Evergreen

Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11: First Date

***

‘Woah!!’

Michael and I were walking towards the restaurant entrance when my heel got stuck in a gap in the asphalt. I went flying and he had to catch me.

Well, no, I didn’t go flying. It was more of a spectacular stumble. And since I ended up in his arms, I didn’t mind the trip. He caught me by the waist and I sort of fell back into him, steadying myself by holding on to his strong arms. It was one of those moments where you would probably ask ‘hey, have you been working out?’ but that would've been a stupid question to ask a six time gold medalist.

‘Are you okay? Michael asked, as I rebalanced myself.

Michael and I were standing opposite each other now, his hands still on my waist. I looked down towards my feet and inspected for any signs of damage.

‘Yes. Everything is okay,’ I reassured him. ‘My shoes are fine.’

‘I’m not worried about the shoes, I’m worried about you.’

Aaaaww, how sweet. But my shoes were still a high priority.

‘I hope they didn’t hear you say that. They’d be offended,’ I said.

‘The shoes?’

‘Yes.’

He gives me a confused look. I look down sympathetically to my Marc Jacobs shoes. They were new; I had bought them at Saks the other day. I look up at him, looking into his dreamy brown eyes. The confused look disappears from his face.

‘Is this one of those girly things I’m not going to understand?’

‘You know that episode of ‘Sex and the City’ where that thief steals Carrie’s Manolo Blahniks?’ I asked.

He tries to figure out what I’m referring to but then shakes his head.

‘Well, no, but go on.’

‘Yeah, I wouldn’t have given up my shoes so easily. I would’ve totally kicked that guy’s ass,’ I said.

‘Did the thief have a gun?’

‘Wouldn’t have mattered.’

‘You’d put your life in danger for a pair of shoes?!’ he said incredulously.

‘What can I say? I like my money where I can see it: In my shoe closet,’ I shrugged.

‘Yeah, okay. Let’s go into the café now,’ he smirked.

He takes the opportunity to wrap one arm around my waist, as if to make sure I wouldn’t trip again.

He had brought me to a café uptown. Modestly decorated in sunny yellows, blanched vermilions and raw pinks, it had a warm atmosphere regardless of the fact we had just entered winter. It was half full (or half empty, depending on how you saw it) but those who had finished their meals seemed content to stay and talk.

The maitre d recognizes Michael instantly and leads us to a quieter corner of the café.

‘I asked for a more private spot, so we wouldn’t have to yell to hear each other,’ he said into my ear.

‘Good idea. Although, I can be pretty loud when required of me.’

Too loud sometimes. Do you know how many times I’ve been caught talking about someone, unaware that they were nearby? Too many times, that’s how many.

We’re seated and given menus. I place my handbag under the table.

‘Everything is on me. So, you can order more than two coffees this time,’ Michael said. ‘But don’t order too many, one of teammates on the national team said that if you have seventy two in one day, you’ll die.’

‘Well, then. I’ll keep my limit to seventy one,’ I winked.

We both laughed. It’s only three o’clock in the afternoon and I think I’ve already overstepped my smiling quota for the week.

‘Can I ask you a question?’ Michael asked.

I pretended to have an internal struggle with my thoughts. Then I sat up straight.

‘Okay. Mr Trebek, I’ll have ‘Questions from Olympic gold medalists’ for $200,’ I said brightly, pretending to be on ‘Jeopardy’.

‘I think you watch too many game shows,’ he chuckled.

‘No, only the ones where you use your brain. My brother thinks ‘The Price is Right’ requires thought. It so doesn’t. Right there, that’s why he got into Yale and not Harvard,’ I explained.

‘Oh, so how many siblings do you have?’ he asked.

‘Who is my brother, Edward,’ I answered in ‘Jeopardy’ style.

‘That wasn’t my original question.’

‘Oh. I’ll have ‘Questions from World Record Holders’ for $400.’

Michael’s face goes blank for a second.

‘Now I’ve forgotten what I was going to ask,’ he said.

‘Well, ask something else then.’

‘Okay. What are you studying at college?’

‘What is international relations. ‘Questions from Males Featured in Teen Vogue’ for $600.’

