“Okay, I know you wanted to ride in a convertible with the top down,” Matty said as he started the car, “but do you really want to have the wind blowing while we are driving?”
“Of course,” I replied enthusiastically. “The whole point of a convertible is to feel the wind on your face and in your hair! Let’s go!”
A few minutes after hitting the highway, both of us agreed to put the top of the convertible back up. The wind seemed like a nice idea until it was pelting us in our faces and messing up our hair and clothing. “No wonder you rarely see people actually driving these things,” I remarked as I picked some specks of dirt off my face and tried to smooth down my hair. “I guess they are more for show. But, I’m still glad you rented it.”
Matty agreed, suggesting that perhaps we could take a drive around town after dinner as the slower speeds would be more tolerable to having the top of the car down. I happily concurred, thrilled that we already had plans for later in the evening when the night hadn’t even begun.
The drive to Nonna’s only took about twenty minutes. Since it was summer, it was still daylight when we pulled up to the historic little brick building that housed the restaurant. Once parked, I inadvertently reached for the door latch, but Matty immediately uttered “No, no, that’s my job,” and I blushed, putting my hand back in my lap. I watched Matty walk around the front of the car, admiring his body, which, while now taller and stronger than his sixteen-year-old self, was still so familiar to me. He opened my door and reached out his hand, which I was especially glad for as exiting the convertible was much more daunting than getting in had been. He continued to hold my hand, and we quickly laced our fingers together and entered the restaurant. His hand felt as natural in mine as it had been all those years ago.
Matty had reserved a table in a quiet corner of Nonna’s, which was a feat considering that the place was rather small and the tables close together. Fortunately, it being a Monday night, it wasn’t very busy. “This place is charming,” Matty observed as he pushed my chair in and took his own seat. “I can see why it came highly recommended.”
“It’s definitely the best of the best here in Lakeview,” I agreed. “But we actually have a lot of great little shops and restaurants in town; the only time I eat at a chain is when I’m over in Lincoln or traveling.”
“Well, I hope to see some of these local establishments in the near future,” Matty said with a twinkle in his eyes. And the butterflies were back! I really needed to get ahold of myself. We hadn’t even ordered yet and my mind was already on things other than food.
Our waiter came to our table, presenting us with our menus and taking our drink orders. As much as I would have liked a glass of wine to calm my nerves, I decided I was going to stick with water. “Are you sure?” Matty asked. “I’d gladly order us a bottle of whatever you’d like.”
“I’m sure,” I answered, giving him a reassuring smile. “But you go ahead.”
“Water for me, too,” Matty told our server, who was no doubt now concerned that his tip was going to be lower than anticipated. “I don’t want to risk being unable to drive us home. I would hate to have to let you get behind the wheel of the convertible so far from your house. God knows where we’d end up!”
“Hey!” I said with a pout. “I drove us both Saturday AND yesterday without any issues, remember? Sure, it was just around town, on the mostly deserted streets. But, still! I am just a bit more cautious on the highways. Safety is important.”
“So is actually getting to your destination,” Matty teased. “And I can’t remember a time when you were driving outside of Springville that we actually made it to where we were supposed to be going or got us there in time.”
“Well, I was only driving for a few months before you moved,” and as those words left my mouth, I immediately felt a twinge of regret in my heart. I could see Matty’s face drop, too. “I got better as I got older; I can drive on the highway pretty well now,” I finished quietly
We both sat in silence for a few moments before Matty said, “Leah, I will never, ever forgive myself for not being stronger and fighting back against my parents to get in touch with you. God, I could have tried calling on a pay phone or mailed you a letter from a post box. Especially after our last night together. What you must have thought of me, getting you into bed only to never see you again? I’ve been disgusted with myself over it for years.”
I sat silently, not sure how to reply. There was so much I wasted to say, but I was scared to reveal too much.
“That night meant so much to me, Leah,” he continued. “I had been fantasizing about being with you for so long. Did you know that?”
I was honestly shocked, as it had never occurred to me that Matty had ever thought about being with me before
