you. You said this is Sicily, right? I’m glad you called." She was quiet for a moment like she was immediately regretting making this phone call. "Sicily, are you still there?"
"Yes, I’m here. What kind of car do you have?" She sounded as unsure as her picture looked, and I did my best to make her feel comfortable.
I told her about my car and bits about the company I worked for, making sure to leave out the name. For over an hour, I sat in the garage talking with her about our likes and dislikes. She told me that she was a librarian, which was different than anyone I had ever dated. She was obviously into books and poetry. I couldn’t say I shared that interest, but I kept reminding myself that I wanted different.
"Have you met a lot of people on this site? I am new to this, and I am not really sure how this works." I was being totally honest when I said that.
"Umm sort of. I mean I have messaged with guys, but I haven’t made it to the date part. Either they lose interest or I find them creepy, but I read that you should know how you feel about someone in three dates."
"Oh really?" I laughed. "I am intrigued, please explain what you mean."
"Yes, I read once that you should meet first in public for dinner or coffee or something, and then the second the girl should pick the date, and the third the man should choose the date. Both should pick based on what kinds of things they enjoy, and by the end of the third date you should know where you stand." Her voice sounded like she read the words straight out of a fairytale.
"I like that! Actually that is brilliant." And I just found my new motto. Who couldn’t survive three dates?
I could hear the smile in her voice when she said, "Really?"
"Yes, ma’am." I could hear a giggle escape from her mouth. "So how about it then? Wanna have date one?"
"Um sure, when?" she said. She sounded so shy and quiet. I wanted to see that smile in person.
"How about tonight?" I took a few breaths, and I could hear her withdraw from the phone. "Just for dinner. I give you my word that I am not a stalker, crazy person, or weirdo. Scout’s honor!"
"Were you a boy scout?" she said.
"Well no. But I do stand behind my word. How about this? You pick the place and time. I will get there early, and you can check me out. If you don’t like what you see, you can leave, and I will understand."
"All right, I guess. Um, eight thirty at Nina’s Pizza on Main Street?" Her voice still didn’t sound certain, but I guess it could be risky meeting a stranger for the first time.
"I have never been there before. That’s perfect, I will be there. Talk to you soon." We said our goodbyes, and I fired up the engine. According to my navigation system the restaurant was almost an hour away, and I still had to get home to change.
I ENTERED THE RESTAURANT and scanned the crowded room for her face. I was early as promised, but the front entryway was swarming with people. I pushed through and waited at the front desk for someone to lead me to a table. I felt overdressed in my khaki pants and Italian Cashmere sweater. I hadn’t realized that the restaurant might not be four stars, but the food smelled amazing. I could practically taste the oozing cheese and the lightly roasted toppings from halfway across the room.
I stood there like an idiot waiting for someone to seat me until a waitress pointed to the sign that read: "Please seat yourself." I was glad at that moment that I had arrived early before she could see me struggle to find a booth on my own. A waitress finally rescued me and showed me to a table in the back of the restaurant. I told her I was waiting for someone, and she disappeared into the crowd.
I looked around studying all the decorations that lined the wall. Several pizza relics, some football jerseys, and a huge poster showing all the toppings you could ever think of putting on a pizza. I checked out the menu to see what my options were, smirking as I noticed all the
"Yes, I’m here. What kind of car do you have?" She sounded as unsure as her picture looked, and I did my best to make her feel comfortable.
I told her about my car and bits about the company I worked for, making sure to leave out the name. For over an hour, I sat in the garage talking with her about our likes and dislikes. She told me that she was a librarian, which was different than anyone I had ever dated. She was obviously into books and poetry. I couldn’t say I shared that interest, but I kept reminding myself that I wanted different.
"Have you met a lot of people on this site? I am new to this, and I am not really sure how this works." I was being totally honest when I said that.
"Umm sort of. I mean I have messaged with guys, but I haven’t made it to the date part. Either they lose interest or I find them creepy, but I read that you should know how you feel about someone in three dates."
"Oh really?" I laughed. "I am intrigued, please explain what you mean."
"Yes, I read once that you should meet first in public for dinner or coffee or something, and then the second the girl should pick the date, and the third the man should choose the date. Both should pick based on what kinds of things they enjoy, and by the end of the third date you should know where you stand." Her voice sounded like she read the words straight out of a fairytale.
"I like that! Actually that is brilliant." And I just found my new motto. Who couldn’t survive three dates?
I could hear the smile in her voice when she said, "Really?"
"Yes, ma’am." I could hear a giggle escape from her mouth. "So how about it then? Wanna have date one?"
"Um sure, when?" she said. She sounded so shy and quiet. I wanted to see that smile in person.
"How about tonight?" I took a few breaths, and I could hear her withdraw from the phone. "Just for dinner. I give you my word that I am not a stalker, crazy person, or weirdo. Scout’s honor!"
"Were you a boy scout?" she said.
"Well no. But I do stand behind my word. How about this? You pick the place and time. I will get there early, and you can check me out. If you don’t like what you see, you can leave, and I will understand."
"All right, I guess. Um, eight thirty at Nina’s Pizza on Main Street?" Her voice still didn’t sound certain, but I guess it could be risky meeting a stranger for the first time.
"I have never been there before. That’s perfect, I will be there. Talk to you soon." We said our goodbyes, and I fired up the engine. According to my navigation system the restaurant was almost an hour away, and I still had to get home to change.
I ENTERED THE RESTAURANT and scanned the crowded room for her face. I was early as promised, but the front entryway was swarming with people. I pushed through and waited at the front desk for someone to lead me to a table. I felt overdressed in my khaki pants and Italian Cashmere sweater. I hadn’t realized that the restaurant might not be four stars, but the food smelled amazing. I could practically taste the oozing cheese and the lightly roasted toppings from halfway across the room.
I stood there like an idiot waiting for someone to seat me until a waitress pointed to the sign that read: "Please seat yourself." I was glad at that moment that I had arrived early before she could see me struggle to find a booth on my own. A waitress finally rescued me and showed me to a table in the back of the restaurant. I told her I was waiting for someone, and she disappeared into the crowd.
I looked around studying all the decorations that lined the wall. Several pizza relics, some football jerseys, and a huge poster showing all the toppings you could ever think of putting on a pizza. I checked out the menu to see what my options were, smirking as I noticed all the
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