"GINGER ALE"
Summary: Moving beyond friends into a new phase of their relationship, Eliza and Henry tests the boundary waters. Henry wants to see them proceed in a measured way (of course), whereas Eliza wants him to become acquainted with alternative words to "intimate" (of course).
Chapter 1 is rated T for terrific. Chapters 2 and beyond are rated M for mature and E for excellent-because-it's-about-time. As long as I continue writing, this below is an enthusiastic 'thank-you-selfie' to "Selfie", along with gratitude to EK, KG, and JC. This work is intended as a follow-up to "Canada Dry", because god only knows, my muse and I believe in a sexy follow through. It might be useful to read "Canada Dry" first, but there's enough in the present story to stand on its own.
Chapter 1: "All good things ..."
Having the sweet fever was one thing, but having the "total hots" for someone was something very different.
Being sick never felt so good, or led to such good things.
It had been a memorable two weeks.
Henry had taken care of Eliza through her bad cold, and he finally admitted how he felt about her. To her great credit, Eliza embraced him with warm open arms. But turnaround was fair play, and he caught her cold, prompting her to take care of him.
Eliza and Henry spent the following week, slowly learning more details about the other. Henry was interested in cooking, astronomy, and running. Few surprises there, but she no longer thought he was "super boring ..."
Well, maybe a little boring, but that's what I'm here for ...
He was surprised, however, to learn Eliza was interested in starting school and community outreach programs to encourage young women to nurture their creativity. Judging by the creative use of her wall space, he'd seen what Eliza could do, and he always thought she should explore that side a little more.
"We could ask women from different walks of life to come and speak; we could ask Charmonique, Joan, and Linda if they'd be interested. But I think you should be the first to speak and tell your story, Eliza." Henry remembered her initially shy reaction, but he could tell she liked the idea.
"Oooooh, my story, yeaaaah ... it be like 'from Butt to Bitch ...'"
"Uh, maybe a revised title would be more prudent, Eliza ... how about 'from Butt to Boss'?"
"Yeahhhh nooooo ... it's okay; we'll work on a title ..."
They spent most evenings together alternating between their respective places, and settling slowly into a new phase of their relationship. Best friends, and now, in love with each other. They hadn't yet reached the 'intimate' phase of their relationship, and it was all Eliza could do to try and erase that damn three-syllable word from his vocabulary.
Like a damn earworm that wouldn't go away, the word 'intimate' played on her mind.
She wanted Henry, sex, and coffee: not necessarily all at once, and not necessarily in that order.
She wasn't that fussy after all.
He knew what she wanted. He knew her well enough to know, but he also wanted her to appreciate a quieter side to being together. That if she wanted a more meaningful and lasting relationship, sometimes, the relationship was filled with spaces and moments that didn't necessarily carry big neon signs and fireworks. That sometimes, the best moments happen when it's quiet and both people are listening, truly listening to each other over the distractions of day-to-day life and beyond the messy array of personal hangups and desires.
"Eliza, do you have plans for tonight?", he asked over Wednesday lunch in his office behind closed doors.
"Online auction: I've had my eye on a pair of leg-high leather boots which I will now describe to you in three words: 'hot', 'sexy', and HAAAWWWT ..."
"Eliza ..." he warned, remembering her issues with maxed out credit cards.
"Don't worry, Henry. It's just the one item, and I've the cash. But seriously, why do you ask?"
"I want to take you out on a date tonight."
Instant thoughts of a big night at a ritzy restaurant and going out to a club entered her mind.
"Ooooooo! Screw the shopping! Big plaaaans?" she asked excitedly.
"That depends."
"Depends on what?"
"That depends on what you think will happen after our date."
"To disabuse you of the stupid word 'intimate'?"
He chuckled. "What word would you suggest I use?"
She tapped her lower lip with her index finger. "Hmmmm ... getting hot and heavy ... taking me to pound town ..."
He arched his eyebrow. "That's a lot of words just to replace one word."
"Yeah, I don't care; I just wanna get it on with you ..." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
He smiled. "Let's see how our date goes, okay?"
Shouting "win!" in her mind, she pouted instead. "You're no fun ... but ... you said that depends on what happens. What do you have in mind for our date?"
"I want to make dinner for you at your apartment."
"Nothing against your cooking, but that sounds totes boring ..."
"First of all, I want you to feel comfortable in your own place. Second, I know it's kinduva big deal, but I want the experience of our date to have the similar feel of the two of us hanging out and sharing a meal. The big difference is I want to do this for you. Third, it would be my pleasure to cook for you."
"But wh-y-y-y-y-y?" She playfully whined. "I just wanna get to the good stuff ..." Eliza stuck out her lower lip for good measure.
"Eliza, everything has its time and place."
"Couldn't we order takeout or pizza instead?" she asked, trying in vain to change his mind.
"We already do that when we hang out and stuff. For a date, I want to do something different. Cooking is a slower experience, and lots of meaningful lasting memories arise from slower experiences. I promise it'll be rewarding as well. I haven't misled you about food, have I?"
"No. But ... does that mean you've misled me before? Huuuuh?" Eliza caught his little verbal misstep immediately.
"Oh my, I'm not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole ..." She was very sharp when she wanted to be.
She showed him teeth in her smile. "We'll come back to that later ..." Try as she might, she couldn't remember the last time a man, any man who had prepared a meal for her. "Soooooo, what are you going to make for me?"
"I was thinking something relatively simple: fettuccine carbonara, with mushroom and bacon. And yes, I definitely had you in mind with the bacon. And no, 'bacon and waffles' do not count as dinner."
"It could, if you really wanted to ..." She was happy he remembered her winning breakfast combination. In her mind, she thought if things between them continued to go well, maybe she could make bacon and waffles for him sometime. Maybe even, the morning after their date ...
He laughed at the imagery. "I suppose. But fettuccine carbonara is the kind of thing one makes for a dinner date."
Eliza was beginning to warm to the idea, of Henry making himself more at home in her kitchen, and of him making her dinner.
"I'm pretty sure I have the necessary pots and pans, but I don't think I've got the stuff you need."
"Way ahead of you," Henry replied. "I'll get it sorted out. You just be present and let me take care of the details."
Eliza perked up with a thought. "No wait, why don't we both get the food you need?"
Henry nodded. "That's a good idea. Wanna meet me at Trader Joe's at 6pm?"
"Totes. Text me the location you want to go, and I'll meet you there."
They both got up from their chairs, signaling the end of lunch. He came around to her and held her hands in his. "I'm looking forward to this. It'll be good, proper, and respectful, I promise."
"I know; I can always count on you. But you'll forgive me if I wanna make things a little bit less respectful." She leaned forward and kissed him.
He laughed through their open mouths. "Must be why I love you."
"Better believe it." She leaned in for another kiss, and it wasn't long when the darting and dueling of tongues was starting to get SRS ...
"Oh wow, Eliza," he managed to get out. "I hate to say it, but we gotta stop ..."
"Nooooo ..."
"Didn't you tell me you wanted to act more responsibly and be treated more seriously at work?"
"Yes, but you drive me crazy, Henry ..."
"Right back at you, Eliza. But I promise I'll do a better job controlling myself ... and not kiss you at work ..."
"What?! No, that's not what I meant ..."
"I'm kidding, Eliza. But seriously, we gotta get back to work ..."
"Do we have toooooo?"
"Yes, we do. Remember? Responsible adults?"
Eliza made a face. "Stop saying things that are truuueeeee ..." Reluctantly, she walked towards the exit and opened his office door. In the open doorway, she turned around and blew him an air kiss.
He caught it, and smiled in return.