Adventure Date

Trinity and her dad was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. It was a tradition they formed over the last few years. Hylan was sipping his coffee and Trinity was looking at him silently, as he looked up he caught her stare. "What is on your mind sweetheart? Is it work?" Hylan asked.

"Dad, I'm just thinking about you actually. I graduated and after my summer job is over, I am heading off to Florida for college. I hope you start going to start dating again and she could take my place for our traditional Friday breakfast. I don't want to be away at college worrying about my handsome dad being alone."

"Don't worry about me dear. You are going to make new friends and with classes that should keep you busy, I will be fine." Hylan divorce was finalize six years ago. He went on several dinner dates, however the chemistry was not strong enough to sustain a relationship. He is a Copy writer and a Novelist, he works from home when he does not have to travel for work. "Alright dad I'm going to work then hangout with Katurah later."

"Okay Trinity I have to step out to Barnes and Nobles for some research I will see you later." After loading the dishwasher he headed to his crossover Journey to get started on his day. It was a beautiful summer day, as he was driving the summer sun was glaring its heat on his windshield he could feel the warmth on his face. He opened the window instead of turning on the air. Summer was his favorite season of the year. Dressed in an olive color short set and white sneakers, Hylan headed for the front door of Barnes and Nobles. He was walking through the bookstore smiling seeing the variety of people that still actually comes out for books. As he was passing the novels and new releases he noticed a couple group of women conversing about which author they are going to read. Walking to the writers section he feels his phone vibrating in his pocket. He reach in to answer it. Not watching where he was walking fumbling trying to reach his phone he bumped into someone and she dropped a couple of her books she was carrying.

"Oh, I am so sorry Ms, I was trying to answer my phone," he said as he bent down to help her.

"Well you can't take all the blame I was flipping through some pages trying to figure out which books I needed," replied the young lady. When he handed her the couple of books she dropped he noticed the books was on public speaking and the interviewing process. Once he gave her the books, he looked at her clearly for the first time. He was mesmerized by her light hazel, chestnut brown eyes and dazzling candy apple red lips that formed an amazing smile. She was wearing a carnation yellow sleeveless summer shirt and a white short skirt, not quite a mini, however it was showing off her well-defined, shapely legs while slightly hugging her curvaceous hips.

"This is an unusual way of introduction, however I am Hylan Anderson, looking at your books are you in communications for a career or hobby?"

"Hello Hylan, I'm Jamelia, nice to meet you. Actually it's my profession and hobby. I am a supervisor in customer service for my company and I am researching to start a podcast."

"Well Jamelia I don't want to hold you up, I came to do a little research myself, enjoy your day," Hylan said. As he was walking away he lokked over his right shoulder to get another glance at her. Hylan reached the writers section looking through the rolls of books. He chose some on self-publishing, developing characters and a couple of others. It was a beautiful day, instead of his regular routine of getting his resources and going home to his comfortable study and sipping on some Merlot, he decided to go to the cafe' in the bookstore. He has been there several times before when he wanted to get a feel for some of the books he was interested in purchasing. He approached the counter to order.

"Welcome back Mr. Hylan, had anything published lately? the young lady waiting on him inquired.

"Hello Lacey, nothing recently, however I am working on a couple of projects now." He ordered a pastrami sandwich and frozen lemonade and found a booth in the left back corner of the cafe'.

Meanwhile Trinity was at her summer job at the recreation center. They were outside doing activities, her friend Kuturah came to join her with her group to form a kickball game. "Hey girl it's a hot one out here today," Kuturah said as she stood next to her.

"Hey Katurah, I'm looking forward to swimming next, it is a hot one, however I have to get use to it I'm heading to Florida next month." She pulled out her phone to check it then slid it back into her shorts.

"Expecting a call from someone?"

"Yes, I called my dad, but he haven't returned my call."

"Knowing your father, he probably in his study with his fine self," Katurah said.

"Girl, you still crushing on my dad," Trinity teasing her.

Hylan finished his lunch, gathered his books to go to the counter to purchase. When he reached the checkout, he sees Jamelia getting ready to make her purchase. He walks up behind her quietly. "We have to quit meeting like this I am going to think we have something in common," he said quietly.

"Whoa, you started me," she said as she looked at the books he had. "Actually I guess we do have something in common, are you an author or columnist?"

"Author, very observant."

"Reading people is part of my job," she replied.

"You read people and I write about them."

