A Jet of Water
Adam turned around the corner to cross the square. He had a few hours to kill before he had to be back. Seeing how warm the weather was, he was glad he’d not planned a full day today.
The square was a lively place that afternoon. There was a band playing on a small stage. People were moving around and chatting. In the fountain Adam saw kids play, splashing the water all over the place.
And to his surprise, a woman. She was tall, wore a light yellow dress that sat just over her knees. He’d seen her before, several times, but never this free and happy. Suddenly he wanted to be part of her happiness.
He looked down at his own attire. A black T-shirt and shorts. He rarely wore shorts, being insecure about his own skinny legs.
Then he looked back at her. Anything but skinny. So many things his friends would call her. He doubted beautiful, confident, and graceful, his thoughts, were amongst them.
At the side of the fountain, he kicked off his flip flops and stepped over the edge into the cool water. It was the most refreshing thing he’d felt that day.
The tall woman turned and nearly fell over when she found Adam walk up to her.
“It looked like so much fun when I saw you. I had to try it.” He excused himself. She was two inches taller than he was. Of course, she’d recognised him in a heartbeat. The very reason she was startled. Her smile was enchanting.
“There’s very little quite like it.” She confirmed.
The band started another song. Something very rhythmic and soulful. Adam couldn’t help it. He took Kay’s hand. “Dance with me?” It was an invitation. As Kay had suspected, she had no defences against him. His energy was too strong and too lovely. That last bit was unexpected. She laughed and took his hand. She didn’t want to think of what it looked like. A domestic elephant dancing with a shorter, skinny guy. All she wanted was to feel. He was very adept at leading her.
As they got closer to the splashing water, he warned her. “Your dress will get wet.” He loved it on her. Once before he’d seen her in a dress. It had been so long it nearly hung on the floor. This one was a lot shorter.
She shrugged. “It’s only a dress, it’ll dry.”
That made him laugh as well. He slightly threw his head back when he did. She stared at his exposed neck. She really shouldn’t. They were incompatible in so many ways. Despite not having actually met, she knew that already.
“I don’t know any other woman who would dance with me in a fountain, without worrying about her dress getting wet.” He said. They still moved. The music was compelling. Kay wasn’t a good dancer, and neither was Adam. They had fun, though. That was the entire point.
“You’ve not been around the right women, then.” She dared counter.
“I think you’re right.” He whirled her around, right under a jet of water. It hit her right on her head and trickled down.
She didn’t twitch. Merely enjoyed the sensation of it on her skin.
Adam had been scared to meet Kay. To find she was not the fun, open, and warm person he’d imagined her. Seeing her here, today, convinced him she was. That, and so much more.
“I can’t believe we’ve never met before.” He whispered.
“You can’t?” There was no way she could know what went on in his head. Usually, she was very adept at reading people. Not this time.
“Why haven’t we met before, Kay?” He wanted to know.
She averted her gaze. Should she answer that she’d avoided it? Through the years she’d met plenty of his friends. Always steered away from him. He was too intense. And she didn’t want to see the look of disdain in his eyes when he stared at her. She couldn’t bear it if he would look at her that way. She’d had enough of those stares to last her a lifetime.
“Kay?” He caught on that it wasn’t a coincidence.
The song was over. Kay stepped away from him.
“Thank you so much.” She tried to pull her hand back. His grip on it tightened. “Don’t leave. Please.” He begged. Startled, she looked at him. He let go of her hand immediately.
“Marry me.” He said. It was out of his mouth before he could help himself.
She tried to assess if he was joking or not.
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while. You’re quite elusive.” He was as surprised as she was. Yet it felt right. Having finally met her, he knew she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
He sank down on one knee. Kay felt the air was suddenly heavy. People were staring at them.
“Don’t make fun of me. I can’t…” She couldn’t find the words.
He grabbed her hand again, to ground her. To focus her attention. “Kay?”
She opened up to him. Deliberately feeling out his energy. Then she started to smile. The warmest smile he’d ever seen.
With a simple movement of her hand, she made him stand up. He wrapped his arms around her.
“Why don’t we try a date, first?” She suggested. “Get to know each other.”
“Good plan.” Pulling Kay close, Adam tenderly kissed her.
There was whistling, and applause. The entire square seemed to loudly revolve around them as they whirled around.
Did this really just happen?
Thank you so much for reading this. Hope you liked it. If you enjoyed this little snippet of a story, please consider donating towards the editing of my novel 'Monday'.
