There were an infinite number of ways. The ring in the dessert or the champagne glass was dumb. She could chip a tooth or swallow it. I decided that my analytical mind was overthinking this and got dressed and drove downtown to the diner for breakfast. I had been thinking nonstop of Donna and I wanted to see her.
As always, Donna was excited to see me walk in. She started to seat me at the booth I’d sat in ever since she’d worked there. Then she smiled and led me to the same middle of the room table I’d sat in last time. One other couple was there so Donna sat across from me as we chatted and I ate. She asked me where we were going on our date tonight but I evaded the question other than to say, “Dinner and whatever.” She grinned at the ‘whatever’ part. Blood was pounding in my ears as my thoughts returned to when the appropriate time was to pop the question: In the restaurant in public; in the car; in bed, because I knew that the word ‘whatever’ meant sex and the smile on her face indicated that that was she was thinking too.
Donna had to wait on the other couple so she got up as I was finishing. I paid the check with cash and waited for her to return. When she did, I pulled her against me and kissed her hard. She was a little embarrassed but she kissed me back. I said, “I know I don’t even have to say this but dress nice tonight. I’m taking you to the fanciest restaurant in the area.” She cocked her head and looked at me quizzically. I left her standing there obviously ticking her way through the restaurants in the area trying to guess where we were going.
When I got home, Eddie’s car was in the driveway. The temperature had warmed considerably and he was sitting on the deck in his shorts and a tee shirt. When I came out, he was staring over into Jacob’s yard and I could see why. Ashley was on her dock doing her yoga again. The parade had formed but with far fewer boats. I heard the grumbling of Jacob’s diesel truck pull into his driveway and then silence again. A minute later, Jacob came down the boat ramp between our properties and squatted down and spoke to Ashley. She immediately got up and maneuvered her tits back into place and rolled up her mat and followed Jacob back to the house. On the way back up the ramp, Jacob yelled over, “Hey Jack. The day turned off nice. How have you been?”
I yelled back, “Hey Jacob. Everything here is great. You?”
He said, “Not so great here.” My curiosity was peaked but he said nothing more. Ten minutes later we heard Jacob and Ashley inside his house, yelling and swearing at each other. I’d never heard them quarrel before. I couldn’t make out most of what Jacob was saying but Ashley was screaming and after fifteen minutes of arguing she clearly yelled, “Fuck you Jacob. You have your nonstop parade of bimbos. I’m out of here.” Five minutes later, we heard Ashley’s car start and then the engine revved as gravel clattered off the house from her spinning tires. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be entertained by Ashley again.