He’s amazing. He’s head of advertising, media, and publicity for Bricker Chevrolet. He’s been there for forever-before I was born.” I looked over at him. His head rested on his hand as he listened intently.
Oh my. He’s so cute!
“Any of the commercials on TV, radio, and the print ads you see for Bricker are his work. He has awards for it.”
“You’re proud,” he observed.
“I am because he’s done all of that and been the best single parent I could ever imagine.” I took a big breath to continue. “He dressed me up in girly costumes and went to every dance recital I ever had. Someone else had to help with the hair and make-up. He wasn’t so good at that.”
We both laughed. It felt good to laugh.
“He’s like a gourmet cook too, best burgers on the grill! Look out when he makes beanie weenies! And he has Pizza Hut on speed dial!” I laughed and thought a moment. “He’s a good man. He’s a good father and mother.”
“My mom and dad are good parents, but they’re busy with my sister, Emmy.”
“I didn’t even know you had a sister,” I acknowledged.
“She’s eight years older than me. She doesn’t live here; she’s in South Carolina at a facility for drug rehab. She’s pretty much been a train wreck since she was thirteen,” he reflected. “Every time they think she’s got it together, something happens that sets her back. Mom goes one weekend, Dad goes the next.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No need. Her issues keep me on the straight and narrow path. Sports are my drug-football, actually.”
“You’re a good player. I don’t know a thing about football, but everyone raves over how good you are.”
“You’ve been listening to Kelsey and Maddie,” he said with a disgusted smirk. “They’re annoying. They follow me through the halls at school and ride their bikes past my house. On game nights those airhead cheerleaders are the worst. I don’t dig girls with no brains, and where theirs belong is completely empty.”
I just looked at him.
“Your brain is amazing. I’ve heard Miss Potter go on about your papers in English class. She uses you as the model for what a good research paper should be. You should be proud of that.”
“I am, but I think it makes people think I’m a nerd or a geek. I really am neither; I’m just a loner. Except for Rachael. She gets me.”
“Why, Lulu?” he asked.
“Something’s missing in my life. I feel like I don’t want to share that with anyone. I miss my mom so much, especially now. I was so young when she died, but now…well, at this time in my life, I have millions of questions to ask her. My dad does a good job, but…” I felt the tears and stopped. “I don’t want to cry.”
“Don’t cry.” He reached for my hand and held it to his cheek, a gesture so sweet that I couldn’t help crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Really, Lulu, I won’t say I understand, but I get it,” he said. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
“That’s so sweet,” I said. “I mean, it’s…don’t take it the wrong way, but it’s like an older man’s gesture, but it’s super sweet.”
“I’ll walk you home.”
I looked at my watch; we’d been there for almost two hours.
As we walked, he took my hand. “Lulu?”
“Huh?”
“Will you think about it?” he asked.
“Think about what?” I asked, unsure of the direction of our conversation.
“Being my girlfriend,” he said.
“I’m not exactly sure what that means, Jason,” I replied, honestly.
“Well, that you won’t see anyone else – exclusive – just you and me,” he explained.
“I’d love to be your girlfriend,” I stated.
“Ice cream seals the deal!” he laughed out loud.
Jason and I were a couple. My dad laid down the rules for him and he agreed to be a gentleman. We went to school dances and every girl there was jealous, except Rachael. She just wasn’t a fan of Jason Dean. I attended his football games, and he came to
Oh my. He’s so cute!
“Any of the commercials on TV, radio, and the print ads you see for Bricker are his work. He has awards for it.”
“You’re proud,” he observed.
“I am because he’s done all of that and been the best single parent I could ever imagine.” I took a big breath to continue. “He dressed me up in girly costumes and went to every dance recital I ever had. Someone else had to help with the hair and make-up. He wasn’t so good at that.”
We both laughed. It felt good to laugh.
“He’s like a gourmet cook too, best burgers on the grill! Look out when he makes beanie weenies! And he has Pizza Hut on speed dial!” I laughed and thought a moment. “He’s a good man. He’s a good father and mother.”
“My mom and dad are good parents, but they’re busy with my sister, Emmy.”
“I didn’t even know you had a sister,” I acknowledged.
“She’s eight years older than me. She doesn’t live here; she’s in South Carolina at a facility for drug rehab. She’s pretty much been a train wreck since she was thirteen,” he reflected. “Every time they think she’s got it together, something happens that sets her back. Mom goes one weekend, Dad goes the next.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No need. Her issues keep me on the straight and narrow path. Sports are my drug-football, actually.”
“You’re a good player. I don’t know a thing about football, but everyone raves over how good you are.”
“You’ve been listening to Kelsey and Maddie,” he said with a disgusted smirk. “They’re annoying. They follow me through the halls at school and ride their bikes past my house. On game nights those airhead cheerleaders are the worst. I don’t dig girls with no brains, and where theirs belong is completely empty.”
I just looked at him.
“Your brain is amazing. I’ve heard Miss Potter go on about your papers in English class. She uses you as the model for what a good research paper should be. You should be proud of that.”
“I am, but I think it makes people think I’m a nerd or a geek. I really am neither; I’m just a loner. Except for Rachael. She gets me.”
“Why, Lulu?” he asked.
“Something’s missing in my life. I feel like I don’t want to share that with anyone. I miss my mom so much, especially now. I was so young when she died, but now…well, at this time in my life, I have millions of questions to ask her. My dad does a good job, but…” I felt the tears and stopped. “I don’t want to cry.”
“Don’t cry.” He reached for my hand and held it to his cheek, a gesture so sweet that I couldn’t help crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Really, Lulu, I won’t say I understand, but I get it,” he said. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
“That’s so sweet,” I said. “I mean, it’s…don’t take it the wrong way, but it’s like an older man’s gesture, but it’s super sweet.”
“I’ll walk you home.”
I looked at my watch; we’d been there for almost two hours.
As we walked, he took my hand. “Lulu?”
“Huh?”
“Will you think about it?” he asked.
“Think about what?” I asked, unsure of the direction of our conversation.
“Being my girlfriend,” he said.
“I’m not exactly sure what that means, Jason,” I replied, honestly.
“Well, that you won’t see anyone else – exclusive – just you and me,” he explained.
“I’d love to be your girlfriend,” I stated.
“Ice cream seals the deal!” he laughed out loud.
Jason and I were a couple. My dad laid down the rules for him and he agreed to be a gentleman. We went to school dances and every girl there was jealous, except Rachael. She just wasn’t a fan of Jason Dean. I attended his football games, and he came to
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