Ring.
"hello" I asked; even though I have caller ID and I know it is Austin calling me.
"what are you doing today?" he asked.
"well I am decorating the apartment; still have to get a tree though. Why? What did you have in mind to do?"
"I just wanted to know if you wanted to go ice skating, but we can go get you a tree and decorate it instead."
"that would be helpful. There is a tree stand just a block away from me so we can go there. When do you want to come over?"
"whenever you want me too."
" alright come over now" I tell him.
Austin got to my apartment within 20 minutes. I didn't even invite him in we just went straight to the tree stand.
"which one do you want?" Austin asked.
"Hmm I don't know" I honestly reply. I begin to browse.
"How about this one?" he pointed to a tall skinny tree. I shook my head "no too tall and skinny." I keep up my search.
"ok" I hear him mumble. "Ally what do you think of this?" I turn to look what he was talking about and to my horror it was the shortest wimpiest looking tree ever. I raise my eyebrow at him "who do you think I am Charlie Brown?" I begin to laugh which makes Austin laugh.
"Sorry. What kind of tree are you looking for? Since you have shot down all my ideas. "
I thought for a moment "well I want a tall one but not too tall and fat but not too fat."
"Wow why is everything with you is so simple" he joked.
"Oh be quiet." I turned away and smiled; he just knows how to make me smile and go speechless. As I looked around I spotted it ; my tree. " found it."
I pay the man as Austin held the tree. " I'll take the stump and you can carry the top since that's lighter." Austin leaned the tree back for to get the top.
"Hey just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I need the lighter side" I said as I grab the top. We begin the walk back to my apartment. Austin called over his shoulder " I didn't say it because you're a girl I said it because you don't have much upper body strength."
"Hey" I retorted. But he was right I never had much muscle in my arms they were just skinny.
We set up the tree; with Austins help it only took 15 minutes. He even offered to stay and help decorate.
"So did you already get your tree?" I asked as I hung an ornament on the tree.
"I'm not getting one" he replied. He picked up a pink flamingo ornament " where did you get this beauty?"
I smiled " when Trish,Tilly and I went to Miami for a weekend 5 years ago. Was a couple months after Sofia was born. Tilly was so nervous about leaving her but she wanted to go too. So she spent half the time on the phone with the baby to make sure Sofia wouldn't forget her. We each took back an ornament to remember it by." that was such a fun time; then remembered what Austin said about not getting a tree I had to dig deeper. " how come you're not getting a tree?"
Austin shrugged as he placed the flamingo on a branch " just don't see the point. No one is coming over. I have no one to just sit and look at it with and I don't like all the pine needles."
"Wow you are such a downer. You need to at least get a small one it's a fact the smell makes you happier."
"I'm not a downer I am a realist. Sure it makes you happy for a moment but what happens when you leave the room? The smell leaves your nose and you're depressed again. No I would much rather be depressed all the time then to have my little happiness be crushed."
I could only stare. No words would come to my mouth. My God this man is a mess. We worked in silence for the remainder of the time. We finished around 6 I promised Austin I would make him cookies as a thank you.
The following Saturday Tilly and her daughter, my god-daughter Sofia came over to make the Christmas cookies. Lucy was with Rob they were Christmas shopping for Tilly.
I had just taken a batch out of the oven as I was telling them about my date last night. "He collects air of important days in history like the inauguration of Obama."
Tilly frowned " so he was at the inauguration?"
"Nope he takes a mason jar runs out if his apartment and collects that air." I toon a bite of cookie.
"Wow" Sofia said sarcastically. I love it only 5 1/2 and she already knows the art of sarcasm. I smiled and laughed " my thoughts exactly Sof."
Tilly had also taken a cookie " you know I like Austin." she smiled her brown eyes twinkling. " Me too" piped in Sofia who had the same eyes as her mother. She also had her natural hair color of chestnut brown. After the girls were born Tilly tried to go back to her natural color but she missed the blonde too much so the second she could dye her hair she did. I had introduced Austin to them over thanksgiving had no idea they took such a liking to each other. "Austin? No were just friends, besides he is a mess."
"you're making cookies for a mess?" Tilly asked. I stare back at her " well he is a nice mess."
"ok then. So what does Trish think of him?"
"They haven't met yet. Everytime I try to get them together they always have other plans. I'm thinking of setting them up. I think it would be perfect."
"What ever you think is best."
Christmas came and went. New years eve was tomorrow night Austin had invited me to a friends party. Trish was over my place picking out an outfit.
"So how come after 6 months have yet to meet Austin?" she asked as she say on my bed.
"don't blame me every time I set something up you cancel. Always having to rush off because Arthur called you."
She didn't reply to my Arthur remark " well I want to meet him to see if he is good enough for a little Ally."
"Must I mention again we are not dating only friends. However I want you to meet him as well. In fact I think you guys would make a good couple."
"ugh gag Ally. You know I hate blind dates there so stupid. Besides I'm with Arthur."
"who is married" I point out. " just meet him you guys will hit it off I just know it."
