“It was all right. I just relaxed at home, did some reading,” Erica responds, a smile crossing her face.
I eye her suspiciously. “Just ‘all right?’”
Erica lets out a deep sigh and smiles as she flips through the menu. “It was good—better than usual, actually.”
“Oh?” I raise my eyebrows. It sounds like there’s something she wants to tell me.
The waitress interrupts us to take our orders, and Erica hesitates for a moment before ordering.
Once the waitress leaves, Erica finally speaks up.
“So… I don’t know how you’ll feel about this,” she takes a breath before continuing, “but I started seeing someone recently.”
As Erica shares her news, I can’t help but reflect on her past experiences with dating. It’s always been a bit of a rollercoaster for her. She’s had her fair share of disappointment, from fleeting relationships to unfulfilling dates, often confiding in me about her latest dating misadventures. She either found herself entangled with the wrong guys, those who didn’t appreciate her for the wonderful person she is, or lamented the sheer impossibility of finding someone genuine amidst the sea of insincerity.
Seeing her now, cautious yet with a spark of hope in her eyes, fills me with a sense of protective optimism. I want so much for her to be happy, to find someone who can see her worth and treat her with the love she deserves.
“Oh, wow!” I can’t help but smile. “That’s great news. Congratulations.”
Erica’s cheeks go pink and she looks away, avoiding my gaze. “Thanks,” she says softly before continuing, “But… I don’t want to say too much about who it is yet.”
I nod in understanding. Knowing Erica, she’s likely trying to guard her heart, especially in these early stages, which explains her hesitancy in sharing details about this new person in her life.
“Okay,” I reply, a gentle smile on my face. “Take your time and enjoy it.”
Erica relaxes slightly at this reassurance and gives me a warm smile back.
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” she says. She hesitates for a moment before adding, “You know, maybe I could… ask you for advice about some of the stuff that’s going on?”
I can see how much this means to her, so I nod with a smile.
“Of course,” I tell her. “Anything you need.”
Erica takes a deep breath and then speaks. “It’s just that… he’s older than me, so sometimes I feel like I can’t relate to what he talks about, you know? Like with work and stuff. Maybe it’s a weird thing to ask for advice on—”
“No, I’m happy to help.” I give her a nod as I think of my own experiences with Oliver, and the age gap between us. Of course, I can’t mention that to her. “I may not have the most expansive dating experience, but I think your concerns are reasonable.”
“You’re still in the early stages of getting to know each other, so it might help if you focus on what you have in common. That will help you feel more connected. Plus, Erica, you’re an intelligent woman. You’re great with advice. Don’t think so hard about the age difference.”
“Thanks for saying that, Catherine,” she says. “That means a lot. I’ll try to focus on the things we have in common and see if that helps.”
“I’m sure it will,” I reassure her. “And if you ever need more advice, ask.”
She chuckles. “It’s almost as if you know what it’s like to date an older man.”
“It helps that I live with someone who’s constantly complaining about work,” I joke.
We both laugh, and my thoughts drift to Oliver. My mind keeps circling back to what it would be like to have him inside of me. But the thought is fleeting, and I quickly push it away as the waitress arrives with our food.
“One order of the Greek salad with shrimp, and an order of a falafel wrap,” she says with a warm smile, setting our plates down in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say as I eagerly pick up my fork.
“How’s my brother, by the way?” Erica asks as she wipes her mouth with a napkin. “My parents won’t stop asking me if he’s dating again.”
I glance away, focusing on my food to avoid her gaze. Erica would kill both of us if she found out about my lessons with Oliver. I would never tell her, but the guilt over keeping something from my best friend is rising deep within me.
“He’s still single,” I say noncommittally. “Too busy with work and whatnot.”
