Popcorn Love

“Wait, wait.” Macy waved her hands to stop her roommate mid-story. They lay on their beds across from one another with their backs up against the opposite walls and tossed a ball back and forth. Macy’s auburn hair, pulled up in a messy bun, squashed against the wall, and she wore only a baggy gray sweatshirt and neon pink panties. Her attire mostly matched Allison’s, except for Allison’s boxer shorts and fuzzy socks. “So you’re telling me that you couldn’t even get through one date without her mum showing up?”

“No,” Allison said. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I mean, our actual date was supposed to just be the zoo thing, so we did have our entire date in full, uninterrupted, and it was awesome. I just happened to, you know, hang around long after the date was over.”

Macy made a loud whip-cracking sound, snapping her right hand down at her side. “One date and you’re already hooked. The odds aren’t in your favor, mate. You’re whipped.”

“Oh shut up.” Allison chucked the ball at her roommate a little harder than usual. Macy caught it with an oof and a loud laugh. “Aren’t people supposed to be a little more obsessed with each other than usual at the beginning of a relationship or whatever? I mean, it’s that whole new-and-exciting thing, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Macy tossed the ball back. “I’ll just go out and buy the booze for your wedding next week.” She leaned up to stick her tongue out at her roommate. “Tell hot-pants I’ve got it covered.”

“You’ve never even seen her pants.”

Macy rolled over laughing at that one. When she finally caught her breath, she said, “Oh, you’re right. She probably wears skirts.”

Allison rolled her eyes, chucked the ball back at her friend. “Anyway!”

“Right, right, back to whatever the hell it was we were talking about.” Macy rubbed at her eyes with a snort, letting the ball fall to the floor. She glanced toward the window and saw the first bits of morning light streaking the sky. Christ, we’ve been up all night. She didn’t mind, though. She enjoyed teasing Allison about the date, but, most of all, she was genuinely overjoyed to see her best friend so giddy about something.

“Nora.” Allison wiggled around to get more comfortable, curling up around her pillow and turning on her side to face her roommate.

“Right.” Macy yawned. “Anyway, not the Mum’s fault that you’re too obsessed with her daughter to leave once the date is actually over.”

“Hey! It’s not like Elena ever actually tried to take me home or even mentioned anything about wanting me to go. She never even hinted. So, I’m pretty sure she wanted me to stick around.”

“I’m pretty sure she wanted you to stay the night.” Macy made her point with waggling eyebrows.

“Seriously.” Allison groaned. “I think we might both explode if we don’t sleep together soon; then again, we might explode if we do.”

Macy snorted. “You’re the one who keeps putting it on hold.”

“It was the first date! You know how I am about this stuff. I mean, I’m trying to be like a gentleman, uh, woman or whatever.”

Macy laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, well, be a gentleman and give the lady an orgasm, why don’t you?”

Allison flushed from her ears to her collarbones.

* * *

The butterflies that relentlessly assaulted Elena’s stomach throughout her entire date survived into the next day. As she and Lucas made their way through various art galleries for their Sunday outing, they found themselves talking about Allison more than once. Lucas pointed out all the works that incorporated bright splashes of various shades of green and how much ‘Alson’ would love them. Elena’s smile grew with each mention, those butterflies stirring, and she had to force herself not to text Allison to join them.

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.”