A DAY TO CHERISH

You look at yourself one more time before you quickly leave. You look good and you feel good, and you remind yourself that that is what matters most. You have no idea how this date will go so what’s the point in being nervous? It might all go to shit actually. You step out of the cab and look around for the sign. Your face scrunches in amusement at the huge cut out of a runny poached egg as the marker for the white brick face restaurant: Poached. They said to meet them outside and for a moment you wonder if you’re early. “Hey, you made it.” You turn towards the voice you’ve heard in a few voice memos. They look good. “Hey.” You say smiling, reminding yourself to be natural. You want then to like you for You.

“I got us a seat out here since it’s a nice out.”

“Ok cool!”

You sit down in the vintage curly iron chairs with the matching table. Everything is white and fresh with sunflowers in vases at the tables and around the doors and windows of the restaurant. A server comes with menus. You smile thanking them. Your date compliments the server’s colorful hair. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is warm and there’s a cool breeze, you can smell the food and your imagination wanders over how everything on the menu tastes. “Should we just get a bunch of things and share it? I honestly can’t choose.” You lower the menu and grin. A foodie, your favorite. “Definitely.” After choosing an array of the most enticing options your date, to your surprise, leads the conversation. They bring up the shows and books you recommended, controversies, alien sightings and their serious opinions on the met-averse and why it’s so vital to the multiverse. You listen attentively and share your honest feedback on everything. Before you know it, an hour has passed, and you’ve finished your spiked coco.

“I hope the food’s as good as this drink.”

“It better be.”

Your date explains that they remember you saying that you love food and brunch was your favorite because it’s breakfast but not early in the morning, seeing as you’re not a morning person. So, they found this spot because they wanted to make sure that your first date wasn’t going for the “cliche drinks”, seeing as you hate cliche dates. You listen to them and watch their animated retelling of everything you babbled on to them about, thinking they hadn’t been paying attention. They had been so quiet over the phone that first night. Now you realize that they weren’t bored or boring, but actually listening. You feel a rush of excitement and a healthy dose of hope that you want to immediately ignore.

“So, this is just the first stop on our day of adventure.”

“Really.”

“Of course. What’s the point of leaving the house if you don’t enjoy every moment.” They say smiling at you, eyes full of mischief.

“Ok I love a good surprise.”

“I know.” They respond before turning to the server who has a whole cart for the food. You observe them quietly as they chat with the server and laugh at all the food you both ordered. Two appetizers, three main plates and four desserts; all breakfast themed. They catch you watching them, and you avert your gaze to the serious spread in front if you. Starting with the hash brown bombs that are filled with maple bacon and cheddar cheese, alongside the creamy avocado grits dip with little toast chips; you and your date make your way through an unforgettable meal. From French toast sticks with amaretto syrup, to pancake cereal with whip cream flavored milk and finishing with the medallion steaks topped with poached eggs. You guys moan and sigh and watch each with childish grins as you chew, laughing at each other as you stuff your individual faces.

“I am so full.” You laugh.

“Too full to try these deserts?” They grin. “I don’t mind taking them home.”

“It’s too beautiful a day to choose violence.” You reply with mock disgust. They let out a loud laugh before clapping their hands together and rubbing them in an evil villain way. You think they’re ridiculously cute. First up are the mini cinnamon bun wrapped sausages. You both agree that the balance of sweet and savory is perfection. The cornmeal pudding brings nostalgic tears to your eyes, the maple syrup cheesecake with the waffle crust renders you both silent with ecstasy and the captain crunch shakes are the icing on the proverbial cake. You both sit quietly in your own food comas. Your eyes are closed, and you play back the date in your head and honestly feel that if you went home right now this would’ve been the best date ever. You open your eyes and catch your date smiling softly at you. You lean forward with a groan and grin.

“That was amazing.”

“Ditto.”

The server comes, you split the bill and stumble to the corner to wait for the Uber. You could honestly go to sleep right now. In the car you and your date go over a play by play of everything you ate, rating them out of ten and never getting bellow an eight. You both tell your driver a thousand times they have to eat there, before they finally say they don’t like breakfast. This of course sets you both off with the type of laughter that leaves you crying with aching stomachs and sides. By the time you and your date reach the surprise destination your sober and holding hands. Exiting the uber you walk hand in hand up to a church. You don’t even have the energy to laugh anymore. “I know our chemistry is off the charts, but this is a bit too fast for me.” Your date has that mischievous glint in their eye again. “We’ll see.” You mentally shrug and let them pull you into one of your most favorite places of all time. A library. The inside of the church is completely remodeled; instead of pews the center of the room is a huge sunken area filled with cushions to relax and cuddle up with a good book. Huge Beanbags surround the sunken area and circular couches finish off the ripple of comfortable seating. They were standing in an entry way lined with cubby holes for shoes. You let your date lead you to the front desk as your eye’s feast on the walls of the church which have been replaced completely by bookshelves. Above the bookshelves are stain glass windows. You swallow past the lump of emotion in your throat and avoid your dates eyes as they pay for the library slip on slippers shaped like books. “Ready?” They ask with a grin. “Yeah.” You say finally looking at them. “I’m so ready. Thank you.” You try to convey all of your sincerity in your thanks. Your date rewards you with a huge smile which you return. You are seriously buzzing. After choosing your books you and your date curl up in a couch and begin to read. You lose track of time, lost in “Hogwarts’s School of Witchcraft”, a classic. “How’s Harry?” Your date whispers. “Huh?” You ask distractedly, dragging your eyes from the pages. Your faces are only inches apart. “How’s Harry doing? They ask with a grin. You stare into their eyes, your gaze dips to their lips and you smile before giving them a soft kiss. “Not great.” You reply before turning back to your book. That was the first of many dates. One to truly cherish.