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“That’s it. I think we should do that one,” he said as he smiled at me. His eyes lit up with excitement as he spoke, and I could tell he was getting as much pleasure out of making me happy as doing something he really wanted to do.
“That sounds like fun, but you did something I wanted to do today. You really should pick the one that you want to do this time.”
“I did what I wanted to do today, and as long as I get to spend time with you, I will be happy. I like being able to show off New York and be a bit of a tourist myself. Really, you’re doing me a favor,” he said.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said as we pulled in front of my apartment.
“Do what?” he asked as he got out.
“Make me think I’m doing you a favor when you’re doing one for me,” I said.
“Can’t we both do a favor for each other? I get to show you part of New York City, and you allow me to not look like a tourist or a schmuck for doing it alone,” he said as we walked to the front of my complex.
I knew I wasn’t going to win, and if I kept at it, he would more than likely find a way for me to think that it was all my idea and he owed me for what he was doing.
“Thank you for the offer for the next outing and for the lovely day,” I said as we stopped outside my door.
“It was my pleasure, and I’m looking forward to checking out the Botanical Gardens with you.”
“Me too.” I made no move to open up the door. I wasn’t sure if I could muster up the courage to ask him up to my apartment. I knew I wouldn’t, but I was curious if he was going to try and kiss me. As we stood and smiled at each other, I was hoping he would.
“Have a good night,” he said quickly and then, with a nod, walked away.
“You too,” I called out and then walked into my lobby. When I got inside, I looked back to see that Brody was walking down the street with his hands in his pockets without a care in the world.
His reaction to saying goodnight and how he so easily walked away from me reminded me that this had been a day for two friends to go out and have some fun. He was being kind to me by showing me the city. He wanted to explore it too and had no one to go with. There wasn’t anything more to it. I might have started to think the day could have turned into a date, but clearly, I was the only one.
As I rode up in the elevator, my phone rang. I quickly took it out and hoped that it was Brody calling. I didn’t do a good job hiding my disappointment when I saw it was my sister.
“Well, hello to you too,” she said.
“Sorry. I’m just getting home, and I’m tired. How are you?”
“You’re just getting home. Wonderful. Does that mean the date went well?”
“It wasn’t a date. He certainly didn’t think it was,” I said as I got off the elevator.
When I had agreed to go to the museum with Brody, I broke down and told Alice all about it. She had been upset I didn’t tell her sooner but had been more excited that I was going out with someone and was all for me and Brody getting together.
“What makes you say that?” Alice asked.
I walked into my apartment, put down my purse, kicked off my shoes, and dropped down onto the couch before I answered. Alice could hear me doing all that and waited for me to speak.
“It was what we said it was.”
“Did you not want it to be?”
“No. Yes. I mean, I told him I could only be friends with him, and he agreed to it, very easily if I think back on it. Maybe that was what he wanted all along, and he only asked me out to begin with as friends. Maybe he was being nice to me when I went and talked to him at the bar and said as much.”
“Zoe, no man wants to be friends with a woman. He either wants to sleep with her, or she is dating one of his friends, and he can’t. There is no in-between. You aren’t dating one of his friends, right? You didn’t start dating someone else while I was packing, did you?”
“No. I didn't. Brody is probably the only man I have talked to besides co-workers since I got to the city.”
“Just wanted to be sure. Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened?” Alice prodded.
I told her about the day and ended by saying, “He’s being nice to me. He’s taking pity on an old friend and woman who is lost and alone in the city.”
“You’re not alone in the city. You’ve made some friends, and he doesn’t pity you. I think he likes you, but you just can’t see it.”
