheek and patted his shoulder. “Hi Daddy. Thank you.” She smoothed her hand over the arm of his suit. He had always been a very well-dressed man. “You look pretty dapper yourself.”

  “What ‘bout me, Momma?” Lucas asked, pulling his face away from his grandfather’s neck. “Am I dapper?”

  Elena reached out to pat his cheek. “Yes, munchkin. You look very handsome today.”

  Lucas, who had insisted on dressing to match his mother, had ended up in a dark purple button-up shirt with khaki shorts. It went quite well with the deep purple of Elena’s dress.

  “I ordered some stuffed peppers for an appetizer,” Lucas Sr. informed them. He settled Lucas into a high-chair before he and Elena dropped into their seats. “How does that sound?”

  Elena hummed in delight. “Delicious.”

  “Delicioso!” Lucas chirped from his high-chair. His pronunciation was a little off, but it made Elena proud nonetheless.

  Once seated, Elena pulled a few of Lucas’s dinosaur figurines from her bag as well as a juice box and placed them on the high-chair. He began crashing the toys together while Elena looked over her menu.

  “Where’s Mother?” Elena asked after she placed her order with the waiter.

  “Meeting with one of her many organizations.”

  “You don’t know which one?”

  Lucas Sr. ran a hand over his short gray hair and then over his trim goatee. “Of course not. She is involved with far too many charities and organizations for me to keep track of them. You know she only keeps me around to be her arm candy at all the banquets.”

  Elena laughed loudly at that.

  “So, your mother seems rather smitten about your new love interest,” Lucas Sr. said, smiling. “That’s rare. I take it you are just as smitten?”

  “Almost sickeningly so.” Elena ducked her head a bit and smiled. “I’ve hardly been able to think of anything else.” She then tilted her head in her son’s direction. “It seems Lucas hasn’t been able to either.”

  “There is nothing wrong with that, dear. Love is a beautiful thing.”

  “I don’t know about love.” Elena sighed. “I think it might be a bit early for such terms.”

  “An open mind is as important as an open heart, dear. Love can be fast or even immediate. It’s us who have to catch up to love, not the other way around.” He laughed when his daughter blushed and reached over to pat her hand. “So, when will I get to meet this young lady?”

  “Respectfully, Daddy, I would rather spare her having to meet yet another parent, at least for a while. Mother caught us both completely off guard, and Vivian certainly didn’t help. I’m surprised Allison even agreed to a second date after that.”

  “Well, from what your mother said, she seems like a resilient young woman. I’m sure she’s more than up to the challenge.”

  “That is true.” Elena nodded. “I’m sure you will meet her soon, but let’s at least wait until after the second date. You will love her though. She loves music as much as you do.”

  “Ah, well, there’s my vote.” Lucas Sr. chuckled. “Does she play any instruments?”

  “Mhm.” Elena took a sip of her water. “She plays guitar incredibly well, and she hasn’t even fully performed for me. But, from what little I have heard, I think it would be safe to assume that she has quite the voice as well.”

  “Oh, well, in that case, we will have to have a concert.” At Elena’s cautious look, he put his hands up. “I know, I know. You want to wait on the family matters.”

  “I don’t want her to feel rushed. I’m already toiling over when to contact her about the second date. I want to have an idea in mind, though, before I do. I haven’t a clue where to take her.”

  “No ideas?”

  “Not even one. You know I abhor the cliché dinner dates. I doubt Allison would enjoy something like that either.”

  “Then what do you think she would enjoy?”

  “I’m unsure. I hate that I
feel so nervous about planning this date. The mere thought of messing this up makes me sick to my stomach.”

  “Well, you’ve always been a perfectionist, Elena.”

  “Is it so wrong to want to plan the perfect date? I just want this to go well. Do you think I’m being ridiculous?”

  “Not at all, dear. It is natural to be a little nervous when you want things to work with someone new, but I think you will be fine. You just need to relax.”

