The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-40

Antonio jumped to his feet as Louise rose from the table. "Here, let me help you with your coat."

"Thank you," she acknowledged gently.

Antonio opened his walled and placed two twenty-dollar bills on the table. "I'll walk you to your car."

"Don't you need change?"

"No, that should be about right."

They walked toward the door. Louise turned toward Antonio as he reached for the handle: "You don't have to come with me."

"It's okay," he assured her. "I want to hit the gym and then get back to my room in time for the match."

"Soccer?" she asked.

"Football."

"Football ... right!" she mused with a grin.

Antonio opened the door for her.

"Oh, God! It's raining!" Louise cried.

"Wow! It really is!"

"I didn't bring an umbrella!"

"Where are you parked?" he asked.

"I'm way out there!" She pointed toward the far end of the lot. "There weren't any spaces closer when I arrived."

"I'll drive you to your car. I'm parked right here." Antonio motioned toward a black, late-model Mustang.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, I'm sure!" he insisted. "Come on!"

Without hesitation, he dashed out into the pouring rain and opened the passenger door for her. Louise raced toward the car holding her purse over her head. Antonio walked briskly toward the driver's side and let himself in.

"Oh, no! You're soaked!"

"We're both soaked," he said with a matter of fact tone. "Bad timing, I guess!"

The comment implied multiple meanings in Louise's mind. "Yeah, I guess!"

The Mustang's V-8 engine roared as Antonio pressed the accelerator pedal. Louise's eyes opened widely. "Oh, this car is so YOU!"

"Do you like it?"

"It sounds nice," she observed. "And it doesn't leak."

"Have you ridden in a Mustang before?"

"In high school, I think. - Don't tell my mom."

"Well, they're a lot more powerful now," Antonio boasted.

"I rode in a Ferrari once. That was pretty powerful."

"Wow! when was that?"

"Another story for another time." Louise pointed to a car as they drove slowly down the row. "This is me."

Antonio pulled into the space adjacent to Louise's. "There! You will not have to walk too far!"

"I can't believe there are so many spaces now!" she grumbled. She realized that she sounded irritated. "I'm sorry for complaining."

"It's okay," he assured her. "No one likes getting caught in the rain."

"Anyway, thanks for the ride!"

"My pleasure!"

"Geez, it's still coming down!"

"Probably, it will slow down in a minute," he said. "Hey, listen..."

Louise turned toward him. She felt uneasy about what he might say.

"I'm sorry about the Friday thing," Antonio said. "I didn't intend to upset you."

"It's okay," Louise said calmly. "She just blurted it out at a stressful moment."

"Beth?"

"Yeah."

"She seems pretty excited to go," Antonio noted.

"Yeah, because she has a thing for you!"

"I don't think so."

"Oh, yeah! Totally!"

"Well, it's okay because I don't have a thing for her."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure, Louisa."

"You're sure that you're not looking to hook up with somebody this time."

"Well, I wasn't looking to hook up with her."

"Oh! My! God!" Louise exclaimed with a look of contemptuous disbelief on her face.

"I'm sorry. That didn't mean ... it wasn't what it sounded like," Antonio said sheepishly.

"Well, it sounded pretty bad!"

"Entiendo. Really. I'm sorry. I just meant..." He paused for a moment.

"You meant...?"

"I meant that I am not attracted to Beth, not even a little bit. Okay?"

"You're sure?"

"Louisa, I told you that I am sure."

"I mean, are you sure that that's what you meant?"

"Ah, you are playing games with me now!" Antonio complained playfully. "You know that my English is not that good."

"Okay, just checking," Louise said as she reached for the door handle.

"Why don't you come with us?" he asked.

"Come where?"

"El viernes," he suggested. "Friday - come to dance. It will be fun."

Louise cringed. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why isn't it a good idea?" Antonio realized that was pressing her a bit, but with his smile he let her know that he wasn't trying to be pushy. "You can bring your boyfriend."

"Oh, that's an even worse idea!" Louise blurted out with a look of shock on her face.

"Oh, so he knows about me."

"No," she explained. "He doesn't know about ... anything. But I don't really want him asking questions either, do you know what I mean?"

"Entiendo. Está bien."

"And besides, dancing really isn't his thing."

"Okay, well, it was just a thought," Antonio said.

"And it was a nice thought," she said. "Now, I have to get home."

"Sí!"

"And you have to go to the gym."

"Yes!" He said with a smile.

"And watch your football game."

"Soccer game!"

"Oh, don't try to pull that one mister!" she scolded.

Louise looked into Antonio's eyes. She had an overwhelming urge to kiss him in that moment. He lips were parted and her heart was racing. If she had known for certain that he was feeling the same way, she might have gone for it. But neither of them made a move. The moment passed.

"Thanks again for the ride," she said as she unlatched the door.

"Thank you for meeting me."

  

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South

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