At some point, we finally left the table. I put away the food, cleaned up, and took out the trash. When I came back inside, I found Sophia in the office rather engrossed in a serious task. I asked what she worked on, and she said she’d been thinking about what I said on our first date about trying university. Namely the part where I suggested it possibly wouldn’t be so bad since she’d be learning about things in which she had an interest. After doing some research and reading blogs about experiences with non-traditional students, she found a prep course to help her get ready for the entrance exam if she decided to enroll. Maybe going through the course and studying for the exam could get her in the spirit of going back to school. Even if it didn’t, at least she would have the clarity she needed to move on and make some career decisions.
“I think that’s great,” I said. “How can I help?”
She briefly glanced at me with a smile.
“I wish we had a couch in here so you could keep me company.”
I loved how quickly everything that was hers turned into ours. I still called Dad’s house home and hadn’t gotten the hang the whole “we” and “ours” yet, but the fact that she did made me more comfortable and welcome.
“I can get a couch,” I said.
She whipped her head toward me with a hopeful smile.
“Really?”
“Yeah. My mom gave me some money when I moved in with Dad. I can get things. Just tell me what you want.”
She stared at me for a moment with a serious, pensive glance.
“Well… If you want to get a couch, that’s fine. This is your home now. Get whatever you want, but don’t go crazy. Remember, you have a studio to save up for.”
We were so invested in each other’s lives. It was a beautiful thing. I rarely thought about my end game plans, but here she was, factoring it into our everyday financial decisions. We were a good team.
Speaking of my mom giving me money…
I remembered the special birthday present she gave me in Mt. Komorebi. It was a rare treasure from El Selvadorada worth around §10,000. She told me to pass it down to my child, but if I ever had a rainy day, I could sell it and take care of myself. That money would sure come in handy right now. I could build my studio and forget about moonlighting at spas and begging for places to teach my classes. But I had no idea what my financial future would be like. I made decent money, but if I threw kids and a bigger house into the mix, would it be enough? Would I have anything left over to give my child when he moves out? I liked the idea of giving my child a leg up in life, especially being a recipient of such help, so I couldn’t sell it. I needed to continue working hard making money the “old-fashioned” way, heh.
“I’m gonna go for a jog and let you study,” I said.
“Okay. Be careful out there. It’s dusty at night sometimes and hard to see.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long.”
She was right about the dust. Between not knowing where I was going, and the decreased visibility, I made a loop around our street and came right back to find her waiting for me outside.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
She grabbed my hands and gave me a look I’d never seen, but totally understood what it meant. The temperature in my body began to rise.
“Everything is perfect.”
She stepped closer.
“I know asking you to live here and jumping into a relationship was crazy. I told myself you’d need time to process everything and to follow your lead in case you weren’t ready, but…”
She stepped even closer. So close, she could surely feel the answer to what she was getting at.
“I want you, Luca. So badly. I’m not trying to pressure you, but I just wanted you to know…whenever you’re ready, I’m ready.”
“I appreciate that. And…I’ve been ready.”
She grinned and led me back into the house.
