Analia
"Hey you," Lexie greets me warmly as I enter the car, planting a quick kiss on my chin. "I've missed you. You look beautiful."
"Thank you. And I missed you too." She's all I've been able to think about since I talked to Wyatt.
I can't shake off the guilt of being with Wyatt while still feeling a connection with her. It feels like I'm being dishonest, even though she claimed to understand.
"What do you want to eat before we go to the aquarium? Anything specific?" I notice a hint of unease in her voice, making me wonder if something is bothering her, but I hesitate to ask.
"How about Olive Garden?"
"Olive Garden it is," she responds, her gaze fixed on the road. I can't tell if she's lost in thought or deliberately avoiding conversation.
We sit in silence for a while, my attempt at conversation falling short.
"Do you mind if we listen to music?," I ask, giving up on having a conversation with her. Lexie nods, pressing play on the song she paused when she picked me up.
'Just Like Heaven' by The Cure fills the car, a song that had been exclusive to my dad's playlist until now.
"My dad loves this band," I tell her, playing with the bracelets adorning my wrist.
Lexie laughs, nodding her head as if she expected me to say that. "Yeah, Birdie always calls this 'dad in his 40's' music."
"I like it though, I kinda miss when my dad used to play it," I admit, my smile turning slightly into a frown.
I never told her about my mom passing and I'm not sure if now is the right time. However, she reaches across the console, gently taking my hand, and suddenly, I find myself crying.
"Are you crying? Why are you crying? What's wrong? Do you want me to pull over?," Lexie questions, a slight panic in her voice. She squeezes my hand, eager to console me.
"I'm okay, don't pull over. It's just- my dad, he used to play music all the time before my mom passed away. I miss the way he used to be. And I miss my mom," I share, my voice breaking, uncertain if Lexie can even understand me through the sobs.
"I-I'm so sorry, Ana, I didn't know," she says, stroking my hair with her free hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I wipe the tears away from my eyes to look at her. "I know, I should've told you. But when I'm with you, I don't have to think about that. I don't have to think about anything and I want to keep it that way."
It's been a while since I've been this happy and I just wanted a break from talking about myself or my mom for a bit.
"I feel that same way about you, Ana. But I want to know these things about you. Is that okay?" I nod, smiling through the sniffles.
Lexie gently lifts my hand to her lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. "Do you feel like opening up about it now, or would you rather not? You don't have to, if you don't want to."
I'm willing to open up, just not right now. "No, I'm okay. I just want to enjoy a night out with you. Thank you for comforting me. " I press my lips against her cheek, tasting the lingering saltiness of the tears I shed earlier.
Lexie smiles, blushing. "No need to thank me, that's what I'm here for." The car glides through the city, and amidst the flickering lights outside, Lexie's hand remains reassuringly intertwined with mine.
Lexie
Following dinner, we make our way to the aquarium. Analia's enthusiasm propels her forward, tugging me along. It's refreshing to witness her excitement, especially considering the vulnerability she shared with me in the car earlier. By the time we left Olive Garden, it was like it never happened. But the weight of our conversation weighs heavily on my mind.
Joining the line behind a pair of elderly ladies, I pull her closer. "How're you girls doing tonight?" the ladies ask.
Their eyes fixate on our intertwined fingers, causing their smiles to falter. Analia doesn't seem to notice, but I can't ignore their reaction. "We're doing well, thank you," I respond curtly, silently urging them to leave us be.
"You girls on a double date? I remember when Rosie and I used to do that," one of the ladies reminisces, her gaze directed at her companion, presumably Rosie.
Analia interjects happily, "Actually, no. We're on a date," resting her head on my shoulder. I can't help but smile, appreciating her openness. However, the older women's smiles swiftly fade.
"Whatever happened to women finding nice men to settle down with?" Rosie questions, her disapproval and judgment apparent in her voice.
Analia releases my hand, and I feel an overwhelming urge to confront these women. "What ever happened to people minding their own business? Why don't the two of you try it?"
My remark catches the attention of a few bystanders, but I choose to ignore their glances. Reaching for Analia's hand again, she hesitantly accepts it.
Twenty minutes pass before we reach the entrance and Analia remains silent. While I've dealt with my fair share of homophobic and offensive remarks, this was her first. I wish I could promise her that it will never happen again.
Searching for a way to make her smile, I ask, "Why were you so excited to come here?"
Analia points to a sign that reads 'Babies This Way!' "There's a new exhibit exclusively for baby animals—baby fish, baby turtles, baby otters," she explains, her enthusiasm now dimmed.
Taking her hand in mine, I gently kiss the back of it. "Let's not allow them to ruin our night, okay? Don't let them have power over you."
She nods, remaining silent. I sigh, unsure of what to do next. First the car ride, now this. I want to stay because it might brighten her mood, but I don't want to force her to stay if she'd rather leave.
"You're right. I came here to have a good time with you, and that's what I'm going to do. Let's go see some baby animals."
YOU ARE READING
HER
Romance"There's nothing wrong with following the rules. I don't like getting in trouble." She doesn't say anything for a minute, just stares at me. "That's too bad," she says, leaning in closer. "I was hoping to get into some." ...