‘Ummm…what do you want to be?’

‘What is a Member of Congress. ‘Questions from Great Swimmers Who Don’t Have Their Own Underwear Line’ for $800.’

‘Your category names are very flattering. You’re making me blush,’ he said, touching his cheek with his right hand. He opened up his menu. ‘So what are you going to have?’

‘What is the salmon and leek tart,’ I answered.

‘You can stop that now.’

‘There’s still one category left.’

‘Oh, and what’s that?’ he asked, looking up from his menu.

‘History of the Cold War.’

‘That’s a little different from the others, isn’t it?’

‘I have to mix it up a little,’ I resigned.

I began scanning the beverage list. Coffee it is. I gave a quick glance to the people at the tables around us. I turned back to Michael.

‘I think a lot of people are recognizing you,’ I said to him.

‘Actually, I think only a few people have recognized me. There are quite a few guys checking you out and giving me evil looks because I’m with you,’ Michael said.

‘I can’t tell whether you’re being sarcastic or not.’

‘I’m not being sarcastic,’ he smiled.

‘Oh. Well, you just scored more brownie points then.’

‘Is there a reward if I collect enough points?’

‘I’m not an Xbox game, Michael,’ I laughed.

‘You’re better than Xbox.’

‘Well, I’ll get back to you about the reward then.’

The two of us sat there trying to outsmile each other.

And I couldn’t tell who was winning.

Chapter 12: Inspiration

***

‘You were right.’

Michael was walking me back to Ivana’s dorm building, as he had parked his car not too far away. However, we stopped for a goodbye chat in the front gardens.

‘About what?’ he asked me.

I stepped up onto a low lying bench. Which wasn’t an easy feat in heels. I gave a wistful look to the evening sky, before looking back down at Michael.

‘You are a good listener.’

He grinned.

‘Well, you’re very welcome.’

I had told him about a number of things on my mind. For each subject I had opened up about, I also had felt a bit better for sharing.

‘Look, Michael! I’m taller than you now,’ I said brightly, pacing slowly across the bench.

‘You are already tall without the heels, without the bench,’ he said. He paused before speaking again. ‘Ivy, I think you should think about what I said. You know, about trying to talk to your mom about stuff.’

‘I don’t know. I’ll think about it,’ I said, not being able to hide traces of disdain from my voice.

He nodded in understanding. He decided to change the subject.

‘So, Ivana must have classes on Thursday? When are you and Kate going back to Harvard?’ he asked.

‘I’ll be back in Boston on Sunday. But I’m leaving here on Friday night. I have to be in New York on Saturday.’

‘Friday? That’s a little sooner than I thought,’ he frowned.

‘Yeah, if my mother wasn’t on the executive board of half the charity events in New York I wouldn’t have to leave so early.’

‘Well, I guess it gives you a reason to make the most of the time you have left. What are you doing tomorrow night?’

‘Not sure yet,’ I smiled, knowing I was about to get a second date.

‘I’ll give you a call in the afternoon then, so we can organize to go out somewhere. I have some business stuff, calls to make in the morning. Sponsors, you know? And ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine.’

‘I like to think I’m like ‘Vanity Fair’.’

‘Yeah, how’s that?’

‘Glossy on the outside. Gritty on the inside,’ I said, quoting them.

Michael put his hand out and I took it, stepping off the bench gracefully. We started walking, holding hands till we reached the dorm building entrance. I turned to face him.

‘So, have you thought about my reward?’ he asked with a smirk.

‘Well, you can choose to redeem your brownie points now and receive a lesser reward. Like a kiss on the cheek. Or you can wait, earn more points tomorrow and get something of more value,’ I explained, also with a smirk.

‘Hmmm. I choose to earn more points. But I’ll give you a kiss on the cheek now, anyway.’

Now that was a good answer.

***

When I opened Ivana’s door, there were about ten different shopping bags littered around the room. They had obviously been to the mall.

‘You guys went shopping without me?’ I exclaimed. ‘How dare you!’

‘We had to do something while you were gone,’ Ivana shrugged.

