III.
Everyone knew me as the stickler for time. If only they could see me that Monday in Chicago.
I was racing to make my next date. I could not call a cab because of earlier circumstances that caused me to rush out of my hotel room without grabbing some money.
I dug in a little deeper and quickened my pace. My lungs burned, screaming at me to stop this torture. My legs threatened to give out and my body yearned to collapse under the heat. In my stubbornness, I still ran. Running late would not become the norm.
Never again will I schedule three dates in one day. Multiple dates make the day complicated and time hard to handle. Since my encounter with David J. Ryan, two other David Ryans had responded to my call for help. I met with both of them that day.
The one I met in the morning for coffee and some breakfast wore a wedding ring. Being married to another person would put a strain on any relationship, even a pretend one. The David Ryan I met for lunch, smoked, chewed tobacco, and had an obsession with NASCAR. He quite clearly told me that racing came before women in his life. Sure, he and my father would have car racing in common to talk about, but that was the only positive.
I would have been on time for my third date if I had not gotten an out of the blue phone call from an old friend.
"Hello?" I asked, picking up my cell phone.
"Divy! Hey!" A chirpy voice said, "Do you remember me? It's your western bud Logan!"
Logan had been a childhood friend. Maggie, her, and I grew up together. She moved to Colorado to '"find herself".
"Oh, hey Logan, what's up? I haven't heard from you in a long time." I checked the clock. If I left no latter than a half and hour I would have arrived on time for my date.
"I know! Right? I've missed you so much! I have so much to tell you."
We talked for forty-five minutes, believe me she would have talked longer if I did not cut her off. She rambled on about my engagement which she heard about from Maggie, and about her engagement.
"Isn't it exciting?" she said, "We'll both be named Logan Pike, because, well, his name is Logan too!"
She also chattered about playing matchmaker for Maggie.
"How about Drew?" she offered. I told her that would not work. "Well, then, how about Rob?"
"How about we stay out of Maggie's business?" I did not want to play matchmaker, especially if it involved poor Robert.
"Awww, Divy, c'mon. It will be fun," she paused for moment and then giggled. "Oh, I see you want to keep the boys to yourself!"
"What?" A furious blush shaded my face.
"Oh Divy, don't play dumb. We all know they took a fancy to you. I mean Mr. Drew 'I'm-an-athlete-I-can't-risk-injury-with-strenuous-physical-activity practically moved all your stuff into Maggie's apartment. Robert made you a pink paper crane. He never gives pink cranes to anyone else! Come to think of it, Christian brought you to see Winnie the Pooh. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to choose to sit through a kids movie on his own."
That was were I cut her off. "Look, Logan, It was nice chatting with you, but, I have to go. I'm kind of late for a date."
"Oh, with your finacé?
"Yes."
"Well, I guess we can't keep him waiting. I love you! Bye!"
"Love you too! Bye!"
I always enjoy hearing from a friend, just not when I had to be somewhere at a certain time and especially not when she managed to bring Drew, Christian, and Rob to the forefront of my mind.
After a few minutes of sprinting, I finally saw what I was running towards. A blue and white sign for "Toni's Greek" loomed a few blocks ahead. I pushed myself harder, every ounce of raw energy seeping into my limbs, propelling me forward.
I pushed that restaurant's door with such force that I practically fell into the building. The entrance bell clanked three times before stopping.
The restaurant silenced as I stumbled into their dining experience. No silverware clanged against plates. No mummers passed between friends. The silence was so dead that the quiet buzz of the air conditioner could be heard.
I shifted my weight and I nabbed my bottom lip between my teeth. Never in my life have I had this many spectators, save my performances. I was not even presentable enough to go out in public, let alone be viewed by everyone in a restaurant. My hair remained a mess, sweat shone on every inch of skin, and my body reeked of a disgusting order. I breathed heavily, winded from my run.
Suddenly, the kitchen doors swung open and a short woman came out carrying trays of food. She went to their respected tables and dropped them off. "What on Earth happened you all," she said, zooming around, "Can't you people mind your own business? Go back to eating."
Instantly the restaurant's noise grew as the customers obeyed her commands. The woman came up to greet me. "I'm Toni," my saviour said, her voice raspy from years of smoking, "Sweetheart, what in God's name happened to you? Did a tornado pick you up and land you here?"
