Also, it wasn’t like the dating pool of hot Jewish people was especially large in this area.
All of these things were occurring to her, and she wondered if any of it was showing on her face because his expression was a masterclass. He seemed to be reading her, or at least trying to. She wanted to ask him what he was seeing, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“I have no idea,” he said finally, his words careful, his eyes smoldering, “what could have possibly happened to make you think any man wouldn’t be proud to have you on his arm--”
She scoffed because she couldn’t help herself.
His hands tightened on hers. His eyes were something else. She couldn’t look away from him even if she wanted to.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, but please do me the favor of acknowledging that what we have here is a lot more than just animal lust.”
“I--,” She wanted to take her hands back. She wanted to beg him to take her in his arms and not let go. She wanted to run away and curl up in her bed with her big floof-monster of a cat and a bag of corn chips and a good book and pretend none of this was happening.
“I am… intrigued by you. I want to get to know you better. Something is clearly going on for you, and I can’t promise to fix it or make it better--” he said, releasing one of her hands so that he could touch her face. Her breath caught and suddenly she had to remember how to breathe again.
“I’m not asking you to,” she said, because she had to say something. Because she was past the age where she believed someone else could fix her problems.
“I know,” he said, dipping his head so that she was looking him fully in the eyes. “Just let me into your life for a while.”
“What happens when it goes south?” she said, her tone flat, because of course it would go bad. Everything did eventually.
“I don’t know yet,” he answered, the truth in his words making her laugh, “but I’d like to find out.”
Shoshana’s stomach growled so loudly he stepped back.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she said, covering her face with her hands because suddenly she was embarrassed. Embarrassment was much easier to deal with than the riot of emotions she’d been feeling earlier.
“Should we answer that?” he said, his head cocked to eyeball her midsection.
“Would you believe all I’ve had all day was a power bar and some coffee?” It was true, partly because she’d spent the day in a mad dash of errands and chores and then there was getting ready for this absurd date. Nervous anticipation made choking down anything more substantial an exercise in futility. Her stomach growled again for emphasis and she crossed her arms over it, sure her face was bright red.
“Well, we can definitely do something about that,” he said, reaching to take her hand again. She wasn’t sure why she let him. Except that it felt natural. It felt right. And then he was walking to the door of the cafe and she was following like the last twenty minutes had never happened.
The hostess greeted them with a warm smile and when she heard his name, checked something off in her book. She raised a hand to direct them to a table. Shoshana allowed herself to be led, and then they were sitting, and it was fine because the cafe was mostly deserted, and the server was someone she didn’t know. The man was talking to David and David was nodding, accepting a menu. After a moment he looked at Shoshana and winked. She felt her unease dissipating in inches. She smiled, just a little.
“Please get this woman some crepes, I’m afraid she might faint. You can see she’s famished.”
He made it impossible not to like him.
Thirteen
“Are you sure crepes for dinner are a good idea,” Shoshana said as the waiter brought the tray of food to the table. She remembered again that she hadn’t really eaten all day and wondered if her body would rebel entirely if she did something like ask for a salad.
“Oh,” he said, inspecting the plate the waiter placed in front of him, “I absolutely think crepes for dinner are a good idea.”
She made a mental note to ask Abi or Leah if they were aware of the place, because some of the flavor combinations on the menu would be amazing for brunch. As it was, she was staring down at a concoction of berries and cheese and carbs that could inspire poetry in the right person. For his part, David had ordered something that involved steak, pickles and onions--hold the cheese please. She wondered if the resulting food coma would be worth it.
“I can’t believe you didn’t go for the fluffer-nutter,” David said, eyeing her plate.
“That was on the children’s menu,” Shoshana said, spearing a piece of strawberry and biting it daintily. She had to take a moment to close her eyes at the taste. They’d dusted everything with just the smallest bit of brown sugar. Instead of making it too sweet, it really brought out the flavor of the berry.
“Dani loves them,” he said, as though that explained everything, and cut a large bite of his own food.
Watching him eat was its own kind of lesson, she thought. Shoshana couldn’t remember the last time she’d encountered a person who was so completely present. There was nowait, wait let me take a picture for the ‘gram, orlet me tell you aboutornext time I’m going to try this other thing instead. He was entirely focused on what was in front of him. Right now, that was his food, but it was also Shoshana. She realized he was watching her and took a hasty sip of her water.
“Is it hard for you to unplug?” she asked because she had to fill the silence. David cocked his head, considering her question as he took a bite of his meal, chewed and swallowed.
“I’m on call all the time,” he said slowly. “My phone isn’t always ringing, but it always has to be on.”