Free When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle Page A

ridiculous as he felt in collared shirts, seems impossible to talk about now. We’re not just two friends informing each other about our day anymore. Which is fine, and I’m happy. I want this. I just feel like I’m sitting next to a stranger.
    “So Ben and Olivia,” Rob says. “When did that happen?”
    “I don’t know!” I practically scream. I’m so grateful to him for talking that the words come out rushed and frantic. “This summer. The beach, maybe? I don’t know. I don’t know!”
    He laughs. It makes me feel calmer. The knot in my stomach starts to loosen.
    “I think she really likes him.”
    “Mutual,” he says. “The guy’s had a thing for her since we were freshmen.”
    “Really?” I screech. “Why did you never say anything?”
    “Dude moral code.” He lifts his eyes off the road and glances at me. “Plus, he never thought he actually had a chance.”

    The Ben and Olivia discussion carries us all the way to the restaurant. There is a little snag when Rob comes around to open my door and I’ve already done it myself, but things seem to be improving as we walk in.
    “Remember when we used to hang out by that thing?” Rob says when we’re inside.
    He’s pointing to the gigantic lobster tank by the hostess stand, where people can come and pick out which one they want for dinner. Rob and I were obsessed with it when we were younger. Rob’s dad would always send us off to “pick the biggest one.”
    There is a little boy in front of it now, tapping on the glass. His mother is behind him, tugging on his T-shirt.
    “Yeah,” I say. “We were so into those things.”
    “I don’t even like lobster.” Rob gives me a lopsided smile. “It must have been all you.”
    We sit at a table in the back left corner. I never noticed before, but it’s sort of romantic in here. There are candles, and the lighting is kind of dim.
    Okay, truth? I’ve thought about what a date with Rob would be like. A lot. Probably since high school started, maybe even before then. It never really mattered because I didn’t think it would actually happen, but I have the fantasies. They even come complete with little outfits, like we’re tiny cutout paper dolls. Whenever I can’t sleep and I’m just lying in bed, I imagine Rob and me on oneof our fantasy dates. Alone, together. It helps, to think about him. It always has. Something about being close to him just makes me feel calm. He’s the one thing in life I can really rely on.
    So in no particular order, my three favorite dream dates with Rob:
     
    1) Picnic at a Park
        Me: white dress, yellow cardigan
        Rob: jeans, white T-shirt
        Dialogue:
        Rob: It’s always been you.
        Me: Why did it take you so long to realize?
        Rob: I was scared; we were young.
        (He takes my hand in his.)
        Rob: I want to be with you. Forever. As long as I can breathe, it will only be you.
    2) Romantic Restaurant
        Me: black dress, red shawl
        Rob: dark jeans, blue button-down
        Dialogue:
        Rob: I’m so happy we ended up here.
        Me: I just don’t know. I mean, we’ve been friends for so long. . . .
        Rob: You don’t have to know. I know. For now that’s enough, and I will do everything in my power to convince you that this is right.
        (He takes my face in his hands. Kisses me passionately.)
        Me: I think it’s working.
    3) School Dance
        Me: silver dress, heels
        Rob: black suit
        Dialogue:
        Rob: I’m so crazy about you.
        Me: You are?
        Rob: I can’t believe I’m here dancing with Rosaline Caplet. I’m so lucky.
        Me: Are you sure this is right?
        Rob: There is no one else on the planet for me. Only you.
     
    The Rob in my fantasy dates is never nervous. He’s always self-assured. But the Rob sitting across from me looks kind of freaked out. I thought we’d worked all this out in the car earlier, but as