Snow Cover

Chapter 3 Dinner Time

Julia's POV

I stand in front of the door for a moment that feels almost endless, my nervousness is building once again, making me not want to answer the door. But I can't stop this when I am so close. I let out the nervous breath before throwing the nervousness out while swinging the door open, just to see a smiling, tall, handsome man staring back at me. It looks like he put a lot of effort into his appearance as well. He looks amazing in his button-up light purple shirt and slacks with a jacket to match. "Hey John.. You look great." I say as sweetly as I can muster up to him, trying to not let the shakiness of my voice shine through.

Luckily for me, I can see that it doesn't, just from watching his stoic face start to illuminate with a big smile appearing across it in an instant before he runs his hand through his slicked back, thick, dark hair that has strips of grays trailing through it. "Well, thank you, but I already know there is no way I could compare to the beauty you are radiating at this very moment.. You look entrancing." he states, causing my face to heat up automatically. I knew I looked beautiful, but when someone else says it and with so much reassurance behind it, it really makes you feel amazing.

John somehow keeps making me feel amazing, and I never seem to see it coming, but I love every second of it because it surprises me so much. He just acts so differently than the other men that I am matched with, so it makes me wonder how I was connected with him when everyone else is nothing like him. He is incredibly suave and smooth with every move he makes, while I stumble around hoping to stay upright and not make a complete fool of myself.

I would bet, from the outside looking in, that it is strange seeing us together, at least that is what I would imagine. It makes me contemplate even more how we found each other, but maybe I shouldn't question it and just enjoy the ride, because who knows if it will actually last. Even when I try not to think too much about it, I find my mind wandering that way. Maybe we found each other because of the fact that sometimes opposites attract.. Or.. Maybe it's the age difference between us that grabbed our attention.

No one will ever truly know. But all I can confirm is that I have never dated a man that was many years older than myself.. But I stepped out of my comfort zone and I would like to say it was worth it. Mostly because I like the way he thinks. His mind is many steps ahead of mine in every conversation that we have and everything he says seems to sounds as if he has thought it through a million times over before saying it.

When, in comparison, I barely think through my thoughts before voicing my usually inexperienced opinions. Even when he compliments me, it sounds completely thought out, like when he described me in this moment. It like a symphony that easily rolls off of his tongue, when most men my age couldn't articulate anything like that on their best days.. Or at least not that I have seen or heard. But it is what I have been liking the most about John at the moment.

I bet he has a lot going for him, but that is just what has gained my attention. He is a good-looking man, just not usually my type if we are being honest. I am not a superficial person, so I have mostly stuck around because of his mind. From what I understand, he is 15 years older than me, but even wiser with so much more experience than myself.. I feel old thinking about how much time I have lost and not accomplished what I have wanted like he has.

I'm almost 30 but somehow feel young and inexperienced when I talk with him. John does so much more for himself that I haven't even attempted, let alone really thought about. For example, like attending the gym, taking amazing care of himself with food and drinks, investing his time and money into so many things, having his hand in many companies instead of all of his money in just one basket. He seems very smart while looking fit and half his age.

He looks younger but doesn't sound younger. What's funny is that when I looked at his picture, I thought that he accidentally typed in the wrong age on his page, but no, he didn't. So, being present in his young-looking, sophisticated bubble, while having many conversations with him, mostly over text, makes me imagine that I could learn a lot from him. He doesn't make me feel bad about how much more he knows than me.. He just makes me feel like there is so much he could willingly teach and show me, which is reassuring.

He seems to be stabilized within his job and has his own house and car, so it looks like he has it together from the outside looking in. He says that he loves the outdoors and I want to get out more, so maybe he will help me with that. But I am trying to be realistic as well. I am on a completely different level than him.. I'm a bartender that works a lot to make sure my head is above water, but I do make great money for the most part, so not exactly living paycheck to paycheck, but almost.

