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An All American Love Story Ch. Four: A Thousand Words
Romano smiled. He had waited a long time to go out with Elizabeth and he was glad it was going well. He studied her face. The gentle curves of her chin, the fleck of light in her eyes, he loved it all. He was so happy he had finally asked her out and it had gone perfectly, too perfectly. His trance has broken by a raindrop that hit his face. They both looked up at the sky, neither had noticed that the light and fluffy white clouds were now replaced by dark back shapes. The wind howled and Romano reached up and to hold onto his hat. "Well I think the powers that be are telling us our time is up!" he snickered. "Let's go."
Once safely inside the car he waited for direction on where to drive. The last thing he wanted to do was be too presumptuous and make himself look like an ass. "Well are you busy tonight Robert? We could go to my house and get warmed up. Ella is gone all day so I'm free if." she was cut off by the starting of the car. "I'm free" Romano spouted almost too quickly. The rain was pouring now and it was very hard to see on the road. After a few minutes though, Romano pulled into the driveway and parked the car. "I guess there is no opportune moment to run inside huh? I'm sorry, I should have an umbrella but I didn't think it was going to rain like this." After a moment of pause they both flung open the doors and ran for the front of the house. Elizabeth's door had no overhang. Romano dropped his head and laughed as Elizabeth fumbled with her purse in search of her keys. "Guess you should have them already out!" he shouted. His voice was barely audible through the wind and rain. Finally Elizabeth found her key and jammed it into the door.
Once inside the warm air made them both shiver. They looked each other over and both smiled as the saw the puddles their dripping clothes were making on her hardwood floor. "Why don't you. stand here for a second." Elizabeth said as she started up the stairs. Looking down at his wet clothes Romano chuckled, "What a great ending." Seconds after Elizabeth had disappeared into her room she was out again. "Heads up!" She yelled as a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt flew from the balcony. "There is a bathroom down the hall. I'll be down in a second" She said and vanished into her room again.
Romano looked around the house as he made his way to the bathroom. It smelled of lavender and pine. Once he was changed he walked into her living room and sat on the couch. He looked down at his feet. The pants were a good bit too long. He knew they were probably Mark's and now worn only by her but he didn't care. He set his wet clothes by the corner of the couch on his shoes and closed his eyes. He was more tired then he thought. Rubbing his sore shoulder he waited for Elizabeth to return. She almost snuck up on him with the coffee and she noticed him rubbing his back. "You ok?" she muttered as she handed him the coffee. "Just assessing my wounds from this afternoon." He smirked back. Romano lifted up the shirtsleeve to show Elizabeth the black spot forming on his arm. "See I damage easily! Better be careful or you'll be looking at a lawsuit." Without a word Elizabeth grabbed his clothes and walked out of the room. Romano heard the sound of the dryer and sighed as the coffee cup warmed his hand. As Elizabeth returned Romano moved over to the end of the left side of the sofa. He was always conscience about these things. He knew if he always sat on the left then whoever was sitting next to him was by his good arm. After everything he had been through it was still something he was self- conscience of.
Sitting on her knees Elizabeth sat next to him. "Thank you for taking me out today Robert, that was a good idea."
"Forget it. I'm sorry you didn't know how."
Elizabeth smiled, "That's what made it fun. Except for the fact that you're a masochist, you're a good teacher." They both laughed. Elizabeth didn't like to push conversation but she knew with Robert that if she didn't they would both sit silent all night. "So tell me about you."
Romano laughed, "What do you want to know?"
"Well I was thinking that I don't know much about you." Thinking on her wording she tried again. "I mean, about your personal life. You know, brother and sisters, parents, sports, favorite color. That kind of thing."
"Oh God." Romano moaned and his covered his face with his hand. "We're not going to be girlfriends are we? Where we share all of our personal information and have slumber parties. Id let you braid my hair Lizzie but I don't think it's long enough."
