Playing with Fire

Chapter 4

6:30 pm

I am hurriedly preparing myself now while putting on simple makeup. I just wear a simple black slip dress and 2-inch heels. I looked in the mirror for a final look before I released a deep breath.

“Okay, let’s just try. Nothing is wrong with going on a date,” I told myself.

“Until I found the right one,” I added and smiled before picking up my purse and my keys. I will drive to the restaurant where we agreed to meet.

The moment I reached our rendezvous I saw him he was wearing a black polo shirt just like what he told me to find him. I waved for him to see me as I walked towards him and he hurriedly stood up to greet me.

“Hi, Miss Avery.” He greeted and smiled. His smile is so nice. It seems like there are stars in his eyes.

“Hi, Reynold right?” I wanted to confirm and he gladly nodded so I smiled at him. He is really a handsome guy.

“Let’s order first.” He said and called the waiter. Knowing that he works in a food stall, I must order a not-so-expensive dish I could have, but looking at the menu made me choke on my saliva. He chuckled getting my attention so I raised my head and looked at him puzzled.

“Oh, sorry. You looked surprised.” He said trying not to laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it. You can order anything.” He added, I smiled at him hesitantly and still ordered the least expensive one.

“Do you think I can’t pay?” he asked. Urgh! I wanted to disappear now. We started to have a conversation as we waited for our food.

“How long have you been working in that food stall in the mall?” I asked curiously. He doesn’t look poor because he brought me to this restaurant.

“Oh, since it was built.” He responded.

“I am the owner of that. I also help with all the tasks in that stall since I need to be hands-on. I have to take care of it.” He added making me look at him in disbelief. Oh, Avery, you misjudged him. I now understand it and as he spoke, I started admiring him. He is a really hard-working man every woman could wish for. While he was eating, he continued to talk about random things as I just stared at him.

“Oh, sorry. I think I’m so talkative.” He apologized for that thing that I liked.

“Oh no, that’s fine. Totally.” I waved my right hand to gesture that it was fine with me.

“I actually love it,” I said and smiled at him.

“Talkative guy,” I added and he chuckled. We continued eating and he started to ask something about me.

“So how about you? How’s work?” He asked after a bite.

“Urgh! It’s kind of stressful lately. Plus, stressful co-workers.” I said ranting at him about how stressed I was at work.

Reynold’s POV

Avery. A beautiful name it is. She’s pretty. Her long black straight hair, round little eyes, and small pinky lips were so soft to kiss. I couldn’t help but look at her while smiling. She is still pretty even in that angry face of hers. Honestly, I couldn’t understand every word she was saying. It seems like her beauty is hypnotizing me.

“Oh yeah. Yeah.” I suddenly responded when she snapped her fingers on my face.

“Are you listening to me?” she asked. I nodded at her embarrassed by staring at her. I just hope she wouldn’t mind that.

“Have you thought of having your own business instead of working in a corporate job?” I asked out of the blue trying to get rid of my embarrassment that seems didn’t bother her.

“Uhm…” she was obviously shocked at the sudden question.

“Well, I also thought of it. But I’m not good at managing business.” She answered as she looked down playing her food with the fork.

“It’s okay. I can guide you if ever you have thought about it again.” I offered which brought her eyes hope and shine.

“Really?” she asked with her wide eyes and excitement. She’s cute.

“But, that’s too much I guess.” She said withdrawing that happiness on her face. I love to see that happy face, I don’t want that to be lost so I looked into her eyes with sincerity.

“No, no. It’s not. I would really love to help you.” I said in a little desperate manner. She then smiled. We started to talk more about it, about the business she might want to start.

“I would really love to open a bookstore and a café.” She said finishing her last bite since I finished mine a few minutes ago.

“That’s great. Do you love reading books?” I asked. I should know why would she like to build a bookstore so I could help her.

“Uhm, not really. I just love the ambiance.” She responded.

“The silence, the thought of reading books.” She added. Hearing these, makes me think she’s really a different one. And I smiled silly with that thought of mine.

“What’s funny?” she asked not knowing that she noticed my silly smile.

“Oh, nothing, really. But you like to build a bookstore, without having a passion for reading. That’s incredibly unique.”I explained.

“Exactly.” She clapped once and pointed at me excitedly.

“That’s my point. I want to be unique.” She added. Since we were all done with our meals, we decided to go. I asked for the bill took my card from my wallet and handed it over to the waiter.

“Thank you for the meal.” She said.

“No worries,” I responded shortly. We decided to go for a walk outside. As we walk side by side and feel the cold breeze, I look at her from time to time. Her beautiful face was still seen even in the darkness of the night. I want to know her more. But something is stopping me. Should I tell her about it? Should I open up about it tonight? I don’t want to ruin this night. There’s fear in me. I’m scared of ‘what ifs’. What if she couldn’t accept it or what if she’d ignored me already? I know, it isn’t a big deal since it was our first date. Yes, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

“Hey, you’re so quiet.” She said noticing the silence that surrounded us for a few moments.

“Uhm. I know I asked you this before, but let me ask you again.” I started while she listened to me attentively.

“Are you ready or open for a relationship this time? I mean, you know after years of being single.” I asked.

“Yeah, I am. Why?” she asked.

“How ready are you?” a silly question came out of my mouth. She chuckled and looked at me.

“I don’t know how to answer that. But if there’ll be a man who will bravely love me for who I am, then, I’ll give my whole heart out.” She answered. I changed the topic by deciding to take a picture of us.

“Let’s take a photo,” I said and took out my phone.

“Who is that kid?” she asked seeing the photo of a kid on my home screen.

“She’s my daughter,” I responded proudly leaving her in shock and making her stop walking and look at me with a confused look. I just wished that I shouldn’t have told her about it now.

Avery’s POV

“She’s my daughter.” That sentence echoed in my ear and gave me a different feeling to the point that it froze my feet and flashed a confused look at him. I was shocked but why did he just tell me that now after talking to me for a few weeks now? He has a kid. He is a father. Is he married? Am I going to be a mistress? No way!