Her brother came out the door and watched David head down the street. "That can't be good." he said as he walked up the driveway. "What happened?"
"I said the wrong thing at the wrong time and offended him. And the last thing I said insulted him."
"How're you gonna fix it?"
"No idea. He did say he was going to miss our house."
"Wow. You must've really pissed him off."
"I was flippant and said that was going to be our only date. He said he felt used."
"Wooooow. You don't do things in half measures, do you? All those weeks of preparations and it went down in flames."
"Okay okay. Give me a break. Obviously some things shouldn't be said in jest."
"Wanda, you gotta know that he had you up on a pedestal for a long time. I don't know how that got started but if it meant he didn't treat you like those snacks he went out with during high school, you're better off for it. If he let anything happen on your date, it means he was ready to jump in with both feet. It sounds like you were both ready for it to happen."
"Mmmmmph. Helps if everyone's reading from the same script."
"Exactly. Now I'm going to bed. All this manipulation tires me out."
She punched him in the arm. "Please. I'm the one that had to put in the most effort."
He headed for the door with her close behind. "Come on. Do you know how many years I've put into this project? You're lucky I don't send you a bill." He said as he passed his mother on the way in and said his goodnights.
Wanda snuggled up on the couch next to her mother. "So how was your date?"
"It was okay until I offended him. Then he said he was going to miss our house."
"Well! That's a new one. Is there anything you can tell me?"
"We were all snuggly in the car and he said something about dates down the road. Then I asked him what he thought if this was the only date we went on? Then he told me he felt used and it went downhill from there."
"Baby, you do know how long he's kept his eye on you? And if he unbent enough to reach out to you, he put some serious thought into it. If that's what you said to him, it's no wonder he would question his decision to let something finally happen."
"Can I use the car?"
Her mother looked surprised. "Remember you have to work tomorrow."
"I will." and went in to gather some things.
#####
The trip seemed to last forever, especially it being close to midnight and pitch dark to boot. She turned her lights off and pulled up quietly to the house. When the car finally stopped she looked out at the house. Pitch dark and no lights on. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
But as she sat there, she saw someone come out the door and saunter down the sidewalk. She dredged up her nerve and got out to meet them halfway. When they got closer she saw it was his mother Ethel.