‘Yeah, we had a great time. We swapped ‘Ivy Stories’,’ Kate said.

‘‘Ivy Stories’? That doesn’t sound too promising,’ I said.

‘Enough about what we did. Come on! Spill!’ Ivana ordered.

‘Yeah, did you make out with him?’ Kate asked.

‘Kate!’

‘Ivy on the first date? No way,’ Ivana said dismissively.

‘It was a good date. He was nice. I let him kiss me on the cheek. He’s going to call me tomorrow,’ I said laconically.

‘Okay. As a fellow Harvard student, I’m offended by your simplistic summary. I do have a brain that can process a little more detail than that,’ Kate said patronizingly. ‘Most of that description was in monosyllables.’

‘I would like to keep the details private,’ I said. ‘I told you it was good.’

‘Typical,’ Ivana said. ‘I’m going to add this to the list of ‘Ivy Stories’.’

I tried to imagine what this list consisted of. On the negative side, probably all of the times they had thought I had been ridiculous, had been in denial or had been amusingly obnoxious. On the positive side, all of the times I had been a stellar friend, my triumphs and my proud moments. Ivana had known me for far longer, but the list was most likely comprehensive nonetheless.

‘She doesn’t want to tell us anything because then she’ll give away how much she likes him,’ Kate said smugly. ‘Fine, Ivy. Be that way. But we know the truth.’

‘Well, if you know so much already then I won’t have to say anything further,’ I said.

They must have been tired from shopping because they only rolled their eyes at me half-heartedly.

I took my coat off and my shoes as well. I sat on the floor cross legged, and started to open shopping bags to see what the two of them had bought. A few CDs, a book, lip gloss, jewelry and numerous clothes items from different stores.

‘I have an announcement to make!’

Kate was standing on Ivana’s roommate’s bed as if it was a soapbox or another sort of speaking platform.

‘Will I need refreshments before you start?’ I asked her.

‘I don’t know about that. But I’ll allow you to eat and drink during the interval,’ she replied.

‘Interval?! How long are you going to take?’

‘Shut up, Ivy. Go on, Kate,’ Ivana said.

‘Okay. In light of Ivy’s quest for true love…’

‘Hey! Rephrase that please,’ I protested.

‘You can’t interrupt!’ Kate said. ‘As I was saying, in light of Ivy and her sincerity in encountering someone to be amorous with…’

‘That’s just as bad. In certain contexts that would be highly suggestive,’ I protested again.

‘Shut up!’ Ivana repeated. ‘Kate’s trying to say something.’

‘Okay. In light of Ivy and Michael…’ Kate restarted.

‘Hold on. We’re not even…’ I began.

‘Ivy! Will you ever shut up? Let Kate say what she’s trying to say.’

‘Okay. I’m sorry,’ I said without pretense. I raised my hands in surrender.

‘I’m removing Ivy from my opening sentence. Here we go. In light of others treating the subject of love in a more serious manner than before…’

‘But you’re still trying to refer to me indirectly!’ I interrupted.

‘SHUT UP!’

‘Sorry, it just came out,’ I apologized.

‘Okay I’m removing all references, direct or indirect, to Ivy. Here we go. I have been inspired to take my love life in a new direction,’ Kate said.

‘Forward?’

‘IVY!!!’ Ivana cried.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ I said, stopping my giggling. ‘It’s just that you have a new interest every week.’

‘That’s my point,’ Kate said seriously. ‘I was thinking today and I came to a new conclusion. I want to find someone I really want to be with, in a serious relationship. I want somebody who I can have fun with but also someone who will be there for me.’

She bowed as if it were the end of a performance. Ivana clapped.

‘You go girl!’

‘Yeah, well done,’ I said, agreeing.

Kate jumped off the bed onto the floor. She sat down next to me and gave me nudge.

‘Doesn’t it scare you that I’m taking your lead?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I said. I was supposed to say that with a straight face but I thought of Michael and I couldn’t help smiling.

In fact, my face muscles were beginning to hurt from smiling so much.

Chapter 13: The Right Moves

***

‘Michael, can I please change the CD?’

