design. The booths are comprised of black tables and red seats. Suspended from the ceiling are old vinyl records with faded labels. A smattering of pictures featuring Elvis or Chuck Berry are hung haphazardly on the walls. The décor is oddly broken up by a few moose heads, a bear head, and about ten kinds of mounted fish.
Regardless, the place is very popular with locals and tourists alike. I'm surprised that we're led to a seat so quickly on a Saturday night.
“Do you want some dessert?” I'm astounded by the smile that accompanies Chase's voice. I feel instantly warmed by his closeness.
“ No, I drank so much hot cocoa on the trolley tour that I can't think about more sugar for the rest of the weekend. But, thank you. Coffee will be perfect.”
Once we're seated, I ask, “So, what really possessed you to ride the trolley four times tonight? It's so cold, I can't believe that anyone would stay out there willingly. I mean, clearly I had to stay because it's my job.”
“ I really needed this shot glass.” Chase pulls the tiny glass out of his coat pocket and laughs. “But, seriously, I wanted to see you again.”
My face flushes, and I look down at the steaming cup of coffee that has just been placed in front of me. Did he really just say that? Did he mean it the way it sounded? He wanted to see me ? “Oh,” is the only response that I can come up with. I'm trying to wait for the blush to wear off before I look up again.
I hear the jingle of the diner's front door and automatically look over, just in time to see my parents walking in with my sister and my little brother. I wave and Chase turns to look over his shoulder. “My family just walked in,” I inform him.
Fiona and Marcus waste no time in rushing over to the table. I suddenly realize that Fiona doesn't know anything about Chase. I feel like I've known him a lot longer than a day. Fiona was out shopping with her friends all of yesterday, and then she had gone out to see a movie and didn't return home until well after I was asleep. She is in a junior in high school. We are normally pretty close but she had slept in quite late this morning, and we haven't had one spare moment to connect until now. I don't want her to feel like I've been keeping something from her, so I make a point of introducing her first.
“ Fiona, this is Chase. Chase, this is my sister Fiona. I met Chase on the trolley tour last night. ” I try to emphasize to Fiona that I haven't known Chase any longer than that. “And this is my brother, Marcus, my mom, June and my dad, Ed.” I motion toward my parents who have just reached the table in time to shake Chase's hand.
Chase reaches out to my mom and dad, saying, “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs...uh, I guess I don't know your last name.”
“Galliver,” my dad smiles. “But you can call us Ed and June.”
“ Do you want to join us?” Chase asks. It's a smart move on his part. My parents always wants to be involved in my life when guys are concerned.
My mom is about to accept when my dad quickly interjects, “No, thanks. We'll sit over there,” he says, motioning to the large booth at the back of the diner.
While the rest of my family sits down, my mom takes another moment to invite Chase to brunch the next morning. Our family has this tradition of making a huge brunch almost every Sunday after church. We usually invite friends or new people from church. My parents are what I call “chronically hospitable.” It's no surprise to me that she has invited Chase, but I silently hope that he doesn't think that my parents are reading too much into our friendship.
“ Tomorrow actually doesn't work,” Chase answers, and my heart drops a little.
He's trying to bow out gracefully, I think.
He checks his phone quickly. “How about next weekend? I'm free on December 2,” he politely suggests to my mo m .
She smiles and says, “Sounds good,” and then she turns to make her way to the booth where my dad and