As told by Phillip...
"Ok, I think it's a left turn here," I say to myself. I turn down a small, pothole-infested side road in the River Oaks district of Houston.
So, this is the River Oaks? It's nice, kinda expensive. I hope what I have planned impresses her a little, or at least she has fun. I wonder where the Artsy movie theater is? I haven't seen an indie movie... RED LIGHT! I press on the brakes and push the clutch in.
"You know, if she wants to fool around in the car she's going to have a tough time with this stick, but I love this Jetta. Sliver, black interior, nice system, and sticks are fun. Shit. I'm talking to myself. I'm nervous. She's gonna think I'm crazy."
"Okay, it's around here somewhere, damn, missed the turn." I'm still talking to myself. My heart just started beating a little faster after seeing the apartment building. This will be the first time I've met you and I am nervous. I have every right to be, but you have just moved here from New York State, and the Texas posters don't seem excited enough about a Yankee, so I'm going to tap into my good Midwestern/Southern roots and show you around while you don't know anyone else.
"Ok, pep talk time, I have to calm down. I'm shaking. Why am I shaking? Because I'm nervous. Why am I nervous? Because she's probably really experienced. Fuck. Stupid penis. Sometimes I hate thinking with you. I really have to calm down. Stop sign." I ramble, turning around the block.
"Seriously, Phillip. This isn't anything serious. She's older than you. She's a civilized northerner, and that's a good thing. The people down here that don't understand winter are crazy. She's experienced, but she wouldn't have agreed to meet you if she didn't like you. There's no guarantee you'll even connect. Maybe you won't like her. Her pictures sure look great though. And we've hit it off when we talked on the phone." I say to myself, finally getting back under control. Without really having to think, I pull into the parking lot of a reasonably expensive five-story apartment complex.
"This is kinda nice, I always like nice places. They feel safe, they're close to restaurants and shops. I wish the public transportation was more like Europe or Australia. It's still too hot during the summer though; the fall weather is kind of nice right now though. The water should be warm still."
"I didn't tell her she would need a bathing suit. Ah well, I'm sure she's bound to have one. I need to learn to not surprise women so often. It's a little risky even if it is fun for me. Well, it weeds out the insecure women, and besides, I can't go without getting wet for too long." I hope I make you as wet as my story did.
"Christ Phillip, she could have just been saying that, it's the Internet. Alright, how do I look?" I rhetorically ask myself aloud, once again showing the insane inner workings of someone who thinks too much.
I say rhetorically because I like how I look. I like my light blue eyes and fair complexion. My blond hair could be cut again soon, but it looks nice grown out. The hair isn't down my neck at all, and my bangs aren't close to being in my eyes. Being out of college a few years gave me the time to get more athletic, although I did take time out for studying. Good grad school interviews had my self-confidence high, although I didn't have any responses yet.
The two flaws I've learned to cope with are my weight and my nose. At 155 pounds, I certainly am not 'built,' but being 6' is nice, and I like how my body looks. The nose, I wouldn't fix, but it is prominent. Not Cyrano prominent, and thank God it isn't hooked. It is kind of similar to Jennifer Grey's, maybe, but there's that small ridge where my glasses set when I was a child. Still, I couldn't recognize myself without it, and nobody's perfect.
"34-D, I wonder if that's her cup size? That's bad. Okay, there's the D building, must be the third floor," I murmur, looking at the directions one last time before putting them in the glove compartment. Stepping out of the car, I check my watch.
"Eight am, I'm early. Better take the stairs." This is going to be fun. My heart starts to beat quicker again with the excitement of meeting you. You've been nice, fun, playful, and at other times mature and calm. The light exercise up the steps eased my youthful enthusiasm. I check my watch again at the top of the stairs, eight-fifteen. That's better.
We'll need an early start to get out there, and the car ride will give us a chance to get to know each other better. The place is a little pricey, but I haven't been anyplace new in a while, and this will be worth it. You've agreed, well... insisted, that you help with the gas and food some. What I really hope is that you won't mind sharing the hotel room. I already planned on sleeping on the floor to be a gentleman but I hope that won't be necessary.
I'm really happy I'm doing this. I have a genuine smile on my face when I knock on the door... and then the door swings open and you smile at me. Your hair is long and curls gently, dark blue eyes smiling as well. Your pale ivory skin looks... healthy.
"Michelle? Wow, you look amazing. I wasn't expecting you to be so attractive. You're even more beautiful than your pictures." I finally say, although I am still staring vapidly at you.
My senses catch up to me as blood finally starts to return to my brain. "Wait, sorry, what I meant was I was hoping I'd be able to have a normal conversation when you opened the door instead of ogling you like a teenager and sticking my foot in my mouth. You really look stellar."
I stand there a few more minutes. They are seconds really, but when a man looks in the face of a beautiful woman time slows. Your luscious red lips purse, and then slowly open.
I realize you are trying to say something to me.
"Would you like to come in?"
"Oh yes, sorry. I really hope I can see more of you later on." I say as I cross the threshold. I hope you don't notice how that sounds. Not that it isn't true, I just mean that I hope we could be good friends.
"Michelle, I hope you don't mind, but you have me absolutely speechless..."
"Well, I hope it doesn't last long or this trip may be a little boring. I told you I'd let you arrange everything so how about letting me in on where we're going?"
I grin and shake my head, "Not 'til we're on the road. We'd better get going."
I look down at the duffle bag by the door doubtfully. It looks kind of small for a woman's luggage. "Are you all packed?"
"That's it," you smile. I grab the bag and you lock the door as we head out to my car.
"Cute car."
"She's my pride and joy," I joke.
I open the door for you and throw the duffle in the back then get in. As I start the ignition, you hear some music start and exclaim, "Oh, this is one of my favorite songs!"
"But you can't jump the track/We're like cars on a cable/and life's like an hourglass glued to the table/No one can find the rewind button girl/so cradle your head in your hands/And breathe, just breathe."
I look over, incredulous at your deep sexy voice. "You didn't mention you sing."
"I love Anna Nalick. I heard this song for the first time on Grey's Anatomy and had to have the CD. I have done a little singing and voice-overs for commercials."
You seem a little embarrassed and change the subject. "There's only one thing wrong with this car."
"What's that?"
"Stick shift."
"You can't drive stick shift?"
"No, but that's not what I meant."
"Alright," I say with a grin, starting the engine, "as promised here's the general game plan. From Houston we're going to get onto I-10, which will take us to San Antonio in about 3 or 4 hours. There, we can see the Alamo and have lunch. After stretching our legs we'll head north to Austin, and then out into the Hill Country to go to the..." I pause, leaning over to look at a piece of paper, "Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa."
"We should get there around two hopefully, which is enough time for an inner tube ride down the river. After that, I haven't really planned anything. Nothing for tonight or tomorrow morning."
"So, we're driving that far to go down a river?"