Dinner for Two
10:30 PM
Same night
There was a light wind in the air in San Diego. Beautiful Autumn nights to have a
romantic walk with your sweetheart at Crystal Pier or to be able to ride the Giant Dipper
roller coaster in Belmont Park when people in Maine are putting their summer clothes in
storage. It wasn't a beautiful night where Drake Parker was concerned. The house
across the street was blaring The Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. He must
have been deep in his thoughts because at first he didn't feel Torey's arm go around
him.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"You didn't phone and when I looked out the window I saw you sitting on my porch. How
long were you planning to stay out here by yourself?"
"I just didn't want my bring my bad mood inside." Drake held Torey's hand.
"It didn't go well with Josh." There was no point in making that a question, even a
rhetorical one at that. The answer was already on Drake's face.
"No. He had a feeling that you asked me to talk to him and he got upset over it. I wasn't
going to lie to him, you know? Then I got stubborn and told him off. I went in my room,
put my amp up to '10' and played loud random solos to bother Josh. I probably
disturbed my mom, but she didn't bang on the door. Then I fell asleep, took another
shower, and here I am on your porch."
They shared a tender kiss.
"I'm sorry, Drake. I think I gave you some bad advice."
"You have nothing to apologize for Torey. Josh is an asshole."
"Where'd you park?"
"Down the block. Because your neighbors are having a party and took up all the spaces
on the street."
"That's Justin Lieber. He dropped out of San Diego State and is a dope head. Come
inside. We have the house to ourselves."
It was an offer that Drake Parker couldn't refuse.
"So, your mom is working late tonight?"
"Doesn't she always? Close your eyes!"
Torey blocked Drake from entering the door.
"Hmm, your hand smells like lemons."
"That's my soap. After you step in, you can open your eyes."
Torey spent extra money on a cab ride after work to go to Clarity Soaps and Candles. In
her mind if a couple was going to make it past "just a high school romance" stage it
would take both an effort from the man and the woman and tonight she wanted it be all
for Drake. She had a sneaking feeling it wasn't going to go anywhere with him and
Josh. Torey purchased two pink marbled pillar candles and put them on top the
decorative electric (how she hated that!) fireplace.
"How nice."
Drake kissed her on the cheek.
"There's more."
"You made me dinner?" He could smell something heavenly coming from the kitchen.
"I bought dinner."
There really was a difference between girls who let you kiss them in the movie theater
only after buying them one soda and someone who cared enough about you to make
you dinner knowing that you only ate breakfast and a candy bar. Drake already knew
this but he would always welcome the reminder that there was only one special person
to come into your life. Just as he would always know he almost threw her away twice.
Spidey Parker wasn't that stupid.
"Thank you. You didn't have to do this."
She also purchased two cotton linen scented taped candles.
"I wanted to," Torey handed Drake a book of matches, "Light the candles so I can turn
off the lights."
"I wish we didn't have school tomorrow."
"Drake you always wish that."
"True."
"I hope pasta is fine?"
"Yeah it is."
A can of spaghettios would have been okay by him. He could tell that Torey put a lot of
thought and effort into making sure his needs were met when it was only yesterday
evening that he learned about the abuse of his girlfriend by her own father. Girls like
Torey just don't come into one's life everyday.
She wanted to push her own needs to the side tonight so that he and Josh could be
friends again. The woman that was making Drake Parker a better man was indirectly
kicked by the guy who couldn't see the forest from the trees because Drake didn't come
to talk to him on his own. Fuck him.
Josh who?
Torey's request almost took Drake by surprise that he almost dropped his fork on the
floor. It had nothing to do with sex. He'd wait a million years for her most imitate touch if
he had to.
"You don't mind, Drake?" She drank her ginger ale.
"No, I don't mind. I'm curious though. I mean what about your mother?"
Torey laughed. "She doesn't come home until after two in the morning. And she doesn't
check up on me. Our Campland experience was stressful and that was before I told you
about my Dad. And by the time we were relaxed it was over."
"Torey," Drake raised his glass, "A toast for you. You're the best."
The truth was he really didn't want to sleep alone anymore. They were going to be
graduated and gone in less than a year. It seemed rather stupid to have to play by the
parental rulebook.
"Thanks. Do you want anymore pasta?"
"No. I'm full."
"Are you sure?"
"Why?"
"Because I made chocolate chip cookies."
Well she cut them from the pre-made dough log. But it was the thought that counts.
"Torey, you didn't have to go through all this trouble."
She stood up to put the dishes in the sink. The Becker's didn't own a dishwasher.
"Drake, you're not any trouble."
She kissed him on the cheek loving the feel of his stubble on her face.
"Looks like you forgot to shave today."
"Mind?" Drake asked as Torey put the plate of cookies down between them on the
table.
"No. But if I tell you are sexy it'll go to your head." Torey joked
"I already know I'm sexy. You just confirm it so I don't appear to be an egomaniac."
"You're silly." She poured the milk in two of the commemorative San Diego Chargers
glasses that were a gas station premium a few years ago. They were so old that the
blue and gold enameling was starting to chip.
"You're beautiful. I hope you already know that yourself."
"In time. Now it's my turn to make a toast."
"Okay…" Drake raised his glass
"Thank you, Drake."
"For what?"
"For saying what you mean and meaning what you say."
She couldn't wait to share another slumber with her boyfriend tonight. Torey hoped in
her diary that someday that she and Drake would have the happy ending that she
always wanted. It wasn't going to be easy. She knew their lack of non-sex had to be a
thorn in the roses. She was the reason that her boyfriend was still a virgin. But Drake
always said he understood and he never pushed her, which sometimes made her feel
worse, although she never let on. Now with the revelation of the sins of her Father, he
would be even more sensitive to her needs. Torey didn't know when this right time for
them was going to be and she prayed that Drake would never leave her. 'Forever' is a
concept. It doesn't mean it was going to be reality.
"I say what is true."
"Why don't you find a movie on TV and I'll wash the dishes?"
"You mean find a movie that we won't bother watching?"
Damn. She wanted this night to be perfect. And she was starting to feel like how she did
at Campland, which was an emotional wreck.
"Drake, you're so bad."
"Are you okay?" he put his arms around her. She flinched like she always did.
"I'll be fine."
"I can do the dishes, it's the least I can do after you made me dinner. Why don't you just
down and relax?"
"I can't ask you do the dishes!"
"Why not?"
"Because you're my guest."
"I don't mind, Torey."
She didn't want them to fight over something as stupid as a bunch of silly dishes.
"Okay. But you'll have to put them away because if mom sees two of everything, she'll
ask me a lot of questions."
"No worries," He could sense she was having flashbacks, "I love you."
Drake lightly kissed her on the lips.
"I love you, too, Drake. Come upstairs in fifteen minutes."
She set the egg timer and put it on the kitchen counter.
Drake figured she was going to change in her pajamas and she didn't want him to
come upstairs until she was fully dressed.
Yes, he'd wait a million years and more if he had to.
Torey was indeed worth it.