We walk through the rest of the park and then make our way to two of the other big achievements of Gaudi, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo. The Sagrada Familia will have to wait for another day. The afternoon winds on, and it’s when we are standing inside Batllo admiring the architecture that the feeling hits me.
It’s a feeling I haven’t encountered in a long time, and so it takes me a while to place it. But then I do. It’s a newness, a wonder. Everything here is old news to me, things I’ve seen so many times. With our international partnerships, it’s not rare for me to take overseas visitors on little city tours, just like this one.
Well, not just like this one.
Because there’s something so pure in the energy that Ashley has, in the way that she stares around excitedly and exclaims over each new find. It’s like everything is wonderful to her. She appreciates it just the way it is. And in watching her, I also find that appreciation coming back to me. When she points out a spectacular color on the wall, I look at it and for the first time, I realize that, yes, it is spectacular. When she reads out a fact about the life of Gaudi from a pamphlet, I, a son of the same city who grew up hearing all about him, find myself surprised and enthused: yes, I think, this Gaudi was a great man. And all because she told me so.
I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I know I must have it bad. Because we haven’t so much as kissed, and I feel like this woman is changing the fundamental structure of my mind, bringing out new sides to me that I didn’t even know – or had forgotten – that I had.
And as the day reaches its end, I realize another treat is coming up, dinner.
And it has to be this dinner that I make work because our deal for me to show her around was only for today; to get another invitation for tomorrow, I have to make sure that this is a night she doesn’t forget.
Chapter Eight
Ashley
I was a little worried that we might end up eating somewhere just as fancy as last night – I got away with it then, but I’m nowhere near dressed for that kind of meal today. I only brought casual outfits with me, because I didn’t expect to be going to that kind of place.
But I’m relieved when Fernando pauses outside a more traditional restaurant right in the middle of the tourist strip, full of customers who look just as casual as I feel – and some of them, just by looking, I can already tell are Americans like me. When he suggests we go inside, I’m all for it. It will be interesting to see if he is as familiar in a cheap place like this as he was in that rich atmosphere.
I sit down and pick up the menu, and my heart jumps in my chest at the sight of the prices on the menu. Last night, I was having kind of a hard time figuring out what the prices really meant in American dollars – but now I can definitely see how expensive the place was, just by comparing what we paid for those dishes to these. There’s a paella dish which sounds really appealing, and it’s less than a tenth of what our main dish cost last night.
I order the paella when a waitress comes over, and that leaves us some space to talk while our food is being made.
“So, how did you find today’s tour?” Fernando asks, folding his hands on top of the table.
“I enjoyed it,” I say, smiling at him. I genuinely mean it. I love the way he showed me around, pointing out things that other people wouldn’t notice. It didn’t feel like a tour – it felt like exploring with him.
“Then, what do you say to another tour tomorrow?” Fernando asked. “My schedule is clear. I was thinking we could hit some of the big shopping streets, and the Sagrada Familia too.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Another day with him. And he said it so casually as if it isn’t a problem at all. He must want this, or he wouldn’t suggest it – there would be no need to. He must be enjoying this as much as I am. I want to see him again tomorrow. There's no question. Why would I even hesitate?
“That sounds wonderful,” I tell him. “Thank you.”
I can't help but blush as I glance down at my plate, a little bashful due to my happiness. I don't want him to realize how much I want to see him again, but then again, what’s the point in playing coy? Maybe I'm not as experienced as other people when it comes to relationships, but I do feel like I should be honest about the way I feel.