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“Ah, no!”
“Here we are,” he said finally, stopping at the first door.
Holding her breath in anticipation, she hoped his apartment was as neat as his car. Another misfortunate date’s bathroom had been so gross, she had to clean it before she could use it. He pushed the door open and waited for her to pass by. The shades were open, and the room was flooded with colorful light from the casino across the street.
Looking around, she saw a space devoid of any decorating, spartan and immaculate. Uh-oh, I hope he’s not a clean fanatic, she thought. There was a balance, after all. He had a black leather couch, matching end tables and lamps that might have come from a discount store, and a flat-screen TV that took up an entire wall. Books were stacked neatly everywhere, on the floor, in shelves, on the tables.
He flipped a light switch on, and bright light flooded the kitchen and living room. She saw another utilitarian space, with a lone coffee cup upside down in a dish strainer. He had taken the time to wash out his cup before he left in the morning. It was a little discombobulating. She’d definitely have to step it up in the neatness realm.
“One of these days, I’ll install a dimmer,” he said, squinting. Leading the way down the hall, he nodded to her to follow. “I’ll put your things on the bed.”
His bedroom was the same—not a thing out of place, the bed made with the cover pulled taut, books stacked on the nightstand.
“You’re very neat,” she said, looking around. “I might have found the first area in which we will have to compromise.”
“That’s an easy fix,” he said, smiling down at her. “Right now, it’s just easier for me to live like this with no distractions. It’s not that I don’t like things.”
“Okay, well, that makes perfect sense. I never thought of it that way. I sort of ignore all the stuff at my parents’ house because I don’t have to take care of it. I make a beeline from my bedroom to the kitchen and out the front door.”
He reached into the closet and pushed hangers back and forth before bringing out a cleaner’s-bag-covered garment. “This is my tuxedo. Get ready to be amused. I weigh about twenty pounds less than I did in high school.”
“That has to be a first,” she said. “Did you try to lose weight?”
If memory served, he had been just as gorgeous in high school as he was now.
“No, but I don’t lift weights like I used to. And I don’t eat my mother’s cooking every day, unfortunately.”
“Does she cook traditional Greek food?” Lily asked.
“She doesn’t cook much now that us kids are gone,” he said, pulling the cleaner’s bag off the tux. “Ta-da!” The beautiful suit looked brand new.
“Did you ever wear it again after the prom?”
“I wore it to my sister’s wedding.” He pointed to her garment bag. “What’s in there?”
She unzipped the bag to reveal a silver strapless gown. “I never thought I’d wear this again,” she said, grimacing, which made him laugh.
“Why’s that?”
“It’s one of the many bridesmaid dresses I’ve been forced to wear over the past six years. I know it will fit because it’s just from last summer. At least I don’t think I’ve gained any weight. I sure know I haven’t lost any.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll be beautiful,” he said honestly. “Would you like something to drink before we get changed? I thought we could go a little early and have dinner over there. The ball doesn’t start until nine though.”
“Sure. I’d love something.”
He put out his hand for her to take, and led her to the kitchen. She sat in the chair he pulled out for her, once again looking around at the pristine space. Glancing into the fridge when he opened it revealed that he also grocery shopped.
“I’m astonished that you have food in your refrigerator,” she said. “Aren’t twentysomething college guys supposed to have beer and a cardboard pizza box in there?”
He looked in to see what she was talking about. “It’s nothing that needs cooking,” he said, pulling out a block of cheese. “Do you want wine or beer?”
“A beer would be nice,” she answered.
“Bottle or glass?”
“Ha! I’ll drink it right from the bottle,” she replied.
Before he sat down with his beer, he arranged cheese and crackers on a plate and brought it over. “This will tide us over till dinner.”