I said this while motioning to press the ‘change CD’ button on his car’s interchangeable CD player. He took one hand off the steering wheel and swatted my hand away from the player.

‘No, you can’t. I like this song.’

‘But I have no idea what he’s rapping about,’ I sulked, referring to Eminem.

‘I’m sure it won’t kill you, Ivy.’

‘But he is rapping about killing!’

‘I thought you said you had no idea what he what rapping about.’

‘I don’t. All I heard was ‘blah blah blah kill blah blah blah death’ so I just came to my own conclusions,’ I laughed.

I sat there trying to decipher the fast and furious words, while Michael bopped his head to the song in a more pronounced manner as the beat got faster.

‘Is it like a rule or something?’ I asked him.

‘What is?’

‘Like in ‘Rush Hour’,’ I explained. I then put on a voice with an attitude. ‘Don’t you EVER touch an Olympic Champion’s radio!’

‘I would never say anything like that,’ he laughed, not being able to look at me as he drove onto a major road.

‘I know, but you’re far too humble. I feel the need to be arrogant on your behalf.’

He laughed modestly again. He then changed the song from the one playing to one called ‘Mockingbird’ from the album ‘Encore’.

‘You’ll like this one better,’ he said.

I sat there listening to the song while looking out of the window. It was starting to get dark outside already. I still felt a bit weird being up high in the 2005 Land Rover in comparison to my own car. It’s a completely different viewpoint. I’d have a power trip driving a car like this; it’s like you own the road.

‘So what are Kate and Ivana doing tonight? I didn’t really think about it before but I’m kinda taking you away from them. I mean, you’re supposed to be visiting Ivana and all,’ Michael asked.

‘Oh, with everyone coming back to campus, they’re going to hang out with Ivana’s friends,’ I answered. ‘I haven’t met Ivana’s roommate yet, but apparently she’s going to sleep in her boyfriend’s dorm room so Kate doesn’t have to sleep on the floor.’

‘That was nice of her.’

‘Yeah, I know. Ivana said she was Canadian, I didn’t know that before,’ I said. ‘How many fans do you have in Canada, do you reckon?’

‘I really have no idea. I can’t guess.’

‘Well, you must have some. Unless they’re all bitter about you winning more gold medals than their entire Olympic team.’

‘Are you being arrogant on my behalf, again?’

‘Yes.’

‘You don’t have to do that,’ he told me with a shake of his head.

‘But I enjoy it!’

Michael parked the car and we made our way through to the Main Street area in downtown Ann Arbor. It was already quite alive, though the night was still young. Most of the restaurants, pubs, and cafés were near capacity. There were also quite a few shoppers browsing around looking at art, jewelry, books and toys.

‘Let’s get a coffee first, then you can shop,’ Michael said.

‘Okay,’ I said, while eying a few of the shops and the items in them as we walked by.

We got a table for two at a coffee place in the heart of Main Street. A band was playing in the far corner, sort of a New Orleans-esque flavor. We ordered coffees and snacks, the waiter recognizing Michael and asking for an autograph.

‘Doesn’t that get annoying? People asking for autographs?’ I asked when the waiter had left.

‘Well, they probably wouldn’t be asking if I hadn’t had any success. So, I don’t mind really,’ he shrugged.

‘I can’t spin that response into arrogance,’ I conceded.

‘Giving up already?’

‘Yep. I’ll concentrate on my own arrogance then.’

‘I don’t think you need to work on that,’ he smirked.

I pinched him hard on the arm.

‘Hey, I was joking,’ he laughed. ‘Didn’t have to pinch me!’

‘Well, I would’ve got you to stand up so I could’ve punched you in the stomach…but somehow I think doing that would have hurt my hand more than it would have hurt you.’

‘Aw, that’s sweet.’

‘It’s more realistic than sweet. I’m not going to bruise myself on your abs. I need my right hand.’

‘Fair enough. But no more pinching. Or punching. ’

‘I won’t lay a hand on you.’

‘Oh, well that blows my plans for tonight!’ he joked suggestively with a mischievous smirk.

‘Don’t do that!’

‘What?’