"Maybe when I start my podcast, I can interview you as my first guess," Jamelia replied flashing her dazzling smile.

"I have to wait that long to see you again," Hylan said.

"Are you asking me out on a date? What?... We would go to a little fancy resturant, have a dinner with a bottle of Merlot, then back to your place for a little nightcap?"

"That sounds nice, especially the Merlot, another thing we have in common. Being a writer we think from a different perspective."

"Okay you peaked my interest, what you have in mind?"

"Well anyone could dress up to look nice and pay for a dinner and a drink or two, however that does not tell you much who they really are or their character," Hylan replied smiling to himself thinking Jamelia's mind is going a hundred miles a minute trying to figure out what he had in mind. "What I have in mind, I will put it to you this way, our date would probably be complete by the time a dinner date would start."

"Alright, you really got me now, what did you have in mind?"

"The date I have in mind, you could wear what you have on now with one thing added..." Hylan said stopping right ther.

"And what would that be?" Hylan looked at her and smiled. "Bring a swimsuit," they both giggled quietly.

"This sounds like it is going to be an experience," Jamelia said flashing her bright brillent smile.

"I would say it would be more like an adventure. You bring the swimsuit and I'll bring the Merlot.

"When are we going on this...adventure?"

"How about eleven o clock tomorrow?"

"Sounds great." She pulls her phone out and gives Hylan her number, he calls her. "Okay I am texting you my address and I guess I will see you tomorow." Jamelia gets home and call her best friend Maxine. She takes a bottle of Merlot out the frig and get two glasses. As she walks back to the living room the doorbells rings. She pick up the glasses and hand one to Maxine. "What are we celebrating?" Maxine asks.

"I had a very interesting day at Barnes and Nobles. I met a very unusal, strange man a writer..."

"Girl all of them are strange," Maxine teased, "But go on."

"Well we met by bumping into reach other at the store, however to make a long story short, he asked me out on a date."

"Was he fine? Writers maybe strange, but some of them are so fine.."

"Maxine..."

"Okay, okay, go on finish your story," Maxine said giggling a little. "Wait, you said yes didn't you? Are you going to wear that sexy little black dress that shows all those curves and clevage, if you are going to wear that he must be fine."

"If you be quiet for a moment I was getting to that. Two glasses of Merlot gives you the giggles girl," Jamelia said teasing Maxine. "That is the strange yet exciting all at the same time. It is not a dinner date with dressing up. it gets even a little more strange... he told me to bring a swimsuit and he would bring the Merlot."

"What? Are you going on a date or having a play day? Bring a swimsuit on a date? He sounds cheap, don't want to pay for a dinner, he is taking you swimming? Where is your date? At the recreation center?" Maxine said laughing.

"Maxine you are too much."

Trinity woke up to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee filling the air. She gets dressed and walk downstairs. She see her father cutting up fruit for a salad, cubing different kinds of cheese, yellow, white, hot pepper jack his favorite. "So this is why you didn't return my call until late. I was letting you know I was going to be late, Katurah and I were hanging with some friends since this is going to be our last summer together," Trinity said breaking his focus.

"Good morning sweetheart..."

"Un huh, I see you got plans for something you didn't mention," Trinity said teasingly.

"Well let just say I had an interesting day yesterday, I met a young lady and I am taking her on a unique first date."

"You sure putting a lot of effort into it. She must have impressed you," Trinity said jokingly.

"See I told you to stop worrying about your dad, that's my job to worry about you."

"Your job is complete. I am a grown woman now. You did an excellent job and I thank you." She walks over and give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Need any help?"

"No babe I got this. Go and enjoy you last summer of freedom," Hylan said laughing. After he were finished he stasrted packing everything in the back of his Journey. His next door neighbor was sitting on her porch fanning herself and drinking tea while Hylan was finishing packing.

"I see you getting ready for a picnic. I hope you invited a young lady to go with you. Don't let me have to take you to with me to Jamica to get you a woman," she said teasingly.

"Hello Mama Icy, yes I am going with a young lady, however you could still take me to Jamica," they both laughed.

"Alright, stop talking and go get your young lady. I hope she knows you are a rare man," Mama Icy said.They said their goodbyes and Hylan headed for his Journey. He was on his way to Jamelia's. He called to let her know he was on his way. He pulled up to the address on Birr street she texted. She walked down the stairs to his Journey.

"Hello you are looking beautiful, are you ready for an adventure?"

