Rosy revenge

The night out

CHAPTER 2: THE NIGHT OUT

The smell of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces embraced Rosie as she pushed open the door to the quaint eatery. She thought she was entering a different world because of the soft jazz music and dim lighting. She looked around the room, trying to find a face she recognised. Then she saw him, Alex, sitting at a comfortable table by the window, looking even more dapper than he appeared in his pictures.

Rosie’s heels clicked on the wood floor as she walked towards him and her heart skipped a beat. Rosie’s heart skipped a beat as Alex glanced up, met her gaze and grinned.

With every step, her nervousness vanished as she felt as though she was melting into his gaze.

He pulled out her chair for her and said, “Hey.”

“You look pretty.”

Rosie’s cheeks warmed up, feeling a little shy but also relieved that the awkwardness of his tardiness seemed to have passed.

“Thanks”, she said and took a seat.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.”

As they sat down, Rosie saw that Alex’s eyes wrinkled at the corners when he smiled. She became more at ease with him and began to laugh and smile. The conversation flowed easily, as though they had known each other for years instead of days.

But as the evening wore on, Rosie started to pick up on little details that didn’t quite add up. Alex appeared evasive when she questioned him about his work, and he abruptly shifted the subject when she mentioned her own employment.

Intrigued, Rosie started to wonder what Alex was hiding. Was he shy about his job? Or was it something else? Despite the small warning signs that were ringing in Rosie’s head, she was drawn to Alex. There was something genuine about him that made her want to know more.

Over the course of the evening, Rosie became aware that she was losing herself in Alex’s eyes and feeling an inexplicable connection.

Alex excused himself to answer his phone when it buzzed, just when it appeared that everything was going smoothly. As Rosie watched him go, she had a nagging doubt. Who was he talking to, and what was going on?

She still felt that Alex was more complex than she had first assumed. Rosie kept thinking back on everything she had discovered about Alex while she waited for him to come back.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something enigmatic about him that seemed genuine and caring. A little nervous, but curious about what the rest of the night would hold, she took a sip of her water.