‘Don’t go from modest to naughty in five seconds,’ I said pleadingly. ‘It throws me off completely and I don’t know how to respond. It’s the same thing when Kate switches her IQ level in an instant.’

‘Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t do that again,’ he reassured me, wiping the grin off his face.

‘Good.’

Our order comes and I start to drink my coffees ceremoniously. I nibble at a Quiche Lorraine and some Italian bread before starting my second. But when I look at Michael, I notice the smirk has subtly reappeared while he’s drinking his coffee.

I look at him accusingly and speak to him in an official manner, as if I’m the director of the FBI telling a bunch of field agents not to disobey orders.

‘I can’t drink my coffee if you’re thinking about me naked.’

He almost spits out his coffee.

‘Well, I hadn’t gone that far. But I’m tempted to now!’

‘Well, don’t.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ he winked.

‘Don’t call me ma’am.’

‘How would you like me to address you then?’

‘’Your Royal Highness’ works for me,’ I answered.

‘Oh, okay. But only because I want to treat you like a princess,’ he said sincerely, his smile returning to its sweeter nature.

‘Don’t do that,’ I whined. ‘You can’t go from naughty back to modest in five seconds either.’

‘I’m sorry,’ he apologized, giving me the puppy dog eyes.

I give him a look of mock scorn and continue with my second coffee.

Later, when we’re browsing in a gift shop I decided to bring up New York. I was still apprehensive about doing so, but I didn’t want to have to go back to Boston and not see him again for who knows how long.

‘Michael, what are you doing this weekend?’

‘Um, let’s see. My mom will be back in Baltimore tomorrow, and my sisters will no longer be here either, you’ll be gone Friday night…I have my Xbox though. Halo 2 is a totally sick game, so I guess I’ll be playing that. And swimming a bit obviously.’

‘I thought you said you already completed that game.’

‘But there are so many other modes and options and walkthroughs…’

He stopped when he saw my blank expression.

‘Oh. Were you going to ask me something?’ he asked, catching on.

I felt a little discouraged, for one reason or another. I hesitated, I already felt a bit embarrassed. Why was it that I could stand in front of a packed auditorium and deliver a speech but I couldn’t ask this question with the same amount of confidence? I recognized in myself the same vulnerability I thought I had saw in Michael when he first asked me out. No one wants to get rejected.

‘Um…if you weren’t busy I thought that maybe you’d like to…,’ I began. I tried to exude some more confidence. ‘Come back to New York with me? I mean, Kate is coming with me too so...yeah, we have three guestrooms at home and…’

‘Yeah, that would be great,’ Michael said enthusiastically.

I sighed with relief.

‘From now on, you’re doing all the asking out because I can’t do it without starting to lose it.’

‘Don’t be so hard on yourself,’ he smiled.

We were in a private corner of the shop, since the antique wood shelves were high, and the owner was out at the front. The lighting was subdued but warm. Knowing there would be no privacy back at the dorm building with U of M students returning, I made an impulsive decision.

‘Do you want your reward now?’ I asked, with my confidence reinstated.

Michael put his hands on my waist and inched me closer. I put my arms around him and looked up, waiting for him to say something, a verbal response.

But I never got one. He leant in and kissed me, gently at first but then more passionately. We pulled away slowly, letting our lips linger as we caught our breath.

‘That was a ‘yes’, by the way,’ he said breathlessly.

Perfect answer.

Chapter 14: The Complications

***

Just before we three girls were going to enter the lecture theater where Ivana’s Thursday morning Anthropology lecture was being held, my brother called me on my cell. I groaned, but told Ivana and Kate to go in without me. I stood outside the building and answered the call.

‘What do you want?’

‘Ivy, that’s a horrible way to answer the phone. What if someone important was using my phone?’ Edward said.

‘Like who?’ I asked.

‘I don’t know. But don’t you remember the time I picked up the phone at home and answered with ‘yo yo dawg wassup?’ thinking it was my friend from Yale and it actually turned out to be Mayor Bloomberg?’

‘Yeah, that was funny!’

‘No, it wasn’t. I can’t show my face at any Republican event now.’

‘What do you want, Ed? By the way, your voice sounds much better.’