So I can't complain one bit since I am surviving, for now. I have my own car and just rent an apartment with my roommate.. But she and I are not the best of friends by any means. We both needed a roommate and couldn't find one except for each other, so we took what we could get at the time.. It must have been fate because we found one another just in the knick of time for the both of us, and it has been fine so far. No fights at all and we get along well enough, which is all I needed for this period in time until I can find someone else to move on with in my life.

My roommate for a couple of years now, Chanel, is a nice girl. Younger than me, but at the same point in her life as I am. It doesn't make me feel bad at all, since we are at the same place in our lives and different ages.. but lately, she has been seeing a guy, and things are getting serious, so I imagine that she will be moving out soon enough.. So the strong feeling within me is nagging that I need to get my sh*t together before, once again, I am left out on my own.

Especially since my lease is coming to an end soon and Chanel has been hinting about moving out when it is up, and I know I can't afford this place on my own. So I'm just trying to kick-start my love life and hope it will be just what I need to help me feel complete and get my life going on another route that could be amazing for me.

I watch as a still smiling John steps to the side, giving me room to leave my apartment with him. I step forward and out of the doorway, grabbing hold of the doorknob as I glanced back into my apartment to see that Chanel is in the kitchen and, somehow, I never even noticed her.. Maybe it was the anxiousness to get to the door, so he didn't wait long.. Maybe it was the nervousness hitting me that made it so I never even knew she was there.

Either way, she is hanging out while looking over at me with a smile that shows a happiness for me that I never expected, and it makes me feel like a million bucks. I watch her waving at me before her hands shift into a thumbs up, making my smile emerge into something even bigger than before. I feel my face heating up, so much so that I'm sure I could put a tomato to shame at this rate. That is before I feel John's hand touch the small of my back as he kisses my cheek, making my smile face-splitting.

I send her a cheeky grin as she mouths the words 'good luck' to me. I smiled then nodded before shutting the door behind me and letting him lead us to his car. He opens the door for me like a gentleman as I sit down quickly while he shuts the door beside me, then circles around, getting into the vehicle himself. He started the engine without a moment to lose just to take us to dinner.

"I am incredibly delighted that you agreed to join me tonight.. I have a special dinner date planned for a special lady." he states staring over at me and my big goofy smile that wouldn't go away even if I wanted it to. "I was just happy that you asked." I say sweetly, causing him to smile over at me before driving us across town.

The city lights shine bright as the people walk past, looking delightful in their dancing outfits. You can tell that this is the area to be on a Thursday night. It is almost Friday, and everyone is out and about already. It's really dark out, but with the city lights everywhere, you can still see everything, from the frost glistening over the building windows, to the people walking along hand in hand, to the stray cats running by without a care in the world. The city life looks interesting. I don't do it much anymore, but I'm trying to, which is all that matters. I give myself an A for the effort put in to trying something new.

We got to the restaurant faster than I had expected as my eyes pinged all over the place, expecting to have to walk since there is not even one space available surrounding the restaurant, but he pulls right up to the front of the restaurant in his candy red sports car, then gets out handing his keys to the valet along with some cash as the man nods vigorously before opening my door for me. John's hand is extended for me to take, and I willingly did it without hesitation.

I get out of the car as he lets go of my hand, making me slightly sad until I look over instantly to see that John is standing there with his elbow extended out for me to take. So, with delight in my step, I jumped to his side, wrapping my arm around his, successfully intertwining John's arm with mine before I looked back to see the man shutting my door and then running around to the driver's side. I have never once done anything like that.

I don't know how much valets cost, but I never imagined I would ever have the money to pay someone for that type of service.. I just always dealt with the fact that it was busy, so I walked. I am surprised he is using the valet, but I don't want to act like it phases me since I am trying to impress him, but maybe he is doing the same. Trying to impress me by doing this. I let out a deep breath as I strutted with John straight into this fancy restaurant that I had never been to, hoping for a great night.