“I’m not getting into that.”
A pink Mustang convertible is parked in front of my apartment building. If you ignore the hideous shade, the car itself appears to be in mint condition. Who in God’s name would do such a thing to a car?
Amelia is sitting in the driver’s side, wearing a baseball cap, navy hoody, and not to mention a satisfied smile on her face.
“It’s just a car. Get in.”
“It’s pink,” I point out, my hand resting on the door. “Like really pink.”
“You shouldn’t discriminate based on color,” she informs me. “It’s very unbecoming of you.”
“How about we take my car?” I plead.
“Man the fuck up and get in.”
I open the door with much reluctance and take a seat, not hiding my dissatisfaction of sitting inside a girl’s car. On closer inspection, the interior is pristine with white leather trim and all accessories in original condition. Whoever this belonged to must love old-time cars, though it seems a bit too feminine for Amelia’s tastes.
“Is this yours?”
Amelia snorts. “Are you kidding me? I’d never own a pink car like this. It’s like Barbie threw up all over it. It’s my roommate, Liesel’s.”
She slams her foot on the gas, roaring out from the curb drawing attention to those walking on the sidewalk. I slide in my seat, embarrassed to be seen in such a car.
The wind begins to pick up as we drive out of the city and toward New Jersey. Above us, clouds cluster with gray skies warning us of an impending storm. Turning my head, I scan the back to see if the car has a roof, and thankfully, it does.
“Can you tell me where we’re going?” I yell through the wind.
Amelia’s lips curve upward into a smile, the same smile I remember from when she was a kid, and I asked her why we were climbing a tree in her backyard. Assuming she wanted to climb simply for fun, only to jump into the pool moments later, swallowing a gallon of water in the process.
Amelia doesn’t answer my question, purposely ignoring me as she keeps her eyes on the road. I opt to enjoy the road trip, admiring the view though unsettled at being a passenger. Her driving is somewhat erratic. Others may deem her a maniac. If I want to get home in one piece, I somehow need to convince her that I’m driving back.
Our surroundings change with the view of Randall Airport just ahead. Above us, the sky is blue now, the clouds drifting away toward the ocean. The car begins to slow down as she pulls into the parking lot. When the car stops, I look around, noticing a hangar beside us.
“We’re here,” she announces while turning off the engine. “Are you ready?”
“What exactly should I be ready for?”
“I think it’s best we get out of the car to have this conversation.”
I unbuckle my seat belt, exiting the car while eyeing her dubiously. She motions for me to follow her, and as we turn the corner, it all comes into view.
There are several people dressed in parachute jumpsuits, many with harnesses. An ultra- lightweight plane sits on the tarmac with gliders all around. It takes a moment for me to realize exactly why we’re here.
“To clarify, you brought us here because we’re going to tandem hang glide?”
Amelia nods her head with a playful smirk without a care in the world that we’ll be flying thousands of feet above the ground.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she says, crossing her arms while we both watch some people above us detach their glider from another plane. “It’s twenty-five hundred feet.”
“Uh, that’s one thing, not to mention the fact that we could die.”
Amelia turns to face me, her eyes boring into me just as they had done when she was a kid, and I questioned her elaborate ideas.
“Don’t give me that look,” I remind her with annoyance.
“And exactly what look am I giving you?”
“The same look you’ve always given me before we’re about to do something incredibly dangerous.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but from memory, you said I was boring. Or was it lame? Unadventurous?”
I purse my lips, trying to control my urge to remind her of all the things that can go wrong in the air. Number one, we free-fall to our death.
“I may have alluded to something of the sort, but what I meant was get out, live a little. This is…”
“Are you scared? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
My eyes lift toward a hang glider soaring a few feet above us, ready to land. Moments later, the man and woman land, feet on the ground, both of them laughing while appearing exhilarated. I’ve done many adventurous things in my lifetime, but of late, life revolves around work. Maybe this is what I need, something crazy to break the monotonous routine of being in front of my laptop.
“Let’s do this,” I tell her.
We follow all the steps we need to, from practical learning to the physical side. After the instructor goes through everything, including our signing waivers, we’re fitted out in the proper gear and shown how to comfortably lay inside the glider.
The crew does all their safety checks while I take one plane and Amelia the other. She yells good luck to me with a thumbs up. I didn’t know whether to say the same or curse her for putting me in such a position.
I release a breath, willing the adrenaline to kick in. The engine of the plane starts at the same time my heart pumps wildly when we begin our ascent down the runway. I bite my lip as every part of my body begins to react with nausea creeping in.
The plane is in the air, the cool breeze a welcoming change. The higher we ascend and the distance from the ground we are, a smile spreads across my face replacing my momentary fear. I don’t recall how long it takes us to reach our destined height, taking the time to admire just how beautiful it is from above. The instructor taps me on the shoulder, warning me we’re going to detach and begin our soar. I give him the thumbs-up, and seconds later, the plane is pulling away, and we are free, soaring like birds.
My entire body feels light as a feather, a state of calm washes over me while taking in the landscape. This new feeling—a steady heartbeat—replaces the adrenaline pumping through my veins only moments ago.
Living in the moment, I realize how my life has become work, how the smallest of pleasures are never a priority. I’ve disconnected myself from actually living and feed myself excuses as to why money and power are my reason for existing.
And now, this on-the-whim dare to do something different has opened my eyes to something more.
Amelia has opened a part of me that has laid dormant.
