On The Wings of Love? (The First Trip)

SAM SHARPE

I recently enjoyed brunch with Annik and Charles, an old university friend. While waiting for our food to come we became engrossed in a conversation about our favourite places to travel. While pontificating about the superiority of Berlin over Amsterdam as an overall experience, I was interrupted by Charles who thought it was the right time to ask:

“So when are you guys gonna go on a trip together?”

Never mind the rudeness of the man, how dare he presume that Annik and I had graduated to the level of planning trips together. I mean he had only met her the evening before.

“Well, I uhm…don’t really think…we…I mean I have the time to plan a trip right now,” I mumbled, glancing at Annik who sat there in silence (which for the record scared the shit out of me). My mind reeled with the possibilities of what she could be thinking.

Is this a tactic? Is she waiting to see what my response will be?

Or is her silence an indication that she has long decided that I am not a potential Mr. Right, but just a good Mr. Right Now?

Thankfully, Charles broke the tense silence by changing the subject to the abject and utter failure of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I say thankfully, but I should have introduced his face to my fist for bringing up such a provocative topic without prior consent (I think this is a shank or ‘shivable’ offence). EVERYONE knows that the first trip or weekend away is a HUGE step in a relationship. Charles most of all, seeing that he’s always claimed that he knew that his now ex wife was “the one” during and after their first trip together.

But here’s the rub. I’ve thought about it. And by it I mean going on a trip with Annik. For most of the past three or four years the only thing I’ve been committed to is living the life of a bachelor. But this lady has me thinking about dinner parties, holding hands and weekends away (I’m starting to think I’m sick). In fact I’m planning a trip to Jamaica in the fall to see family and I’ve considered asking her to come with. (That audible thud you just heard is every last one of my ‘bredrens’ falling off their chairs. Amongst our crew taking a woman with you to our homeland is not A relationship power move it’s THE relationship power move).

Anyway, after brunch I walked Annik home. As we approached her front door, she swiveled towards me and said:

“I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to take a trip anywhere right now.”

Maybe she read disappointment on my face because she then added,

“It’s not you Sam, I really like you. I’m just focused on other things right now. Maybe we could do something in the summer though… if things work out.”

If things work out. What the fuck does that mean?

She kissed me softly on my lips and then dashed inside her apartment.

As I walked away I couldn’t help but think that she was just as unsure about things as I was. Then for the better part of the journey home, I tried hard to convince myself that was the reason she was reluctant to travel with me.

As soon as I stepped into my apartment I picked up the phone and called up Janine, a sweet young (23) lady I’ve gone out with a couple of times and invited her over for drinks. As I was preparing my apartment and bar for Janine’s arrival I received a text message from Annik. It said:

Maybe we should do something. Maybe a weekend in New York? Montreal?

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