“Well keep ’em coming.” He grinned. I stared at his perfect, straight white teeth and found myself wondering if he had dimples under that beard. “Do you want to stay for dinner? I’m grilling burgers, easy to make another.”
“Oh, thank you, but…” I checked the time on my phone. “I actually have to get going.”
“You have a date or something?” His eyes glittered, and I could tell he meant it in jest, but my own eyes flew open wide.
Before I could say anything, Luke said, “Oh! You actually do. Sorry. I mean, why wouldn’t you? That…makes sense,” he stammered. He seemed flustered all of a sudden.
“It’s new.”Why am I telling him that?
He swallowed. “Okay. Great. Good.”
I raised my eyebrows and opened my mouth, but then I closed it again. I had no idea what to say next, so I figured it was time to go. “But thank you for the invite! I’d love to, another time.” I held his gaze, willing him to see my sincerity.
A small part of me wished I didn’t have somewhere to be tonight, so I could stay for dinner with them.I hope this doesn’t stop him from asking me ever again.
“Sounds good.” His expression returned to relaxed and warm. He walked me to the door and held it open. “See you tomorrow, Val.”
My enthusiasm for this date with Max was somewhat diminished by the pit of anxiety that had lodged itself in my stomach. Our conversations had never been strained before that phone call on Monday. But, in his defense, I hadn’t told him the real story, and calling my leave of absence a sabbatical probably didn’t help.It will be fine, I told myself. I would tell him the full story this time. It’d only been a few dates, but he seemed like a great guy.He’ll understand.
Or at least, I hoped he’d understand.
He insisted on picking me up again. When I stepped out the front door, he stared at me. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi!” The bubbly feeling spurred by his compliment cut through my nerves.
Once we were seated in rocking chairs on the deck of the Harbor View Hotel, cocktails in our hands, a light breeze blowing through our hair, I decided to address the elephant in the room. Spinning my drink around on the armrest, looking at that insteadof him, I said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was looking for a part-time job. I also probably shouldn’t have called it a sabbatical. It’s a leave of absence.” I glanced at him to gauge his reaction.
He nodded, contemplative. “Val, I get it. This is only what, our third date? You don’t have to tell me everything. I was just surprised because you already have this great job to go back to, that’s all. Sabbatical, leave of absence, whatever you call it, everyone deserves a break now and then. I think all companies should have them.”
I nodded and forced the corner of my mouth up. “I agree.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I was both surprised and relieved that he didn’t ask what prompted the leave of absence in my specific case. At least he didn’t seem to judge me for taking one.
“When is the leave up?”
“July 15th.” I had the date memorized.
“Oh, that’s so far away. You have plenty of time. You’ll figure it out.” He flicked his wrist.
“Right. Plenty of time.” I swallowed and looked out at the view: Edgartown Lighthouse, its white facade and black door, window, and roof. It stood out against the deep blue background of the water beyond. Despite the serenity of my surroundings and the strength of the drink in my glass, I felt nervous.
It didn’t feel like there was plenty of time between now and July 15th. Especially when I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and hadn’t spent enough time thinking about it. The freedom provided by having some money coming in now only contributed to my indecisiveness. I needed to talk to my therapist about it on Monday. Maybe she could tell me what I should do.
Max reached out, dragging his fingers lightly over my thigh, right above my knee. His hand was warm on my bare leg. It brought me back from my racing thoughts. “Still with me?” he asked, smile on his face, glint in his eye.
I nodded. “Yeah. I just…”Feel super anxious and don’t know what I’m doing,I thought. But I didn’t want to kill thevibe so instead I said, “I love this view. I used to go to this beach all the time when I was little.”
“I’ve never actually walked down there.”
“Really?”
Max chuckled. “Really. There’s some beachfront at my parents’ house so we didn’t go to other beaches very often.” I’d had a feeling the Phelps’s house must be waterfront. “Let’s walk down there after we eat.”
“Sounds great.”
Max left his hand on my leg until he got up to get us more drinks and order some food. I liked it. It was forward but somehow grounding. Before he stood, he said, “It’s a gorgeous night, I’m in the company of a gorgeous woman, life is good. Let’s get another drink and pretend tomorrow is far, far away, okay?”
That actually sounded…great. I turned to him, tilting my head and pressing my lips together to hold in my flattered smile. “Deal.”
I watched him walk toward the doors into the restaurant. He was such a flirt. Handsome and confident. What was it about me that had drawn the attention of a man like him?
