I looked at Robert and I could tell him ‘my truth’ right here and right now on our first date. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go there. My truth was the part of me I only shared with those I trusted. I didn’t screw around with romance. Fooling around was okay if both parties knew the score. But there was a difference in how Robert was holding me and touching me than some guy who just wanted to mess around. He was touching me with tenderness and love, the kind someone had for his significant other.
After a long pause, Robert broke the silence by saying, “I probably only go on a date two to three times a year.” Robert looked at me and grinned.
“Am I second or third for this year?” I asked.
“You are actually the first. It’s been a slow year.” Robert smiled.
“You’re telling me you haven’t had a date in like a year?”
“That’s about right.” Robert nodded and gave me a look like, ‘Love me or hate me, that was the truth.’
“Wow,” I said, laughing.
“Why is that so hard to believe? I’m a regular guy. I have my issues, my baggage, and my insecurities. We all do. I just think there isn’t any need to go on dates with people if you know you have no chance of spending the rest of your life with them.” Robert tightened his lips as if he’d said too much. I actually loved what he’d said.
We were so engaged in each other’s words, the ride attendant had to bark to snap out us out of our conversational malaise. “How many in your party?”
“Um...two,” I said, as we hurried and sat into the back of the four-person log contraption. Robert sat behind me and I nestled snug between his legs.
I had butterflies in my stomach as I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss him again. The first kiss had been so perfect. A second kiss and who knows...
The ride swished us along as we sat in fake logs with seat belts.
We were coming up on the big drop. We got to the top and slid down with our hands up.
We pulled into the front and got out of our mechanical logs.
No kiss. No copping a feel. Nothing. He was just a nice, sweet guy.
We exited the ride and found ourselves in the middle of what felt like the amusement park’s epicenter. We navigated through the bustling Saturday evening crowd. “What now?” I yelled to Robert over all the noise.
“Do you want to go to Cloud 9?” Robert asked.
“Cloud 9? Oh my gosh, do they still have that place here?”
“I actually don’t know,” Robert said, “but do you want to check it out?”
Cloud 9 was a dance club that was the place to be in junior high and also to a lesser degree high school. I thought it was cute that Robert had remembered it. It seemed he was a sucker for nostalgia, like me.
Robert and I used our subconscious memory in finding the place, even though much of the park, at least visually, had changed. We passed the red and white striped canopy, where the dinosaur ride used to be, and there it was, Cloud ‘freaking’ 9. Just seeing the outside of the place took me back so many years.
“There it is,” Robert said, taking my hand and making our way up to the front. “You want to go in?”
“Do you?” I asked.
“Sort of.”
“Just for a moment,” I said.
“Okay.” Robert dragged me by my hand through the double doors into the dance club. It actually looked very similar to how I remembered it.
Robert held a curious smile as he looked around at the club.
“What’s up?” I asked Robert.
“Wanna dance?” he asked.
“Dance?” I laughed. I hadn’t gone dancing in years. “Are you sure? We will be the two oldest ones out there.”
“Well, that makes us even cooler,” Robert said.
Robert led me to the dance floor. And before I knew it, I was dancing with Robert in the middle of Cloud 9 at Knott’s Berry Farm.
I moved with the song. I’d never heard of the song before. It was fun to let loose a little bit and be silly.
Then the DJ said, “Let’s slow it down,” and he put on a slow jam song. My ears had never heard the particular song before, but it’s slow, sexy beat had me swaying my hips without much thought.
I looked at Robert and I had my arms wrapped around his neck.
He smelled good. For some reason, Cloud 9 made me recognize and realize how pleasing he was to my nostrils. Damn, he had a wonderful, innate way of making me feel comfortable. I hardly knew anything about him, but I felt more comfortable with him in a short amount of time than I had with other boyfriends whom I had dated for months.
The song seemed to last forever—too long—but Robert remained an absolute gentleman the entire time.
After the dance, Robert and I giggled at the satiated bout of nostalgia, and from there we had agreed that one song was enough, since everyone around us seemed young enough to be our kids.
We decided to hit up a couple more coasters. The lines continued to be long, so by the time we finished riding Montezuma’s Revenge-—one the park’s more iconic rides and a cheesy ode to Aztec nation—it neared midnight.
We decided to leave and Robert asked me if I’d mind if he walked me to my car.
He was so cute.
I told him it was fine. We walked from the Knott’s exit to the parking lot while holding hands. We got to my car and I asked the obvious question, “Are you parked anywhere near here?”
Robert laughed.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m on the other side,” he said.
“Oh my gosh! Is it? The other side is like two miles away.”
“It’s okay,” Robert said, “I could use the exercise.”
“Exercise shmexercise, get in my car and I’ll drive you to your car,” I said. “No one needs to be walking around any parking lots at midnight.”
Not even a guy like Robert who can take care of himself.
“You sure?” Robert asked.
“Yes.”
Robert walked me to my side and saw me into the car. Then he ran around and got in the passenger side.
I started my car and we backed out.
“This is a cute car,” Robert said.
“Cute?” I said. “My car is bad ass.” I stated in a teasing tone.
“I meant cute in a real bad-ass kind of way,” Robert said.
I smiled at Robert. “So, where’s your car?”
“Truck,” Robert said.
“Where’s your truck?” I said in a deep manly voice like Robert.
“It’s on Western Avenue. It’s across the street from the park.”
“Wow, that’s far. I mean for a walk. It’s a two-minute drive. But who wants to walk out here in the middle of the night alone?” I pulled into the parking lot and Robert guided me to a navy-blue truck toward the back. I pulled up right next to him in an empty parking spot. We sat there and no one moved. I had expected Robert to get out immediately. Instead, he looked straight ahead through my windshield.
“Can I ask you to do something?” Robert asked.
“That seriously depends on what you ask me,” I said.
“It’s just a question.” Robert looked at me and smiled.
“Go for it,” I said.
“Did you have as good a time as I did tonight?”
I looked at Robert and said, “Yes, I did. I had a great time.”
I thought he would kiss me, but he didn’t. He just looked straight ahead.
“Can I ask you one more question?” he asked again.
“Of course,” I said.
“Would you do me the honor of getting out and giving me a hug?”
I opened my door and got out.
Robert walked to my side of the car and he took my hand he pulled me into him gently and he held me tightly. It almost felt like we were dancing again.
Then everything stopped. He looked me in the eyes as he held my hand. He leaned in very gently and gave me a perfect goodnight kiss with just enough passion, just enough intensity, just enough
heart.
“Wow, Robert,” I said. “That was quite a date.”
“It sure was,” he said.
“Goodnight, Robert.”
“Goodnight, Sahara.” Robert kissed my forehead and then went to his truck and waited for me to get in my car.
I got in and waved to Robert, and then I hit the street. I never overthought a nice first date, but Robert was a real cool guy and if he called me up again and wanted to go out, I was sure I would say ‘yes.’
Chapter Five