The story picks up at the end of Week 10 of Brinna & Zach's Human Sexuality class.
*****
I pulled into the parking lot of the Mexican restaurant just after 7 pm, to meet Zach and his grandpa for dinner. I'd let myself get a few minutes behind schedule due to changing my outfit too many times. Then I'd tried to make up the time by driving too fast.
Zach was waiting just inside the doors as I entered, standing among a small crowd of people who were waiting for a table.
"Hi, Brinna," he said, welcoming me with a smile. "We already have a table."
"Lead on," I said. I trailed behind him as he weaved his way across the restaurant to a smaller room, separated from the noise of the main dining area. There were two long rows of tables set up, obviously for larger groups, along with a couple of small four-person tables. An elderly white-haired man sat alone at one of them, rising as we entered the room. He was the only occupant.
"Brinna, this is my grandpa, Phil Kovac," Zach said.
"It's so nice to meet you at last, Brinna," his grandpa responded warmly, stepping forward and extending his hand. He beamed happily at me when I shook it. "Zach has told me so much about you, I insisted he had to introduce us during my visit. I'm so pleased you could come to dinner with us. Sit, sit! Zach," he gestured at Zach, "get Brinna seated."
Zach pulled out the chair across from his grandfather's and raised his eyebrows at me. I sat, and he settled into the chair next to me.
"Zach wasn't exaggerating when he told me how pretty you are," Phil said, eyes twinkling.
"Grandpa!"
In response, Phil's smile changed to a sly grin.
"You don't mind being called a pretty girl, do you, Brinna?" he asked.
"I don't know any girl who would mind that," I responded.
"Oh, here's Mr. Ramirez," Phil said, staring past my shoulder, smile still on his lips. Zach turned slightly in his chair so he could view the man who had arrived at our table.
"SeΓ±or Kovac," the man greeted, expansively. He smiled at the three of us while transferring a large basket of tortilla chips, three little bowls of salsa, three menus, and three glasses of water from his tray to our table. "So good to see you back. And you brought a guest!" He set a trio of menus on the table.
I was introduced and greeted warmly before the owner of the little family restaurant focused on Zach. There was a rapid-fire exchange of Spanish between the two of them, causing my eyebrows to raise as I turned my head to look at Zach.
"Um, excuse me a few minutes, Brinna. Mister Ramirez needs me to look at his office computer. I'll be right back." He regarded his grandpa as he stood. "Try not to tell too many embarrassing stories about me while I'm gone," he warned, laughing.
I caught Zach's sleeve.
"Spanish
and
Finnish, Zach? Really?" I grinned. I'd found another of his secrets that he didn't like to brag about. He sighed dramatically, but his lips twitched as he repressed a smile. I released him.
"So, Brinna," Phil said, leaning forward and setting his forearms on the table, hands linked. "My grandson tells me you're his best friend on campus. And that you're spending a lot of time together working on a paper for that sex class." His eyes danced with merriment.
"We are," I answered, dipping a chip in salsa and taking a bite.
"What do you think of my Zachary?" he asked in a light tone that didn't cover the serious intent of his question.
"Um, I think he's great," I answered. "Of course I'm sure you know how smart he is. He's a good, uh, friend to have."
"I do know how smart he is. But what else is he?"
Phil and I looked each other in the eye for a moment as I formulated my reply. I could see the his concern for Zach's well-being reflected in his expression.
"He's sweet," I said slowly. "He's funny, generous, and a good person. Once you can get past all his shyness, he's an interesting person to get to know."
"But you're not interested in dating him?" Phil asked bluntly.
I took a sip of my water, enjoying his directness.
"I'm leaving the state in early January to go to another school. Zach is staying here another semester."
"Well," he said after a pause, "whatever else, I think your friendship has been good for him. There's something different about him this visit. He seems happier and more relaxed these days. I can hear it in his voice on the phone when we talk, but it's made me happier than I can tell you to see it in person." He took a sip of water. "But I promised him I wouldn't embarrass you by giving you the grand inquisition, so let's pretend we talked about the weather when he gets back." He gave me a conspirator's smile. "He likes you very much, though."
"And he loves you very much," I answered, trying to swing the subject away from my feelings about Zach, and his about me.
"We've spent a lot of time together, me and Zach." He lowered his voice. "His parents got busy with their own lives as their first three got older, and when Zach came along, they just never really made time for him. I blame myself some. I think part of the problem was caused by the way his mother was raised. Me and my first wife separated when our girls were young. She didn't like the life of a military wife, and she was not very warm towards the children. I never did get to see much of them when they were growing up, and we aren't close now." A touch of sadness touched his eyes. Then he shook his head, clearing it away. "Luckily for me, I'd retired from the Navy by the time Zach was born and I had the time to spend with him. I've sure never regretted a minute of that. It was almost like a second chance to be a dad. Even if I was already an old man by then," he said with a big smile."
"I know he's been really looking forward to your visit this semester," I responded.
"It was hard on both of us when it was time for him to head to college. And with Zach so shy, he's always had difficulty making good friends. Until now!" He reached over to pat my hand. "And here he's found himself the prettiest girl on campus to be friends with!" He smiled and winked.
I laughed, enjoying his flirtatious comment.
Zach returned not long afterwards, trailed by a young waitress. None of us had even looked at the menu, but Zach and Phil were planning to let Mr. Ramirez send out an off-menu "chef's surprise", so I took the same option.
I discovered that Zach had periodically done computer and webpage design work off and on for the owner since his second semester. He'd become good friends with the family, sharpening his high school Spanish skills through visiting with them over the last three years.
"The waitress is pretty cute," I said casually to Zach.
"No, Brinna. I am
not
going to ask out Mr. Ramirez's daughter," he said in a firm voice. "He likes me, but I don't think he likes anyone