This is a catch-up for Mushy Monday. I've had it written for weeks, but it turns out it's hard to find free time on Mondays to get online! I'll get part 2 up tomorrow.
Monday, July15, 2002
Armando called me Sunday night as I was walking out the door to church. I was shocked. Not only was this the first guy to whom I'd ever given my number, but I never expected that he would call. He invited me out for coffee again the next night. Again, I hesitated. I expected that Mike would be home that night, was I cheating on him by going out for coffee? But at the same time, it felt so nice talking to Armando, like a giant weight was coming off my shoulders. I finally agreed, thinking to myself “It's just an innocent cup of coffee, and to be honest, Mike has lied to me about far worse”
We agreed to meet for coffee at 7pm at Texpresso Coffee Bar. Interesting sidebar – remember the guy that Tara was trying to hook up with? He owns it. I'd heard her talk about the great coffee but hadn't really put the two together yet.
I got off of work at 5:30, like usual. Again, due to the joys of living nowhere near campus, it didn't make sense to go all the way home just to turn around and head back out. Besides, I didn't want to have to explain myself to Mike who hadn't come home the night before. Also, (because I'm an adult now and I'll admit it) I secretly kinda hoped Mike was home and would worry about me when I didn't come home.
To kill some time, I stopped by the bookstore and bought a Spanish textbook for the Spanish class I started that morning before driving to the coffee shop. On the way there, I pulled over and nearly headed home at least 3 times. To my chagrin, I still ended up at the coffee shop at least 30 minutes early. I found a quiet corner and attempted, unsuccessfully, to read the first chapter. But my heart leapt every time someone walked in the door.
His face lit up when he saw me. I'm pretty sure mine did too. He bought us coffee (Mmmm, Alamocha – if you're ever in Austin and in need of a caffeine fix, get one). It was a gorgeous evening for mid-July and so we moved to the veranda out back. We walked through the terrace of the shopping center to check out the Koi pond, but there were people there so we moved back to a table just outside the backdoor of Texpresso and talked. And talked. And talked some more. We talked about religion, him growing up in the Mormon Church, my joining the Catholic Church as an adult. We talked more about relationships and the strained relationship I had with my grandmother at the time.
I remember looking around at one point and realizing that not only had the coffee shop closed, but everyone, even the employees were gone. I made a mental note that it would be wise for me to find a way to end the conversation. But we just kept talking.
Around 11:30, we finally decided we should go home. He had work in the morning, I had school. I walked to my car, again feeling like a thousand pounds had been lifted from my shoulder. I sat in my car and thought to myself, “Wow, what a great conversation. Who is this guy that he can make me feel so much better?” I drove home feeling like I was floating on air.
When I pulled up to my apartment building, the front light was on. I knew it hadn't been on when I left for school that morning. My heartbeat quickened. Mike's car wasn't there, he must have had to work, but if he left the light on for me, maybe that meant he was sorry and we were going to work things out?
To be continued tomorrow.
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