Elizabeth pushed Romano on the shoulder. "Oh don't be an ass! You know what I'm talking about."
Sighing Romano nodded. "Well, my mother's name is Lynn. I have one sister. My baby sister is 35, her name is Laura. When I was in high school I played baseball and I was on the swim team. My favorite color is blue." He stopped and smiled sarcastically. "Good enough?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Taking in what he said she looked for another question.
"What position did you play on the baseball team?"
"First and third. Mostly third because I could throw."
"No football?"
"God no! I would have been killed!"
At that they both laughed. "Ok pick on the short guy! I see how it is." Romano grunted as he swallowed his coffee. "That's only six." Romano stated as he set the cup down in his lap. Elizabeth looked inquisitively at him. "Well if you were playing 20 questions, it's only been six. Done already Lizzie?" As Elizabeth opened her mouth to talk again the dryer buzzed. "I'll be right back." She said as she glided out of the room. Even in sweatpants, with her hair pulled up and wet, Elizabeth looked so beautiful to him. Romano looked at his watch, somehow it was almost five. He stood when she came back into the room with his shirt. "Your shirt and jacket are dry but I think the jeans will take another half hour." She grinned sheepishly, "you going somewhere?" Romano looked down at his bare feet. He didn't want to overstay his welcome. "It's getting to be around dinner time, I should probably go so you can make Ella's dinner and get cleaned up."
Elizabeth froze. Did she do something? "You don't have to go. Ella isn't going to be home until later, I can order something in for us to eat." She didn't want to sound desperate, but she was actually having a good time. As of the past few years enjoyment had been so far out of reach for her that she missed the feeling. Romano reached for his shirt but touched her arm instead. "I have to feed Gretle. But I had a good time too." He took a step closer, now only inches from her face. Elizabeth, who was still clinging to his shirt looked from his hand up to his face.
"Can I have my shirt back?" Romano's soft voice broke her storybook moment. "Oh sorry." She said letting go. "You know where the bathroom is." Trying hard not to grin Romano stepped past her. A few seconds later he was back. Handing Elizabeth her shirt he walked over and put on his boots and coat. Elizabeth had never seen anyone tie their shoes with one hand before. That had been the first time all day that she had noticed his arm. With one swift movement he was up and by the door. Elizabeth stood in front of it, his only obstacle left to overcome. "So Robert, I was wondering." She started slowly, "Was this a date?" Romano raised his hand and pressed it against the door, pinning Elizabeth, forcing her to look him in the eye. "I guess." He answered. All Elizabeth could do was nod. Her eyes moved from his down to his lips. She could feel his breath and she was anticipating what was coming next. As she felt him lean closer she closed her eyes.
"Sorry Lizzie, but I don't kiss on a first date." Romano whispered in her ear as he backed up and put on his hat. When she opened her eyes and saw him further away she felt the heat rise in her face as she blushed. "You bastard." She mumbled when she stepped away and opened the door. Grinning, Romano stopped when he reached the doorway. It had nearly stopped raining, but the gray in the sky made it look like twilight. Romano leaned on the hinge and scratched his head. Finally Elizabeth broke the awkward silence. "So on the first date I get beat up, and on the second I get a kiss?" Romano sneered at her sarcasm, and decided to use some of his own. "Oh does this mean I get a second date?"
"I don't know." She started softly, walking towards him. "I had wanted to go out with this. semi handsome surgeon tomorrow. You know, the typical kind, arrogant, snippy, sarcastic. But he hasn't really asked me out yet. Which is a shame." Understanding her game Romano tried for an equal response. "Well how about I show up early and kick his ass? Six-ish good for you?" he bit his lip as he waited for a response. "Six it is." She finally snipped back. She waited for another snark that never came.
Elizabeth knew Romano was capable of giving looks worth a thousand words, in fact he was known for it, but the one he gave her before he turned and left was only worth three.
"I'll miss you."
