I pull into the library parking lot, where some person has claimed my designated parking spot. This is not a good sign.
I fight the urge to just force Thomas out because once again, it's not a big deal! And two, it doesn't seem like he cares so much, so I should just do the adult thing, ask for the list back, thank him for the company, then go about my day.
"Thomas, can you return the paper to me?"
Thomas looks at me both in a sympathetic way but also in a teasing kind of way. Is he about to make fun of me for this? Thomas may be kind enough to treat me to a strawberry lemonade refresher, yet he is willing to make fun of me for having a joy list. How rude.
He ponders for quite a while, thinking about answering me or not. He could just be stalling going into the library, but he finally answers me after I've aged one hundred years.
"Nope!"
Okay, seriously?
"Why not?"
"Because I want you to tell me about this list. You talked about in the cafe how you are trying to incorporate more joy in your life, so what's this?"
Despite his smirk, he sounds genuinely curious, and I feel like there is nothing I can do at this point. I heave out a sigh and tell him.
"Fine, fine. This is a list of things that I have never done before but want to try to do. They are activities that I think could make me joyful, especially since I hope to do these things with the people in my life. They are supposed to be things that I could hopefully introduce into my daily routine."
"Are you going to dance in the rain on a daily basis," he deadpans.
"Ha ha, you are so funny. No, but it would be fun, wouldn't it," I say to him in a challenging tone. I've shoved myself into Thomas's personal space as I stare at him wide-eyed, daring him to say something.
He shrinks back with a laugh, and I can't help giggling. "This entire situation is straight out of a book," I think to myself.
"I'm glad you told me what it is about, Lucy. Although you were really cute, trying to avoid me finding out like I wouldn't figure out what it is."
My mouth drops open as he continues on talking.
"Lucy, you titled this paper 'The Joy List - Official.' I'd have to be an idiot to not figure it out."
The blood rushes to my face much quicker than I would like it to as I avert my eyes to stare very intently at the library. Look at that window. What a lovely pigeon. Did that child just pick their nose?
I ignore Thomas's laughter that he somehow is trying to hold in, yet he is doing a terrible job of holding it in. I continue to stare at anything else besides him. I won't even turn my head to look in his direction.
Soon, Thomas's laugh dissipates as he tries calling out to me to get my attention. Nope. Nope. Not on your life.
"Lucy," Thomas whispers directly in my ear as I jump in surprise as I turn to stare him down, but he is already staring directly into me.
"I'm sorry, Lucy. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It was kind of fun to tease you, but I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"
He is still so close to my face that I will say or do anything for him to back up.
"Fine, fine, yes, I forgive you, so please back up."
He immediately pulls back into his side of the passenger seat as he offers me a soft smile. I don't return it, but I gently hit his arm, which he correctly assumes is my way of forgiving him.
"Can we do the joy list together?"
My head shoots over in his direction as I stare at him, slowly opening and closing my mouth because the words won't come out.
My brain is still processing the proposal Thomas just threw at me. Why does he want to do this with me?
"Why do you want to do this?"
Thomas does not seem taken aback at all, and he responds rapidly.
"You mentioned how you want to do these activities with the people in your life. Well, I'm a person. I can be in your life. Plus, I also want to find joy in my life as I said. I want to figure out what I would like to do for work, figure out what makes me happy, figure out what I need to grow as a person. I think this list could help me too."
Happiness is a luxury. One that we thought we lost long ago. One that he didn't think he deserved. One that I didn't think was in reach. Who am I to say no to that?
"Okay."
I catch Thomas off guard, and he closes in only a few inches from my face, "Okay?"
"I said okay. Okay, let's do this together."
Thomas keeps trying to hide the smile on his face, but it keeps creeping out. I think Thomas wants to play it cool since he is the one who inadvertently found the list and also proposed we do it together. Oh, I also could have said no, which he is probably so happy that I didn't say no or throw him out of my car.
Since this is official, from the official joy list, I think we need to commemorate this proposal, where I stick my pinky out, waiting for him to initiate the promise of this new deal. "You can't back out now, Thomas. We're in this."
Thomas slowly puts his pinky out as I wrap my pinky around his. The atmosphere is slightly awkward since we are both grown adults pinky-promising to do little activities with each other, but as far as awkward things go, this is nice.
Thomas coughs and clears his throat as if to put on a mask of mystery like he was not teasing me five minutes ago. Nice try, Thomas. I already know you're a softie. I knew the second I saw your raccoon stickers on your lanyard.
"So what should we do first? Did you have a plan in mind?" All business again.
"Well, today, I actually have to go talk to my bosses. My new job is that I'm the social media manager for a new bakery start-up called "Dough Re Mi." You should go support them because their grand opening is happening in a few days, and we're supposed to go over all the little details. But afterwards, I didn't have much planned because I'm not sure how long it will take. Although, I did think about knocking out number four on the list!"
He pulls up the list as he says, "Cloud watching. We can go cloud watching once I'm done with work. I get off at 6. Where should we meet?"
"Um how about you pick since I chose the activity."
He leans back against the headrest with his eyes shut as he moves his head back and forth. I watch him as he makes humming noises like he is thinking intently about where to go.
As I watch him, I notice his tiny freckles scattered across his face plus his long eyelashes. His eyebrows are quite bushy despite their blonde color.
"You're staring, Lucy."
My eyes take in Thomas's face, but his head is still against the headrest, eyes shut.
"Did I get you," one eye opens as he takes in my reaction.
"No." A lie.
"Liar," with a smile on his lips and eyes shut once again, he begins to mumble to himself. Like have a whole conversation with yourself mumble. For three minutes straight.
"I think we should go to Starling Park. It's not too far from here, and we can meet there for... 6:30?"
That should give me plenty of time to talk to Sophie and Terry about everything, and I can start prepping some things while I'm there if we don't need to meet till 6:30.
"Yeah, that should work. Let's meet at 6:30! Now, go, go! You don't want to keep Marie and everyone waiting," I smile as I shoo him, so he doesn't get in trouble, but he won't budge. He looks stern.
"We got to promise again. That we'll meet later." His eyes are unrelenting as I feel giddy at this development.
I reach out my pinky as he wraps his around mine, squeezing tight to make it extra promised.
He hops out of the car, and I hear Marie from somewhere I cannot see, and from what I can make out, it sounds like Thomas is in for a long conversation. Marie's silence about him leaving seems to cost him more than he bargained for.
I laugh to myself, thinking about the two of them when I am confronted with the fact, I'm meeting Thomas later. We're going to Starling Park to watch the clouds. We pinky-promised we would do everything together on my list.
Thomas and I are going to do everything on that list.
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