"Are you going to tell me where we are going that I need a swimsuit? Is it a spa or something."

"I thought we would go to Six Flags and just have some fun getting to know each other," he replied.

"Of all the places I thought of that was not one of them," Jamelia said laughing. Hylan pulled off heading for the expressway. "Do you mind if I roll down the window, summer is my favorite season, grwing up in Florida I like fresh air," she said.

"No, I don't mind." As they drove they were conversing until they reached the picnic area of the park.

"I have to confess, it has been years since I have been here, however it's the first time as a date," Jamelia said.

"We grown ups sometimes forget how to have fun. We get into working, paying bills, raising families, and other stresses of life, fun is the last thing on the agenda unless you count clubbing, going to bars etc, now that's the fun I grew out of. Don't get me wrong, I still go out for drinks at those places with friends, however it's not high on my priority list anymore." After entering the park, they rode on all the big roller coasters and other rides. They were walking through the park through the games section. "Did you play any sports in school?" Hylan asked.

"I played basketball and softball, and you?"

"I ran track and played football and some basketball." Hylan replied. "Let's see how good you are." Hylan held her ahnd heading to the basketball shoot out.

"Hello welcome to the shoot out. You get five shots for five doollars, or fifteen shots for ten."

"The first one to hit five shots win," Hylan said smiling.

"I hope you are not a sore loser when a girl beats you in basketball," Jamelia said laughing.

"Alright it's on now, Mr Booth man, keep score please."

"I got you, on my say start shooting. Go!" They both started shooting. Bing! Bonk! Ting, of the sounds coming from the backboard and rim, then swish, Hylan hit his first one. Jamelia missed two more then made her first one. Hylan paid for fifteen more shots for them. Jamelia made her second shot then her third. A small crowd started gathering. Hylan started shooting again, swish, swish, he made two in a row. the small crowd started cheering the competition, the girl for Jamelia, the boys for Hylan. On the second row of ball, Jamelia hits another one to make it four. Hylan started shooting on his second row of balls, he missed three then swish, swish, he made two in a row and threw his hand in the air. "And still champion of the court," he said laughing. "Want to try two out of three?"

"Okay you got this one, now it's my choice," Jamelia said grabbing his hand heading for the softball toss.

"Welcome to the softball toss. You get three shots for five dollars, or six for nine dollars. You only need to make one shot in the milk jug to win a big prize." Hylan paid for them six shots a piece. The young girls that were watching them also paid to play.

"If I don't get you,one of my new friends will," Jamelia said laughing. Then two of the guys that were watching joined Hylan.

"Okay it's on now," Hylan said. After everyone got their balls, they started tossing. Dong! Ding! The sounds of the balls hitting the lips of the jug. Jamelia took another shot and added a little back spin and loft it a little higher.

"And we have a winner," replied the booth man. Jamelia oicked the multi colored unicorn, and she gave it to the young girl.

"Thank you for your help, it was fun."

"Thank you." She smiled and hugged her prize. Hylan hgave the other girl his prize from the basketball game. They went and got a ice cream cone and was sitting by the swing ride.

"I am really enjoying this adventure, I haven't had this much fun in a long time," Jamelia said.

"And we are just getting to the highlight of the day. It is time to make use of that swimsuit. Lets head to the waterpark. They walked over to the locker and changing rooms. Hylan came out first wearing his black trunks. He was standing in the crowded deck area looking for Jamelia. After she got dressed, she headed for the deck. She saw hylan looking around and she admired what she saw. Hylan has broad shoulders with a toned chest with a line of light brown and silver curly hair running down to his shorts. She walked up to him.

"Now you are in my element, us Floridians lives on the beach and waterparks." They rode on all the rides and finished at the wave pool. They got dress and headed for the picnic area. After pulling everything out and hylan set up their spot, Jamelia was impressed of how the layout was elegantly presented. Hylan took out the Merlot that was chilled on ice and one wrapped in a ivory white cloth. "I didn't know if you liked it chilled or not so I bought both."

"Lets start with the chilled," Jamelia replied. They sat in the golden sunset enjoying their meal and sipping on Merlot. They were talking and laughing as the sun slowly ducked into set. They started packing up and got into the Journey. "There is one thing I would not mind doing as if we were on a dinner date," Jamelia said.

"And what would that be?"

"We could still go to your place for a nightcap." Hylan smiled as he pushed the start button and pulled off.

THE END