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That’s such an unfamiliar feeling. No one has ever had my back before and it definitely makes me swoon every time Sergey talks about how he has mine.
“Let’s not think about it for now.” With that decision, I toss my phone into one of the cupholders of his car and decide that I don’t need it for the time being. “What are we doing anyway?” My question comes too late almost because he pulls into a parking lot.
“I remembered that you love ballet and there’s a performance here tonight.”
For the second time today, I’m stunned. Not only that he remembered, but that he’s choosing to take me here for a date. This doesn’t seem like his kind of outing at all.
Sergey laughs as he sees my expression. “You don’t think I can endure a ballet performance for you?”
“I wouldn’t have thought you’d want to,” I confirm.
“I don’t, but what’s a couple hours of boredom if it makes you happy?”
He seems utterly unfazed by it all. As crazy as it sounds, no one has ever endured anything, big or small, for me and my own enjoyment. It gives me the warm and fuzzies that Sergey is doing this.
“Ready?” Sergey asks, hesitating due to my silence.
“Yes.”
About thirty minutes into the performance, a low snoring sound emits from Sergey. I smile at seeing his head tilted forward a little, his eyes closed, and his breathing steady. I guess he wasn’t lying about being bored. I contemplate waking him, but he’s not disturbing anyone. Should he be awake and alert for our date? It’s more humorous than anything to me.
I decide to let him be. Three-fourths of the way through the show, Sergey suddenly startles himself awake. He glances over at me, likely to see if I noticed, but I keep my focus on the stage. While he may not have enjoyed himself, I have.
At the end, as we are walking back to his vehicle, I can’t help but tease him. “What did you think of the show?”
A flicker of panic crosses his face. “It was good.”
“Did you like the solo performance done after the first intermission?”
His eyes widen a little more and it takes some restraint not to laugh. The performance I’m asking about doesn’t exist, so his answer will be interesting.
“Yes, very good.”
I can’t help but laugh and he gives me a curious glance as he opens the door for me.
“I wish I had seen it then.” When his brows furrow in confusion, I add, “There wasn’t a solo; I’m just teasing since you were sleeping.”
For a brief moment, he has a deer in the headlights look. “I was not. I was checking my eyelids for holes.”
His answer catches me off guard and I can’t help but release a full belly laugh.
“Didn’t find any,” he adds, nudging me into the car.
“Heading home now?” I ask, still laughing a little as he pulls out of the parking lot.
“Dinner first.”
While he drives us to the restaurant, I check my phone to see an additional call from my mother and one from Sergey’s. I don’t really know what to do with this. My phone is plucked out of my hands and dropped back into the cupholder. I expect Sergey to say something, but he remains silent, and I decide I don’t really want to say anything either.
Once we’re settled in at the very nice restaurant, he makes conversation with me.
“Do you always teach in the summer?”
“No. Only if there’s a need. My fall courses will be starting soon,” I explain.
“Will you have to leave?” he asks.
I smile. “No; I got lucky and everything is remote for me.”
