“I got my learner’s permit a few weeks back.”
“Oh, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I guess I wasn’t sure if I’d go through with the lessons and how I’d do. But it’s actually going well. Better than I ever thought! Gabe thinks it won’t be much longer before I can go for my test. We’re doing lessons practically every day.”
“That’s really nice of him.”
“I know. I’m so thankful.”
“So what else do the two of you get up to aside from driving lessons?”
I told her about our hiking trip. “We took some pictures. Do you want to see?”
“I’d love to! Send away!”
I texted her some pictures we took on the mountaintop that morning.
“Holy shit, Audrey. That’s Gabe?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Boy, you weren’t kidding about the view. And I don’t mean the mountain scenery. Is he like a model or something?”
“No, he works for his uncle at the local auto shop.”
“Seriously, Audrey, and I don’t say this lightly—he is magnificent. Like, probably the most beautiful person I have ever seen. Ever.”
I laughed. “He’s really smart and funny. And I’m learning a lot from him.”
“You are?”
“I am. He has a way of taking something complex and making it dead simple. His mother is a teacher, so maybe that’s where he gets it.”
“He sounds like a heck of a guy,” she paused. “So you’re telling me there isn’t an attraction there? Not even a bit?”
“I like him a lot, but as a friend. I can’t think of him as more than that.”
“Audrey, please,” she said, unconvinced. “I’m already half in love with him, based on those pictures alone.”
“Who are you in love with?” I heard Freddy’s voice in the background.
Lucy clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oops,” she said, her eyes brimming with laughter. She turned her head back. “I’m just chatting to Audrey.”
Freddy’s goofy face appeared next to hers on the screen a few moments later.
“Hey, Audrey,” he said with a wave.
“Hey, Freddy. How’s it going?”
“Great, can’t complain. We went bowling yesterday. I beat Lucy for the first time.” He beamed as Lucy rolled her eyes.
“My arm was sore. Your momma made me roll a mountain of dough the day before.”
“No excuses, babe.” He grinned.
She gave me a wry smile. “I’m never going to hear the end of this, for as long as I live.”
He kissed her cheek and playfully ruffled her hair. “Nope, you definitely won’t.”
I laughed. “Congratulations, Freddy.”
“Thanks, Audrey. How are you doing all the way over there?”
“Really good. I’ve made some new friends, and I’ve taken up hiking.”
“You? Hiking?” He gave me a dubious look.
“I have pictures to prove it!”
“Here, babe, check these out.” Lucy showed Freddy the pictures I sent.
He whistled softly under his breath. “So that’s your new friend, huh?” He teased.
“Yes, Lucy’s kind of in love with him.” I laughed.
“I don’t blame her. I think I might be a bit in love with him myself.”
Every Saturday—rain or shine—Gabe and I went for a hike in the woods. It was something I looked forward to each week. Gabe was always great company. He was such a cheerful person that no matter what mood I was in, he could always wrangle a smile from me.
During our long hikes, I learned that Gabe was a movie buff. His taste was eclectic. He loved action flicks—anything by Tarantino—but he also loved quirky, introspective films like Being John Malkovich. His absolute favorite was a toss-up between Scarface and Over the Top, the latter being a B-grade movie about an arm-wrestling tournament, starring Sylvester Stallone. We saw it one night at his place, a one-bedroom flat above his uncle’s workshop. It wasn’t a movie I would have picked off the shelf at Blockbuster, but I did find myself enjoying it a lot.
One Saturday, we had just finished our routine hike and were heading back to Gabe’s car when we were simultaneously struck with a wild craving for quesadillas.
“Want to go to Fiesta?” he asked. Fiesta was a Mexican place in town.
“Great idea.”
“Do you want to drive?”
“Sure.” He handed me the keys.
We arrived at Fiesta, and I was delighted to see there was a parking space on the street, right out front.
“It’s way too tight, Audrey.”
“I’m going to give it a try.”
“Okay, but it is really narrow, and this is parallel parking we’re talking about. I don’t think I could get in it, and you know my parking skills are out of this world.”
I laughed. “Bet you ten bucks I can park it.”
“I’d feel bad, taking your money.”
I signaled and began to reverse into the spot, biting my lip in concentration. A few moments later, to Gabe’s surprise, I had perfectly parked his car. He got out, a look of astonishment on his face. I was next to him a few moments later, surveying my handiwork.
“What did I tell you?” I couldn’t help but gloat.
“Looks like you’re ready for that test.”
Less than a week later, Gabe dropped me off at the registry for my driver’s test. I was a bundle of nerves, so he gave me a quick pep talk before wishing me luck and setting off on foot to his uncle’s shop.
The test itself was a lot easier than I expected. My driving instructor, Bob—a wearied middle-aged man with a handlebar moustache—barely spoke as we drove around the main streets of Delta, along the test track that I had already done a thousand times with Gabe. Every once in a while, he wrote something down on his clipboard.
When Bob told me I had passed, I couldn’t help but hug him, and he made a half-hearted attempt at reciprocating. When they took my photo, the lady behind the counter had to tell me to stop grinning like a maniac.
As soon as I left the registry, I drove straight to Rosie’s, honking the horn loudly out front. She came through the doors as I stepped out of Gabe’s car.
“Congratulations, honey!” Rosie cried, arms open. We hugged on the pavement.
“Thanks,” I beamed at her.
“Have you told Gabe the good news yet?”
“I’m going to surprise him when he gets off work later. We’re having dinner at my place tonight.”
“Come inside. I made you some lemon tarts.”
“Okay, I’ll just park Gabe’s car round the back.”
The diner was empty when I made my way in. I sat at the counter while Rosie busied herself, plating the lemon tarts and pouring freshly brewed coffee into a mug. She set them down in front of me with a smile.
“Thanks, Rosie.” I could hardly keep the grin off my face.
“If I had known, I would have baked you a cake.”
I took a sip of my coffee. “You know you don’t have to do that.”
She smiled. “So you’re having dinner with Gabe tonight?”
I nodded. “I’ve been watching those cooking shows that come on late at night, and a few days ago, I made my first dish.”
“What was it?”
“Spaghetti with meatballs,” I said, proudly.
“Sounds delish.”
“It’s not that difficult, if you get step-by-step instructions. It tasted pretty good.”
“And that’s what you’re cooking up tonight?”
“Uh-huh. I’m going to pick up some handmade egg pasta from the deli and a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, and I think I’ll splurge on a really good bottle of Pinot.”
“Sounds like you have a fun night planned.”
“It’s the least I can do for Gabe—he’s been so great. I mean, if I had never met him, I don’t think I would have done this. He’s been such a good friend.”