  “That is easy for you to say. You aren’t the one attempting to court someone who is entirely your opposite.” She rested her head in her palm as she leaned her elbow on the table and reached for her water.

  “Elena, do you know how it is that your mother and I have remained so strong all these years?” Lucas Sr. reached across the table to pat her hand. “We have always shared everything with each other. We share our likes as well as our dislikes with one another. We share our passions. We share the things we love most with each other.”

  “Like your music,” Elena offered, grinning. She always found it so endearing to listen to her father talk about her mother and their marriage.

  “Yes, like my music. And your mother’s passion and eye for art, our love of travel, our interests in business and politics, our complete lack of trust in the government seventy percent of the time.”

  Elena chuckled and shook her head back and forth. She melted, though, when her father added, “And our love for you, Elena.”

  “And me!” Lucas dropped his plastic triceratops to look up at his grandfather.

  Lucas Sr. laughed, the sound booming out from their corner of the restaurant. He reached over to ruffle his grandson’s hair. “That’s right, Lucas. Gram and I love you very much.”

  “Love you, Pop.” Lucas ducked his head, grabbing his dinosaurs. He crashed his triceratops into his pterodactyl while making shrieking sounds that made Elena’s eye twitch. She placed a hand over Lucas’s arm.

  “Not so loud, munchkin.”

  “Sorry Momma.” He lowered his voice and whisper-shrieked as he continued to bash his dinosaurs together.

  “So, what exactly are you suggesting then, Daddy?” Elena asked, turning back to her father.

  “I’m suggesting, dear, that you don’t overthink it.”

  Elena grunted. “Easier said than done.”

  “If you want something real to develop, mija, then stop thinking in terms of wooing the girl and just be yourself. Show her your passion instead. It’s part of what makes you so special. Show her the things you love and why. Share them with her.”

  A bright smile painted itself across Elena’s face when she looked up a moment later and said, “I think I have an idea.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Allison woke up with her stomach completely in knots. She had expected time to drag, but even with the anticipation of the second date, the week had flown by. She had been grateful for the distraction school provided, keeping her mind off her buzzing nerves.

  She rubbed bits of crust from her eyes as she rolled over in bed and glanced at the flashing red digits on her alarm clock. Elena had told her to be ready by nine in the morning, so she still had plenty of time. Allison had never been invited on a morning date before. She wasn’t even sure if a morning date was an actual thing that couples did, but whatever. She was fairly certain she would show up anyplace at any time Elena asked her to. The woman was quickly becoming an addiction.

  Sheets rustled as she slid her arm across her mattress, seeking her cell phone. She frequently lost it in her bed after staying up late reading e-books on the device until the words all began to blur together. She let out a soft hiss as her fingers finally slipped over the cold device where it was stuffed under the upper right corner of her pillow.

  Allison tapped out a text to Elena and pressed send before tossing her phone back onto her pillow and sitting up to stretch out her back and limbs.

  Hey, good morning. I just wanted to make sure we were still on for today.

  A soft groan escaped her as her back bowed forward and burned with the delicious stretch. Before her arms had even extended fully over her head, though, her phone chimed with Elena’s response.

  Allison glanced at Macy’s bed to make sure the chime hadn’t disturbed or woken her, but it was empty. She likely went home with someone the night before or crashed at a friend’s place. After sending a text requesting confirmation that Macy was alive, she then switched over to Elena’s messages to read her reply. She rolled her eyes at herself when she realized she was holding her breath as she clicked on Elena’s name.

  “Chill out, Allison.” She needed to just relax. There was absolutely no possible way that Elena would cancel on her on the morning of their actual date, right? Right!

  A smile snuck across her lips, though, quelling that tiny spark of apprehension as she read Elena’s reply.

  Of course we are. Why? Is today no longer good for you? I know it’s early, but I promise there is a reason.

  No, I’m totally still down. I don’t mind that it’s early, though I still have no clue what we’re supposed to be doing at nine a.m. because SOMEBODY is being stubborn.