An All American Love Story Ch. Four: A Thousand Words
Romano smiled. He had waited a long time to go out with Elizabeth and he was glad it was going well. He studied her face. The gentle curves of her chin, the fleck of light in her eyes, he loved it all. He was so happy he had finally asked her out and it had gone perfectly, too perfectly. His trance has broken by a raindrop that hit his face. They both looked up at the sky, neither had noticed that the light and fluffy white clouds were now replaced by dark back shapes. The wind howled and Romano reached up and to hold onto his hat. "Well I think the powers that be are telling us our time is up!" he snickered. "Let's go."
Once safely inside the car he waited for direction on where to drive. The last thing he wanted to do was be too presumptuous and make himself look like an ass. "Well are you busy tonight Robert? We could go to my house and get warmed up. Ella is gone all day so I'm free if." she was cut off by the starting of the car. "I'm free" Romano spouted almost too quickly. The rain was pouring now and it was very hard to see on the road. After a few minutes though, Romano pulled into the driveway and parked the car. "I guess there is no opportune moment to run inside huh? I'm sorry, I should have an umbrella but I didn't think it was going to rain like this." After a moment of pause they both flung open the doors and ran for the front of the house. Elizabeth's door had no overhang. Romano dropped his head and laughed as Elizabeth fumbled with her purse in search of her keys. "Guess you should have them already out!" he shouted. His voice was barely audible through the wind and rain. Finally Elizabeth found her key and jammed it into the door.
Once inside the warm air made them both shiver. They looked each other over and both smiled as the saw the puddles their dripping clothes were making on her hardwood floor. "Why don't you. stand here for a second." Elizabeth said as she started up the stairs. Looking down at his wet clothes Romano chuckled, "What a great ending." Seconds after Elizabeth had disappeared into her room she was out again. "Heads up!" She yelled as a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt flew from the balcony. "There is a bathroom down the hall. I'll be down in a second" She said and vanished into her room again.
Romano looked around the house as he made his way to the bathroom. It smelled of lavender and pine. Once he was changed he walked into her living room and sat on the couch. He looked down at his feet. The pants were a good bit too long. He knew they were probably Mark's and now worn only by her but he didn't care. He set his wet clothes by the corner of the couch on his shoes and closed his eyes. He was more tired then he thought. Rubbing his sore shoulder he waited for Elizabeth to return. She almost snuck up on him with the coffee and she noticed him rubbing his back. "You ok?" she muttered as she handed him the coffee. "Just assessing my wounds from this afternoon." He smirked back. Romano lifted up the shirtsleeve to show Elizabeth the black spot forming on his arm. "See I damage easily! Better be careful or you'll be looking at a lawsuit." Without a word Elizabeth grabbed his clothes and walked out of the room. Romano heard the sound of the dryer and sighed as the coffee cup warmed his hand. As Elizabeth returned Romano moved over to the end of the left side of the sofa. He was always conscience about these things. He knew if he always sat on the left then whoever was sitting next to him was by his good arm. After everything he had been through it was still something he was self- conscience of.
Sitting on her knees Elizabeth sat next to him. "Thank you for taking me out today Robert, that was a good idea."
"Forget it. I'm sorry you didn't know how."
Elizabeth smiled, "That's what made it fun. Except for the fact that you're a masochist, you're a good teacher." They both laughed. Elizabeth didn't like to push conversation but she knew with Robert that if she didn't they would both sit silent all night. "So tell me about you."
Romano laughed, "What do you want to know?"
"Well I was thinking that I don't know much about you." Thinking on her wording she tried again. "I mean, about your personal life. You know, brother and sisters, parents, sports, favorite color. That kind of thing."
"Oh God." Romano moaned and his covered his face with his hand. "We're not going to be girlfriends are we? Where we share all of our personal information and have slumber parties. Id let you braid my hair Lizzie but I don't think it's long enough."