‘Thanks. I rang to check up on you. Out of interest, who are you bringing home with you?’ he asked.

‘Kate and the guy I’m dating. Ivana can’t come.’

‘So this guy…he’s not an Ivy Leaguer?’

‘No.’

‘Not from New York or anywhere in New England?’

‘No.’

‘Is he wealthy?’

‘Yes.’

‘Old money or new money?’

‘New money. But that’s not why I’m dating him. Your questions are elitist and frankly quite ridiculous.’

‘Has he ever been arrested?’ was his next question.

‘Er…’ I hesitated.

‘OH MY GOD. YOU’RE BRINGING HOME A NON-IVY LEAGUER, WHO IS NOT WELL BRED, WHO IS NOT OLD MONEY AND TO TOP IT OFF…HE’S BEEN ARRESTED BEFORE!!!’

‘Ed, he’s sorry about the…’ I began.

‘THAT’S BRILLIANT!!! YOU ARE A GENIUS!!! OUR PARENTS WILL DIE FROM HEART ATTACKS AND WE WILL INHERIT ALL THEIR MONEY!!!’

‘EDWARD!!!’

‘I apologize. But they’re going to flip! Have you done this on purpose to spite them?’

‘You’re being an asshole…’I started, my voice raised.

‘What’s his name?’

‘Michael Phelps. The actual Michael Phelps, not just a random with the same name.’

There’s a silence for a few seconds.

‘Oh, well that’s no fun. They’ll be impressed by him,’ Edward sulked. ‘Very impressed, regardless of the DUI. Mother will tell you all about how impressed she is about the way he dealt with it all.’

‘Thanks for being so excited for me,’ I said dryly.

‘So, I guess I’ll have to be his friend then.’

I felt my blood pressure go up.

‘As opposed to what, Ed?’ I snapped.

‘Calm down, Ivy. I was just asking the same questions you know they would have asked you.’

‘By ‘they’ I suppose you are talking about the two Nazis that are our parents,’ I said stiffly.

‘Don’t call them Nazis. Mother will be offended and lecture you about how Britain won WWII.’

‘The United States won that war,’ I snorted. ‘Chamberlain was an idiot who thought there would be ‘peace in our time’. Then Churchill had to take over, but the US was in charge anyway. Mother’s a fool if she thinks Britain still rules the world.’

‘Who are you mad at here? Mother or Britain?’

‘Mother.’

‘You do know that at the beginning of last month, she started talking to other prominent families about setting you up with their sons, don’t you?’ Edward revealed.

‘What?!’ I sneered.

‘It’s true. Some of those sons will be at the event on Saturday.’

‘You are kidding me, right?’

‘No. That’s another reason I had to ask you those questions. Because those guys are Ivy Leaguers, who are very well bred, who are old money and have clean records. But clearly gold medals will trump that.’

‘Do I know these guys?’

‘I believe you’ve dated two of them.’

‘What?! Why the hell didn’t you tell me this before? I’m bringing Michael to an event which my exes will be at?!’ I yelled.

People passing me as they strolled by on the walkway outside the building were now looking at me strangely. I was getting distressed.

‘I only found out yesterday. You’re the one who didn’t tell me about Phelps!’ he countered.

‘Let me guess. Astley and Sheffield.’

‘No. Astley and Cunningham. Both families are from Connecticut, right?’

‘Yeah, I know them from boarding school in Greenwich. Dammit!!!’

‘Don’t worry about it. Just ignore them and there will be no need for a showdown,’ Edward said, trying to reassure me.

I rubbed my temples with my other hand.

‘This is messed up!’ I said.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Edward repeated.

Easier said than done.

***

I didn’t go into the lecture theater after the phone call ended. I just sat on a bench outside, fuming. Ivana messaged me five minutes later wondering what was going on. I messaged her back saying Edward had told me something that had pissed me off and that I was outside blowing off steam. She messaged asking if I needed them to come outside. I messaged back saying I was fine.

The two of them came outside anyway. I saw them cross the lawn but I didn’t wave. I was too pissed off.

‘What’s up?’ Kate asked.

