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“Yes, I’ll hold the remote for you.” I followed her over to the pantry door. She walked inside and started rummaging through things.
Finally, she held up a bag with excitement, “PRINTSLS!”
Her pronunciation was killing me. “OH! Pretzels!” She nodded, still all smiles. I took the bag from her and grabbed a Ziplock snack bag to pour some inside. "Just a few. I don’t want you to spoil your dinner with your daddy.” I handed her the baggy and the remote and watched as she walked back to her spot on the couch.
Flora finally arrived and was kind enough to knock so I wasn’t scared. “Hey Flora.”
“Hey! I’m so sorry Dean is late. His job is crazy sometimes, but let’s hope nothing happened with his crew. It’s dangerous work they do.”
I never asked him what he did. “Oh, what does he do?”
“He’s a logger.” She turned her attention from me to Ada. “Where’s my favorite girl?”
Ada perked her head up and yelled, “Over here, auntie Flora!”
Their relationship was so sweet. Ada loved her so much. I said, “Flora, please let Dean know, if he ever needs to me to stay, I can. Ironically, tonight I have something going on.”
“Of course, Elly. Thank you so much for that. I’ll let him know. You have a great night. Oh, will you lock the door before you pull it shut?”
Smiling at her, I said, “Will do. Bye Ms. Ada.”
Ada ran up to me and hugged my legs, looking up at me. “Bye bye, Ms. Elly. I’m happy you know how to find the printsls.” We laughed as she went back to the couch with Flora, and I left to meet TJ.
*
I was sitting at the restaurant waiting on TJ who was once again late. TJ and I had an interesting relationship. We were introduced at a party held by TJ’s parents and hit it off right away. He seemed great, but the further along we got into our relationship, the more I became unsure about him. It made me put the brakes on anything intimate. We hadn’t slept together yet. In fact, I hadn’t ever slept with anyone. It was an area of contention between us, along with my weight. I wasn’t sure why I still agreed to meet him for dinner when all he did was try to order my food for me. He spent a great deal of time trying to tell me what was and wasn’t good for me. I was a grown woman. I didn’t need him to be such a chode about it.
Finally, I saw him walk in. He spotted me and came over to the table, leaned down, kissed my cheek, and sat. “Hey El.” He smelled weird, not like himself, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.
“You’re late.”
“I know. Sorry. I uh got caught up with the guys at the club.”
“Golfing again. Surprise, surprise.” I gave him an unenthused look.
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t start, El. I’m here, aren’t I.”
Setting my napkin on the table, I leaned in to keep my voice down. “Don’t do me any favor’s, TJ. This was your idea. In fact, I don’t know what we’re doing at all. Let me make it easy for you. This is over.”
“Elly!”
“Oh, you’re shocked? You can’t be serious.”
He looked genuinely heartbroken, which surprised me. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to break up. Come on. I’m sorry I was late.”
“Where were you?”
“I told you! I was at the club. It’s Rich’s birthday.”
Nodding, I said, “Stop treating me like I’m an inconvenience, TJ.”
He grabbed my hand across the table and said, “I’m sorry. Come on, let’s order dinner.”
The rest of the night was subpar. We had dinner and dessert, then he followed me back to my apartment. Once I parked, I got in the car with him. TJ had been in my apartment early in our relationship, but recently, I avoided having him there. He’d been making sly comments about being together and frankly, with the way he treated me, I wasn’t anywhere ready to hand him my V-card.
We made out in the car for a while, but my thoughts kept going to Dean. I wondered what kind of kisser he was. Dean was a logger. He worked with his hands, and I thought about how rough and calloused they were and what they would feel like touching me. I was lost while making out with TJ because my mind was on Dean. Before I knew it, TJ was pulling me onto his lap. It wasn’t easy since I’m thicker, but he kicked his seat back to make room.
“God, El. Your body is gorgeous. Come on, let me feel you…”