  Patience, dear. ;)

  Allison grinned as she bit her bottom lip and clutched her phone. The little winky face at the end caused a wave of tingles to ripple down her spine.

  Yeah, yeah. I’m being patient, she typed back. So, should I meet you somewhere or are you picking me up? What’s the plan?

  A black town car will be there to collect you at nine sharp.

  Laughing, Allison shook her head. That was some Pretty Woman shit right there, except Allison wasn’t a hooker or a ginger, but hey, whatever. It was fancy stuff nonetheless. Before she could inquire further, her phone chimed again.

  I apologize that I cannot pick you up myself, but you will quickly discover why.

  That’s cool, Allison replied. I trust you. Is there any specific way that I should dress or something?

  No, dear. Wear whatever you like.

  Awesome. I guess I’ll see you in a few hours then?

  Allison smiled at Elena’s quick response. I very much look forward to it, Allison.

  Me too.

  Jumping off her bed, Allison headed for the shower, her entire body buzzing with excitement.

  * * *

  Allison approached the black town car cautiously. She was about halfway from the dorm building to the vehicle when the driver’s-side door opened, and a tall, balding man in an extremely expensive suit stepped out. Allison eyed him warily as he stepped around the nose of the car sporting a wide smile.

  “You must be Miss Sawyer. Good morning.”

  Stopping a few feet away from the man and car, Allison narrowed her eyes as, in a clipped manner, she asked, “How did you know?”

  The driver moved toward the rear door of the town car. He opened it as he answered her. “Nine a.m. sharp. Long blonde hair, striking green eyes, and an attitude.” He smirked. “Miss Vega’s description was certainly on point.”

  Allison laughed. “Hey, watch it.”

  The driver motioned once more toward the now-visible back seat of the town car. When she didn’t make a move, he cleared his throat and asked, “Shall we?”

  She shook her head. “Look man,” she said, holding up a hand, “I’m not trying to be rude or anything, but when you’ve lived the life that I’ve lived, you don’t just trust people because they smile and know what to say, okay? It’s one thing to go into a nice stranger’s house or something, because at least I can still make a break for it if I need to, but if I get in your car, you could friggin’ take me anywhere you wanted and the only option I would have would be to like either jump out or try to wreck the car, and neither one of those options bodes well for my physical well-being. Know what I’m saying?”

  Chuckling, the man scratched at the back of his head. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this, haven’t you?”

  “Yup,” she replied with a loud smack of her lips.

  “
Well, if I was a kidnapper, how would I know your name and the name of the woman who sent for you?”

  “Psh, please. There are lots of ways to find out easy information like that. You could’ve been stalking me for days or something. You could’ve hacked into my phone and read my texts and knew what kind of car I’d be waiting for. I mean, come on. Tons of serial killers have had way more elaborate schemes than that for just getting a person into a car, let alone all the stuff that comes after. I mean, Ted Bundy dressed up like a police officer to get potential victims to trust him and get into a car. He had all kinds of schemes and even faked different accents. That shit was elaborate. How do I know this whole ‘I’m-your-driver thing’ isn’t just a scheme?”

  “I suppose you have a point.” A new, small smile pulled at his lips. “Though I think maybe you need to lay off the documentaries and crime shows.”

  “Hey, those shows could be saving my life right now.” The man’s smile only grew.

  “Fair enough.” He tilted his head. “You’re a smart girl; I’ll give you that. So, what can I do to gain your trust?”

  “Simple.” Allison shrugged as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “First, what’s your name?”

  “Rick,” he said. “Rick Adkins.”

  “Okay, Rick. Just stay right there.” She opened her camera app and held her phone up. When she angled it just right so that the sun wasn’t glaring on the lens, she snapped a picture of the driver. “Okay, just give me one sec.”

  She inserted the photo into a text message to Elena: So, before I get in some stranger’s car, can you confirm that this Rick Adkins dude is your driver?”