If I Could Be With You Read Free

the Village…promise.”
    When they emerged from the subway into the fading evening sun, Hannah felt deep contentment stir in her chest. This was the home she’d been looking for her whole life. The noise from the traffic, horns blaring, the smells some good, and some not, all of it felt like it fit. She looked up at the buildings, not skyscrapers as she’d expected, but still taller than what she’d grown up around.
    “And you went to college here?” Her voice filled with awe. “What an amazing life you must have had.” She was almost jealous. Her hometown experience of college life had been filled with good times, but who could she have become here in this metropolis?
    Charlie grabbed her hand, leading her through the throngs of people moving purposely towards their goals: families, dates, work, parties, an end of the day drink. Who knew what the evening held in store for any of them? After a short walk down tree-lined streets that seemed straight out of a film, they came across an open-air patio with patrons drinking margaritas amidst Latin music. With happy hour just beginning, they were lucky enough to get a table for four by the sidewalk.
    “Two passion fruit margaritas and some chili rellano. Does that sound alright to you Hannah?” But the waiter had already turned from them. He’d just asked to be polite.
    Part of her immensely disliked that he had ordered for her. Another part of her was enjoying this younger man that was so obviously in control of every part of their time together. If he was really that in control, it might not matter what she wanted when it came to sleeping with him, whether her decision was yes or no.
    “You’ll love these margaritas. They were the first drink I fell in love with in the city. We’ve been coming here for years. I love being able to share it with you.”
    “Do you bring Nadia here?” It was out before she could stop it. She’d expected discomfort, but received blasé at best.
    “No, Nadia doesn’t drink. She’s Muslim, you know.”
    No, she didn’t think she had. Had she ever had a reason to wonder? It wasn’t like she’d been pining after him for years. His life between leaving Ohio and up until last week had been a mystery to her. She vaguely remembered wedding photos at a Christmas party, but they were at a park, nothing overtly religious.
    He deftly stayed relevant, but moved the subject away from Nadia. “Have you ever dated outside of your faith or race?” 
    It was an interesting question. One he seemed intellectually curious about, like he wanted to discuss the idea philosophically, rather than personally. She’d begun to notice that habit in his conversation. He would ask a highly personal question, yet proceed to discuss it from his viewpoint as if it were a case to be studied.
    “I have.” She didn’t want to be studied.
    “Tell me about it,” he reached across the table, again taking her hand.
    “I’d rather talk about you, and whether you’ve always been so physically affectionate. Is it with everyone, or just me?”
    He smiled as if he’d been caught at something, but kept his hand on hers.
    “A little of both, I think.” He paused and looked into her eyes, “What did you want my answer to be?”
    “I don’t honestly know.” Emboldened by his gaze she continued, “If you said you were like this with everyone, it would take away the thrill of not knowing your intentions.  If you said it was just for me, the clarity of your intentions would scare me.”
    He raised her hand to his lips, not kissing it, just holding it there, as if lost in thought. The waiter sat two icy orange concoctions in front of them and he released her to partake of the drink. They sipped quietly, neither knowing what the other might be thinking. Just as she was becoming uncomfortable, a feminine voice rang out from across the street.
    “Charles!”
    A short curvy woman in her mid-twenties crossed through traffic next to a hippie looking man who had to be