I told them.

‘Those guys are arrogant jerks,’ Ivana scowled. She turned to Kate. ‘Louis and Richard, from high school.’

‘Why’d you go out them then?’ Kate asked me.

‘I don’t know. So they’d stop asking me, mainly. I mean, they’re very good looking. I thought I would give them a chance; see if they were worth it. They weren’t, so I gave them the flick. I went out with Louis first, Rich about two months later,’ I explained tensely.

‘Yeah, they were very hot,’ Ivana added, explaining to Kate. ‘Think Chad Michael Murray, or Shane West. But they were assholes.’

‘This is fucked. I can’t have them chasing me when I’m with Michael,’ I said. ‘Now I have to tell him those guys are going to be there.’

‘Look, he won’t care that much. If anything, he’ll protect you,’ Kate said.

I sighed angrily. I put my head into my hands. Then I looked back up at Kate and Ivana.

‘I don’t want anything to screw up things between me and Michael,’ I said.

‘We know,’ Ivana said, sitting down next to me. ‘You said Michael was going to call you later, right? When you meet up with him today, just tell him about it.’

‘I don’t want him to freak out or anything.’

‘He’ll freak out if you’re freaking out. Just calm down and get over it. Perhaps, just mention it in passing. Like it isn’t a big deal,’ Kate suggested.

‘Yeah, okay.’

This is why I hate surprises.

Chapter 15: Walk in the Park

***
‘ Ivy, what’s wrong? You’re a bit quiet tonight.’

Michael and I were taking a walk in a park situated along the Huron River. The river was quite picturesque at this time in the evening. Michael put his arm around me, I looked up at him.

‘I have a few confessions,’ I told him with a pout.

‘I’m listening,’ he said.

‘Number one,’ I said slowly. ‘I can’t swim butterfly. At all.’

‘That’s okay, lots of people find that stroke really difficult,’ he chuckled.

‘But I feel embarrassed, since you know, you’re so good at it.’

I felt a bit stupid for understating his ability, but now was not a time for pointing that out.

‘What’s number two?’ he smiled meekly.

Confessions number one and two were just a way to ease into number three. I was too chicken to come out with it straight away, so I had planned it this way. I sensed he knew something was up, but he was trying to keep upbeat anyway.

‘Number two. I’m quite hopeless at breaststroke too.’

‘Oh, really? Well, I won’t tell my friend Brendan that,’ Michael replied.

‘Oh, is he good at it?’ I said innocently.

‘He holds a few world records, yeah,’ he said, with a bit of laugh.

‘Oh.’

I blushed. I wished I knew more about his friends and his sport.

‘Number three?’

I stopped walking and faced him. My heart began to race. I frowned.

‘That charity thing on Saturday that I told you about…my mother invited two of my exes, not knowing I was bringing you. But I told Edward this morning I was taking you…I think they’re still going to be there though.’

Michael gently pushed back a strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear.

‘You’ve been worrying about this all day, haven’t you?’ he asked me softly.

‘Yes,’ I admitted.

‘Should I feel threatened or something?’

‘No. I hate those guys.’

‘Then don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. In fact, it’ll make me appreciate you more knowing other guys may still be after you.’

‘Really?’ I said, feeling a bit sheepish for worrying so much.

‘Really really.’

‘Hehe. Are you quoting Shrek?’ I giggled.

‘Are you comparing me to an ogre?’ Michael laughed.

‘No!’ I said, playfully hitting him on the arm.

He held me and I stayed silent for a while, feeling secure in his arms.

‘I wish more people in my life were as understanding as you are,’ I finally said.

I looked expectantly at him and he understood. We kissed; repeatedly this time and I imprinted myself onto him as I savored his embrace. When we pulled apart, I giggled.

‘You have lip gloss all over your lips now,’ I told him.

‘And it happens to taste like watermelon,’ he observed.

I took out a make-up mirror from my handbag and handed it to him.

‘Oh, great. It’s pink too,’ he said while looking at himself. ‘And sparkly!’

‘It suits you!’

‘Stop giggling and help me get it off!’

I handed him a tissue.

‘I feel better now,’ I said.