Elizabeth pushed Romano on the shoulder. "Oh don't be an ass! You know what I'm talking about."
Sighing Romano nodded. "Well, my mother's name is Lynn. I have one sister. My baby sister is 35, her name is Laura. When I was in high school I played baseball and I was on the swim team. My favorite color is blue." He stopped and smiled sarcastically. "Good enough?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Taking in what he said she looked for another question.
"What position did you play on the baseball team?"
"First and third. Mostly third because I could throw."
"No football?"
"God no! I would have been killed!"
At that they both laughed. "Ok pick on the short guy! I see how it is." Romano grunted as he swallowed his coffee. "That's only six." Romano stated as he set the cup down in his lap. Elizabeth looked inquisitively at him. "Well if you were playing 20 questions, it's only been six. Done already Lizzie?" As Elizabeth opened her mouth to talk again the dryer buzzed. "I'll be right back." She said as she glided out of the room. Even in sweatpants, with her hair pulled up and wet, Elizabeth looked so beautiful to him. Romano looked at his watch, somehow it was almost five. He stood when she came back into the room with his shirt. "Your shirt and jacket are dry but I think the jeans will take another half hour." She grinned sheepishly, "you going somewhere?" Romano looked down at his bare feet. He didn't want to overstay his welcome. "It's getting to be around dinner time, I should probably go so you can make Ella's dinner and get cleaned up."
Elizabeth froze. Did she do something? "You don't have to go. Ella isn't going to be home until later, I can order something in for us to eat." She didn't want to sound desperate, but she was actually having a good time. As of the past few years enjoyment had been so far out of reach for her that she missed the feeling. Romano reached for his shirt but touched her arm instead. "I have to feed Gretle. But I had a good time too." He took a step closer, now only inches from her face. Elizabeth, who was still clinging to his shirt looked from his hand up to his face.
"Can I have my shirt back?" Romano's soft voice broke her storybook moment. "Oh sorry." She said letting go. "You know where the bathroom is." Trying hard not to grin Romano stepped past her. A few seconds later he was back. Handing Elizabeth her shirt he walked over and put on his boots and coat. Elizabeth had never seen anyone tie their shoes with one hand before. That had been the first time all day that she had noticed his arm. With one swift movement he was up and by the door. Elizabeth stood in front of it, his only obstacle left to overcome. "So Robert, I was wondering." She started slowly, "Was this a date?" Romano raised his hand and pressed it against the door, pinning Elizabeth, forcing her to look him in the eye. "I guess." He answered. All Elizabeth could do was nod. Her eyes moved from his down to his lips. She could feel his breath and she was anticipating what was coming next. As she felt him lean closer she closed her eyes.
"Sorry Lizzie, but I don't kiss on a first date." Romano whispered in her ear as he backed up and put on his hat. When she opened her eyes and saw him further away she felt the heat rise in her face as she blushed. "You bastard." She mumbled when she stepped away and opened the door. Grinning, Romano stopped when he reached the doorway. It had nearly stopped raining, but the gray in the sky made it look like twilight. Romano leaned on the hinge and scratched his head. Finally Elizabeth broke the awkward silence. "So on the first date I get beat up, and on the second I get a kiss?" Romano sneered at her sarcasm, and decided to use some of his own. "Oh does this mean I get a second date?"
"I don't know." She started softly, walking towards him. "I had wanted to go out with this. semi handsome surgeon tomorrow. You know, the typical kind, arrogant, snippy, sarcastic. But he hasn't really asked me out yet. Which is a shame." Understanding her game Romano tried for an equal response. "Well how about I show up early and kick his ass? Six-ish good for you?" he bit his lip as he waited for a response. "Six it is." She finally snipped back. She waited for another snark that never came.
Elizabeth knew Romano was capable of giving looks worth a thousand words, in fact he was known for it, but the one he gave her before he turned and left was only worth three.
"I'll miss you."