I looked up at her dark lined eyes. "I'm Divy," I said, "I'm looking for David Ryan. Is he around?"
I followed her sandy colored head as she lead me to a booth placed in the back of the restaurant.
"Hey Dave!" Toni called between smacking her gum, "Divy's here to see you."
I came up to the booth. There sat a man with reddish-orange hair. He wore dark thick rimmed glasses. A hint of a stubble grew along his strong jaw line. I recognized him as David Arthur Ryan.
"Tell her to sit down," he said.
Toni motioned me to sit down. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked.
"Just a water," I rasped, still fighting to control my breath.
"Alright, sweetie. Oh and Dave, your food will be out in just a second. There was some back up in the kitchen. You two have fun!" She winked at David but I doubt he saw it. He was too engrossed in his newspaper.
"So," he said, finally folding up the paper, "Divy is short for Divinity, huh?"
"Yeah, and I assume that you like to go by Dave, instead of David."
Dave shrugged. "It's easier to say." At this time, my date started to doodle on a napkin we fell into silence, "What happened to you? You look like you just ran a marathon in those clothes," he said at last.
"I did."
"Oh?" His eyes bore into mine. He shifted his jaw a little to the left and then it fell back into place again. "We have time. Why don't you just tell me how you ended up like this?"
"What makes you think I'll tell you?"
Dave held up his hands. "Hey, I'm not pressing you to tell me. Curiosity just got the better of me, I was trying to start some sort of conversation."
His remarks surprised me. I tilted my head to study him closer. I could not read this David Ryan. His manner was aloof and yet he seemed to really care about making the date at least bearable.
So, I told him the events of the day. I talked about the married man I met with in the morning, about the beer guzzler I had lunch with. "And then, out of the blue, a good friend calls me. I haven''t even talked to her in months! I mean, I don't mind conversing with old friends. But couldn't she have called at a more convenient time?"
"And you didn't take a taxi?"
"I was in such a rush on the way out, I didn't take my money. I even left my cell phone!"
A smirked crossed his face as he crossed his arms and looked down. He tilted his head to look at me again. "I just, I-I-I," he said, searching for words.
"You what?"
"I just can't fathom, um, how many jerks share the same name as me."
"You shouldn't be surprised. Having the potential of being a jerk is almost mandatory in a guy's nature." By now, Toni had come out with my water and the food and left. I had gulped down the cool liquid as soon as it was laid on the table. Dave's gyro sat there untouched.
"You can hardly say that."
"I can and I will." I said, chewing on an ice cube.
Dave shook his head and went back to drawing on his napkin. His silence made me self-conscious of the sharp noise that my chewing made.
"Are you going to eat that?" I said pointing at the gyro. I hoped to bring Dave back into a conversation.
"Huh? Oh no. I just ate with a friend before coming here. Do you want it?"
I shook my head. "I ate a whole box of chocolates while on the phone. Calms the nerves, you know."
"Whatever you say." He pinched the bridge of his noise and let his hand slide down his face. "I guess we'll go then. I'll go get Toni's attention for the check and we'll head out."
Outside the restaurant, I waited for Dave to get his stuff together, money, food, that napkin he drew on, and all.
"Well," I said, "I guess I'll contact you tomorrow-"
"Wait! You're going?" Dave piped in with puzzlement littering his face. "This date hasn't even started yet. Am I really that boring?"
I laughed and looked down at a spot by Dave's feet. "No, actually. I just thought the date was over."
The next part of that day was, perhaps, the most thrilling night out I have had with any man.
"You had to pick the extreme one, huh?" I said with my eyes fixed on a huge red boat labeled "the Sea Dog Extreme."
Dave pulled his shoulders up and then they fell back down. "It's the most fun," he said. A grin appeared in his smile, "We are definitely sitting in the back."
I knew why he wanted to sit in the back. If the duck boats at Newport, Kentucky taught me nothing else, I learned the back was where you went when you wanted to get drenched. "You want us to get soaked!"
"You'll see."
We ended up sitting on the right side, towards the back. I have heard of this ride before. It had become known for its rushing speeds of 45 miles per hour on the water, and its 360 degree turns. Sitting in that boat brought on a sudden fear of hydrophobia.
