Andrew Price - Without A Hitch

“Let me get this straight. You liked my dress, but you didn’t want to tell me because of what some coworker told you?”

“I know, it sounds stupid. But it was one of those random thoughts that just hit me at the wrong time. Just as I was about to say something, I had this vision, and I didn’t want to become your version of Shoe Guy.”

Penny laughed and shook her head. “I would never do that. So you liked the dress?”

“Absolutely. You were stunning.”

“I got it at my sister’s shop.” Penny’s sister owneda vintage clothing store in Fairfax, where Penny got many of her clothes. Penny let go of Corbin’s hand and spun around, causing the skirt of her white polka dot dress to twirl around her knees. “I got this one at her shop too. You like?”

“Sure do.”

They joined hands again and kissed. Penny needed to stand on tip toes to reach his lips, despite the extra few inches her shoes gave her.

“You know, you never did tell me why you brought the flower?”

“Oh, we’re back to this pink rose mirage again?” Penny teased Corbin, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated motion while pulling away from him, though not letting go of his hand. “You know, I’ve never admitted to being this mystery girl that has you so fascinated.”

Corbin laughed. “Fine, don’t tell me.”

“Isn’t it more fun trying to figure it out?” She poked him playfully in the side.

“So you admit it then?”

“I admit nothing.”

As they passed a music store, Penny stopped again. “You know what we should do? You should let me photograph you for an album cover!” Penny was a freelance photographer and a graphic design artist. She worked for four local ad agencies on commission, though any one of them gladly would have hired her full time.

“An album cover? There’s no album,” Corbin protested.

Penny grabbed the loops on Corbin’s brown corduroy pants and pulled him toward her. “There will be.” She stepped up to kiss him again. “Seriously, let’s do a photo shoot. I’ve done album work before. How do you feel about nudes?” she said as seriously as she could, but then broke into laughter.

“I’ll pass,” Corbin said, grinning with embarrassment. “But if I ever do an album, you can definitely shoot me, just not naked.”

As they continued, they came to a high-end jewelry store.

“Look at those diamonds,” Penny said, pulling Corbin toward the counter. Penny pointed to a diamond-encrusted silver necklace with a price tag in the mid-six figures. A sign said the necklace was from 1934. “They’re so pretty. I love the colors. The necklace is beautiful too.”

“Fine, I’ll buy it for you,” Corbin joked.

Penny laughed. “I had no idea you were so rich?”

“I’ve been putting my spare change into a huge jar in my kitchen. I think I just might have enough.”

“I thought maybe you were going to remind me that you’re a rich lawyer,” she teased him.

“Sure, rub it in.”

She smiled. “That’s ok, honey, I like you anyway, even if you are a lawyer.” She looked at the necklace again. “It is pretty, but I honestly wouldn’t want it. I love shooting diamonds, because they play some of the greatest tricks with the light, but they’re not my style. Now vintage clothes, that’s a completely different matter!”

“What the heck are you doing?” Corbin asked after hearing the clicking noise for a third time, followed by yet another “thunk.” He was sitting on his couch with the television on mute.

“I’m putting,” Alvarez responded through the phone.

“You’re what?”

“Putting.”

“As in golf?”

“Yeah. I thought I’d teach myself golf. So I bought a club and I’m learning to putt.”

“You’re indoors,” Corbin said skeptically.

“Yeah.”

“You’re playing on hardwood floors.”

“Yeah. So?”

“Golf is played on grass.”

“Hey, you’ve got your hobbies, let me have mine. Get back to the story. What happened next?”

“She looks me straight in the eyes and she says, ‘you’re not a jerk are you?’”

Alvarez laughed. “She’s perceptive!”

“Very funny.”

“What was her name again?”

“Natalie. She’s Penny’s older sister.”

“Whose idea was it for the three of you to go to lunch?”

“Mine actually.”

“Then you got what you deserved.”

“Ha ha. Actually, we had a good time after we went a couple rounds. I felt bad for Penny though, she looked like she was going to die of embarrassment when her sister started smacking me with questions.”

“Is this Natalie cute?”

“I’d say yes.”

“Did you mention you had an uber-successful friend named Vez who just happens to be single at the moment?”

“It slipped my mind.”

“Maybe you should write a note to remind yourself or something? That seems like a pretty critical detail to forget.” Both friends laughed. “Seriously, I would- oh shoot!”

“What?”

“I just overshot the cup. My ball bounced off the balcony. I hope there’s nobody in the pool.” Alvarez lived on the fourth floor, overlooking the apartment building’s pool.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” Alvarez walked over to the balcony. “Oh good, the pool’s empty.”

“Why are you putting with the door open?”

“It’s hot in here, and I wasn’t putting toward the door. It ricocheted off the wall.”

“How hard did you hit it?”

“Too hard, apparently.”

“You’re a menace,” Corbin said.

“So how did lunch end? Did you two become fast friends?”

“I think so. Penny called later to tell me her sister really liked me, despite her attitude.”

“She’s just trying to make you feel better. She’s probably trying to figure out how to dump you right now.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time.”

“How’s work going?”

“Dull.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.”

Corbin and Penny were in the park.

About a hundred people were scattered about enjoying the afternoon sun. The wind blew gently toward the Potomac, which raced silently by a few hundred yards from where Corbin and Penny sat on a blanket under a large Yellow-Poplar. Their bikes leaned against the tree. The Lincoln Memorial stood across the wide river, and Roslyn rose out of the trees behind them. Between Corbin and Penny sat a picnic basket. A chocolate lab watched the basket intently from a distance.

Penny covered her mouth with her hand. She was blushing. “Oh my God! I can’t believe I told you that! I’ve never told that to anyone before.”

“I can see why! You’ve got a dirty mind.”

“I do not!” Penny responded defensively, reaching over and mussing Corbin’s hair.

Corbin playfully tugged at the knot Penny had tied in the yellow cotton dress shirt she wore. Without the knot, the shirt would have been way too large, as it belonged to Corbin until a few days ago, before she borrowed it after getting caught in a rainstorm on her way to his apartment.

Penny pushed his hand away from the knot. “All right smarty, your turn! Favorite instrument other than guitar.”

“The noble cello . I’ve always thought the cello was the sexiest instrument.”

Penny giggled.

“What?” Corbin asked.

“I play cello.”

“You’re kidding?!” He’d seen the cello at her apartment, but assumed it belonged to her sister because Penny never mentioned that she played.

“No, seriously,” Penny replied. “Maybe I’ll play for you next time you come over.”

“You’re seriously not making this up?”

“I swear,” Penny pledged. She smiled involuntarily at the look in his eye. For several days now, she’d noticed a soft sparkle in his eyes, which gave her a warm and comfortable feeling. She couldn’t quite describe it, and her sister told her she was crazy, but she was sure it was there.