‘Glad to hear it. Even if it’s at my expense.’

We started walking again, hand in hand now.

‘So, when you’re driving, what do you listen to?’ Michael asked randomly.

‘Depends on how I feel. I like Alicia Keys and Sarah McLachlan. Sometimes I listen to talkback radio though, but if there is an obnoxious or misinformed caller or commentator… that can give me road rage. So can listening to Britney Spears,’ I explained.

‘Ah, you hate her music?’

‘It’s not that. It’s just that she’s overrated. People make such a big deal about her…,’ I explained with a smile. ‘Just because she can sing a bit, dance a bit…and wear a bit!’

We walked towards a kiosk. Michael asked if I wanted anything. I told him I wanted a hot pretzel and that I would pay for it myself. He told me he wouldn’t allow that, so he bought two pretzels, one for me and one for him. Then we kept walking.

‘I want to climb that tree,’ I said, pointing to a tree as we walked. ‘I haven’t climbed a tree since I was seven. My mother said climbing trees was an activity reserved for boys. Which was a stupid thing to say after my brother broke his arm falling out of a one.’

‘You weren’t allowed to climb trees?’

‘I told you my mother was twisted. You wouldn’t believe me.’

I let go of his hand and took several steps towards the tree. Then I stopped.

‘You can’t climb a tree now. You’re eating a pretzel. Not to mention, you might hurt yourself,’ Michael said.

‘You’ll catch me, won’t you?’

‘If you fall on me, I might get injured. I won’t be able to swim,’ he said cheekily, with a shrug of his shoulders.

‘Hmmmm. I can stand here eating a pretzel, or I can go climb a tree, something I’ve wanted to do since I was seven,’ I pondered.

I was wearing flats so climbing was feasible. Sometimes, I think I’d do anything that would spite my mother and her wishes.

‘Or you can come over here and I’ll kiss you again,’ Michael suggested.

I furrowed my brow.

‘The pretzel, the tree or Michael. Hmmmmm.’

I looked at the tree, then I looked down at the pretzel in my hand and then I looked up at Michael.

‘I’m torn…but I’m going to choose you, Michael.’

‘And why’s that?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.

‘Because I can’t make out with a tree. Or a pretzel.’

We both laughed. I went over to him and he gave me a quick kiss.

‘Worried about the lip gloss, are we?’ I asked him.

‘Maybe.’

‘So, you said goodbye to your mom and sisters this morning?’

‘Yeah, I did. But I’ll see them again soon so I’m alright. I’m excited about tomorrow though,’ he said.

‘Me too. I made the lady on the phone book three seats in a row, otherwise one of us would’ve been left alone sitting with someone else. I think my brother wants to pick us up from the airport. He’ll give you the rundown on the dos and don’ts of the Spencer household.’

‘Sounds good.’ He took a bite of his pretzel.

We spotted a bench and Michael sat down. He patted his thigh, so I sat on his lap.

‘So, how would you like to be introduced to my parents?’ I asked, in between bites of my pretzel. ‘I can make it short and sweet, ‘This is Michael’. Or I can play a trumpet and roll out a scroll, announcing you as a guest. Maybe I can come up with a rap or something.’

‘Haha, I’d like to see you rap!’

‘I take that back. No rapping. Hhhmmm. How about a red carpet entrance to the front door, golden boy?’ I giggled.

‘Golden boy?’

‘I like that; it has a nice ring to it!’ I joked.

‘It’s a bit embarrassing.’

I continued to chew.

‘Ivy?’

‘Yeah?’ I said after swallowing. I looked at him.

‘Would it be obnoxious to suggest introducing me as your boyfriend?’

I was impressed by the boldness of his proposition.

‘‘Boyfriend…,’ I contemplated. ‘Yeah, that sounds better than ‘golden boy’.’

I winked at him. He smiled. I gave him a peck on the cheek.

After finishing my pretzel, I took out my lip gloss from my handbag and went to reapply it.

‘Don’t put more of that stuff on!’ Michael warned.

‘But I like the color on me!’

‘But I don’t like it on me!’

I happily put it back in my handbag.