"Fine I'll check my calendar too see when I'm free. Oh you should defiantly wear that." I had pulled out my pink strapless mini dress with the fringe on the bottom. Trish rushed over to the closet and began pulling out my shoes. "and these are the shoes you are going to wear." she handed me my flirty heels as I call them. "Cute" I said. " How should I wear my hair". Trish studied me and the outfit " up, off the the side."
The party was a lot of fun. Trish was right about my whole outfit. I received so many compliments. Austin and I were dancing he looked so handsome. I smiled at him " I'm so glad you got your hair cut. It was bordering on Marilyn Monroe territory."
"marilyn monroe " he laughed a hearty laugh, which made me laugh. " I'm dipping you" he warned me as he did it. He brought me back up tall I had the biggest smile on my face. "You look beautiful Ally." we stared at each other; why are we staring this just got awkward. God I hope he doesn't notice my palms getting sweaty.
"10 seconds to midnight" a shout from the crowd came.
"Do you want to go get some air?" Austin asked breaking the silence. I nodded. He lead me to the balcony where people were screaming down the time " 5,4,3,2,1, happy new year!"
The tradition is to kiss at midnight but I'm here with Austin I'm not sure what to do. Austin interrupts my thoughts with a smile Happy new year Ally." I smile back " happy new year" he leaned in for a hug an we shared an open eye peck kiss.
Trish finally got back to me saying that she was free for dinner on the 11th. I told Austin to save the date because he was going on a date.
He was not as thrilled as I was " a blind date Ally? Those are so stupid."
We had met for drinks; I took a sip of my martini " Trish said the same thing see perfect already."
"ugh" he took a swig of his beer. "if I have to go on a blind date with your friend; you need to go on one with mine. It will be a double date."
"which friend?" I had totally asked for this, but if it meant my two best friends getting together, then so be it.
"My friend Dez. He s a writer as well."
"who does he write for?"
"He is freelance."
"Oh" was all I said.
"So do you still want me too meet your friend now that you know my deal?" he lifted his beer bottle to his lips and I could see his smirk. I was determined to make this date work. " Yes tell your friend I'll be happy to meet him." I smiled in accomplishment.
Friday the 11th arrived, I decided we would have dinner at Morimoto since we all enjoyed Japanese food.
The reservation was at 8, we were meeting Austin and Dez there. The night was slightly cold but warm for January. Trish was going on about Arthur again. " I sent myself flowers."
"Flowers really?"
"I know dumb right he didn't even notice. ugh he is never going to leave her."
"Of course he is never going to leave her. You need to treat yourself better which is why you're here. You are a single woman Trish and can do so much better then Arthur. You're going to love Austin."
XXXXX
"Dude can you explain to me how I let you drag me on this setup?" Dez glared at me. We had arrived at the restaurant first and we were ready seated waiting for Ally and her friend Trish.
"Because you are my best friend and platonically love me and don't want to see me suffer" I smirked.
"Ya sure. If Ally is so great why don't you date her?" Dez huffed again.
"Man how many times do I have to tell you she and I are just friends. You're going to like her. She is pretty and has a great personality."
Dez sighed "when ever some one says a person has a great personality it means the are unattractive. "
"what? No if i only said she had a great personality you can assume she is unattractive. But since I happen to mention that fact it could go either way."
" which was is she?" Dez asked.
" attractive."
"but not beautiful. "
" shut up you sound like an idiot here she comes." I wave in her direction " over here Ally."
With Ally was a short latino woman with curly black hair. She was attractive but not like Ally.
Dez and I stood up to greet them I hugged Ally. " Ally this is Dez. Dez this is Ally."
"So nice to meet you Austin, Dez this is my friend Trish. Trish this is Austin and Dez." we each shook hands before we sat down.
I was placed next to Trish who was telling me about her job. " window designs have I seen any?"
" I just did one where people were in bondage."
"oh that sounds interesting. " I took a sip of water.
I over heard Dez talking about his favorite writer I could never remember his name. Ally had a look of bored all over her face. She looked over at me and Trish " Trish you and Austin are both from Colorado."
"really where are you from?" I could tell in her tone she didn't care but I answered anyway " Littleton. You?"
"Colorado Springs" and that was the end of that. This date couldn't get worse.
Dinner had arrived, Ally ordered off the menu again, and we were discussing pop culture.
Trish was arguing a point I had said "how can you say it's only this generation who cares about what people on tv do? Reality tv has been around since the 90's. Jersey Shore is to today's youth as the Real world was to them in the 90's. I can't take credit for the last part I read it in a magazine."
Dezs eyes bugged out " I wrote that."
The date just got worse.
" you wrote that? Where did I read that?" she sound skeptical and impressed at the same time.
"In the Times" he smiled. "Get over yourself. I've never quoted anything in my life and you wrote it." she looked at me and Ally " isn't that amazing?"
Ally and I only smiled. We looked at each other knowing it wasn't working the way we planned.
The walk home was awkward. Dez asked if he could call Trish. Since I didn't like her I said no problem, but to wait a few days as to not hurt Ally's feelings.
He agreed with me, but what did he do 2 seconds later? He hails a cab and the two of them go off to his apartment leaving Ally and I alone on the sidewalk.
" guess the night wasn't a total bust" she laughed. I joined her in laughter " come on I'll walk you home."