"Dave!" I screamed over the loud tune of "Sweet Home Alabama", "I'm scared!"
I looked out towards the lake. That was where we were heading, into the open endless water.
Something pressed into my hand. "Don't worry," Dave said, stroking my knuckles with his thumb, "nobody has died. Yet."
Before I could think of his words, before I could ponder that what ifs of the boat capsizing or what it was like to become fish food for those giant King Coho Salmon and the occasional Bull Shark, the boat took off.
Those 30 minutes were the best 30 minutes I have every spent on a boat. I screamed my head off the whole way. Dave and I did get soaking wet. We laughed so hard about it. The sights they took us to see were spectacular. I wished I brought my camera.
The downside of sitting in the back consists of hearing the tour guide words as mutterings. "What did he say?" I would ask.
"Who knows and who cares?" Dave would reply, the breeze tousling his bright colored hair.
The day finally came to an end. "That was so much fun!" I said as Dave helped me out of his car. We stood outside of my hotel.
"I'm glad you thought so," he mumbled as he let go of my hand.
My skin felt cold with his hand's absence. My fingers bunched up in a fist. My thumb lightly caressed them as they released from their tight position, taking advantage of their newfound freedom.
"So," I began, "I guess, I'll contact you when I find out who's coming with me."
"You have other David Ryans to pick from?"
"Look, I'm not totally desperate."
"Contacting a bunch of random guys for a date sounds pretty desperate for me."
He crossed the line. He knew it. I knew. I turned to leave without saying goodbye.
"Wait," Dave grabbed my hand and turned me around, "I'm sorry about what I said just now."
"Then you shouldn't have said it."
"You're right. Just hold on and let me explain." I was struggling to get out of his grip. When I finally freed my hand, Dave grabbed my elbows and pulled me closer to him. I shuddered against the hotness of his breath.
"Let me go," I whispered.
"Listen to me." He his words came out more like a hiss than as if he spoke. "Look, Divy," he continued, "You had fun tonight, right?"
I nodded.
"And you're going to ruin this wonderful evening by taking what I said too seriously. C'mon, Divy, it was a joke, simply a joke."
"Jokes can hurt too."
Dave smirked as he looked towards the night sky. No stars twinkled with laughter or grace due to the city lights outshining them. Just like sometimes natural beauty was outshone by the artificial beauty plastered all over out world.
Suddenly, Dave's hands let go of my arms. I could almost feel my skin sigh in relief. "Give me another chance, Divy," he said. He started walking towards his car. He stopped short and turned. He named an address and then, while getting in his car, said, "Be there at ten o'clock, sharp. I'll be waiting for you.
I watched him drive away into the rows of lights.
The next day, Tuesday, came. I almost did not sleep the night before. The thought of sleep was not appealing when slumber only brought the dreaded day closer.
There was only one thing certain about that Tuesday. I had a date with another David Ryan who contacted me quite unexpectedly.
"Meet me by the park- at the funny looking tree at noon," his message read, "Taking you to the museum. I hope you accept. There is a new exhibit."
But as far as meeting the David Ryan from last night, the future still remained uncertain. I strummed a few notes on my guitar. Usually, I kept my practices quiet. I hated it when people could hear me struggle. But, on that Tuesday I just did not care. The fate of my happiness was in the balanced with one decision. I turned to the only familiar thing around, music. My worries drowned in the series of chords.
A snicker, a snort, and a smile erupted from me when I finally realized the absurdity of my situation. I threw my instrument to the ground and cringed when I heard it cry out in pain with a "twang." But, I did not check if my baby (my guitar) was alright.
I sauntered over to the mirror. What a stupid girl I had been, acting like my whole happiness rested on one man's shoulders. Men are just men. They only exist on the physical nature. I could hear them, see them, touch them. Dave was a man, Drew, Robert, and Christian were, also. They did not have the privilege of being all-knowing and all-powerful. They didn't know I lied, and Dave still did not know if would come to his date or not. I still had some cards to play. They could easily be duped.
I gave my thoughts a nod of affirmation. All of them were just men. They would not see through my charade.
I laughed with my new found confidence. My reflection seemed to sparkle when a smile refused to come off my face. That Tuesday, I would pay a visit to Dave at the time he requested, and, yes, I would receive him cordially.