I don’t recall how long we soared for, but another rush overcomes me when our feet finally touch the ground. My throat is parched, my breathing erratic while I rest my hands on my knees, willing my heart to calm down. Not too far away, Amelia has also landed, and the look on her face sums it up perfectly.
She looks beautiful, grinning from ear to ear with an infectious laugh escaping her lips. The color of her cheeks is crimson, accentuating the green eyes while our gaze meets. I can’t help but smile back as the instructor helps me remove the harness.
When we’re both free, Amelia runs over to me, out of breath and completely exhilarated.
“How do you feel?”
“Amazing,” I admit, taking a breath with a soft laugh following. “I haven’t felt this good since… I can’t even remember.”
“Me, too.” She beams, placing her cap back on. “I forgot what it was like just to act and not think.”
“I take it back. Maybe you’re not so lame.”
She punches my arm softly. “You hungry?”
“Famished.”
“There’s a place not too far from here that’s supposed to be the best burger joint in Jersey.”
“Lead the way, daredevil.”
My eyes pique with curiosity as the waitress serves all the food and places it on the table—burgers, loaded fries, hot dogs, pickles, and two sodas.
“Are you eating for two?” I ask, watching Amelia load her plate.
“Funny joke, one I’m sure you’ll never make in front of my father,” she says with a mouthful of fries. “A food coma is imminent.”
It’s somewhat refreshing to watch a woman relax in my presence, not fuss over some fad diet they’re trying out to lose weight. I learned early on not to ever comment on a women’s weight because even a compliment can be misconstrued as something else. Amelia, though, has an amazing body with curves in all the right places, not that I should be even thinking about that.
She raises her eyes, stopping mid-bite. “Why are you looking at me that way? Do I have mayonnaise on my face?”
I hide my smile behind the burger in my hands. “You’re so paranoid.”
“Well, I don’t really know you anymore. You’re practically a stranger.”
Flattening my lips, I roll my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
She wipes her hands with the napkin, taking a sip of Coke before resting her elbows on the edge of the table.
“It’s the truth. All I know is that you work at some company that creates apps. You’re single, allegedly, and you like to fool around with your assistants.”
I shake my head, letting out an annoyed huff. “My mother, or your mother, has really skewed reality. Yes, I own a company that creates apps, among many other things. Yes, I’m single. No, I don’t like to fool around with my assistants. I like to fool around with women who I find attractive, despite their chosen career.”
“Oh, well, that’s much better,” she drags, avoiding my eyes. “So, have you ever had a girlfriend?”
“That term is so juvenile,” I tell her.
“So is pulling the onion out of your burger,” she retorts while eyeing me. “And the pickles.”
“They’re disgusting.”
“You’re avoiding my question.”
I release a breath. “I’m not avoiding your question. I was in a relationship, and it didn’t work out. End of story.”
Amelia’s gaze fixates on me, making me uncomfortable as the silence gives her time to think of something else to ask me. Something, I’m sure I’ll have no interest in answering.
“It sounds to me like you’re still in love with her.”
“C’mon, now you’re ridiculous.”
“Am I? Or am I so accurate that you’re terrified I unraveled some hidden secret you’ve been trying to keep because your heart is so broken?”
Narrowing my eyes, I fold my arms across my chest.
“You’re still as invasive as I remember you. I’m not heartbroken. In fact, I ended it. Satisfied?”
“Not really,” she counters, still watching me with a curious stare. “Now it opens up a whole other conversation about your fear of commitment.”
“For God’s sake, you really are still a pain in my ass,” I concur while grimacing. “What about you? You’re a relationship person, and now you’re single.”
“Yes, I am,” she mumbles, avoiding my gaze. “It’s college, right? Perfect time to be single.”
I agree in my head that no one should be tied down in college. The thought of her being single and jumping into different beds opens up another side to me I have to control, or this won’t end well.
“Just focus on studying, stay single.”
“Maybe, we’ll see.”
“What do you mean we’ll see?” I question with annoyance.
“It means that a woman has needs. Read between the lines, buddy.”
The waitress interrupts our conversation, clearing the table and placing the bill down. As Amelia reaches for it, I push her hand away, the same time my skin tingles with what feels like an electric shock. Pulling back, a small breath escapes her pink lips, but she covers it up with a cough.
The interruption times perfectly, this conversation potentially leading to a heated debate. After paying the bill, we exit the restaurant and walk back to the car. After an argument over who should drive back, she reluctantly hands over the keys as we make our way back to the city.
It’s mid-afternoon when we get back to my apartment, and once again, the clouds have formed over the sky with the smell of rain in the air.
“Will you be okay driving home?” I ask, looking upward at the same time a roar of thunder echoes in the distance. “Why don’t you wait until the storm passes?”
“And do what exactly?”
Inside, I’m battling with the need to protect her from the unpredictable weather, which often causes erratic driving on the wet roads or to send her home. My urges jump from zero to one hundred when she does something minor like bite the corner of her lip.
You need to protect her.
That’s all—it’s about her safety.
“Hang?” I blurt out, distracted by my thoughts.
“Hang?” She laughs. “Hmm… I haven’t heard that in a while, but okay.”
And just like that, her teasing of my age only riles me up and reminds me how easily she can goad some sort of reaction from me. Out of nowhere, the rain begins to pelt from above us.
“Let’s go,” I mumble, heading toward the building. “If you come out of here alive, you better count your blessings.
