“His name is Nick,”Adele says, giving me a swift once-over.
“You look great,” I say, abruptly stopping the ‘Nick’ conversation.
“Thank you. You look good, too.”
A navy knee-length dress and a string of pearls set off her delicate beauty. Her brown hair, trimmed at the edges, stops short of her shoulders. Her light-blue eyes sparkle, curious.
“How’s business?” she asks tentatively.
“Good,” I say curtly.
I never told her much about my business, and courteous as she is, she never pressed for detailed information.
Her phone vibrates with a message, bringing a soft smile to her lips.
“He’ll be here momentarily,” she says.
I quickly realize I can’t get out of it, so I may as well roll with it.
“Is Nick a physician too?” I ask.
“He’s an engineer. An old friend of Mark’s. He recently moved to Florida, makes good money, and has his own home. He’s not married,” she adds with the enthusiasm of someone scoring a good buy at the clearance rack.
Seemingly, Nick hits all the qualities she finds desirable in a man.
I say nothing as we exit the ladies' room and cut our way back to the table.
The restaurant is full since many tourists visit the town this time of year. It’s cold up north, and the weather is perfect here.
Drinks are on the table. Mark, her fiancé, a tall man with a sturdy frame and honest eyes, rises to his feet.
We take our seats.
“Nick is late. He’ll be here in ten minutes,” he says.
Adele smiles at him endearingly.
“He texted me as well,” she says.
Mark glances at me.
I grin politely, my mind wandering away.
The sad truth is, I couldn’t care less if Nick shows up or not. If he looks like a god or not. Or if he’s attached or not. I’m not going to be fussy about it.
They are good people and possibly my only friends in the ‘normal’ world. They’re thoughtful, kind, and not damaged. I bet Nick is a good guy, too.
I pause my inner ramblings, curl my fingers around my glass and take a sip.
The main course is already on the table, so we start to eat. Shortly after, we’re engrossed in a conversation about the new healthcare law, low reimbursement rates, rising costs of raising kids, and different ways of cooking pasta.
As I drink the second glass of wine, an elegant man saunters to our table. He observes me discreetly, the smile glinting in his eyes, suggesting he likes what he sees.
Fairly tall, with brown hair and green eyes, he exudes charm and fascinating shyness.
Adele makes the introductions.
Nick’s hands are soft like his words. He sits next to me, and throughout the evening, I do my best not to lead him in any way.