Another Chance In Progress

7 Chad

Alin comes out of the building, and I rejoice in the sight of her. Her red hair it's up in a messy but classy bun, I know she's wearing some kind of makeup, but I can only tell by the long eyelashes and nude lipstick. She's wearing a black dress that goes a little bellow her knees and huggs her curves and black stilettos. She's showing little skin, but I know what lies underneath that dress, a delicious milky skin that I long to touch.

I'm against my car, waiting for her, and jump slightly when she arrives, attacking her lips with my hand divided between the back of her head and her waist. This woman does things to me...

She's the first to break the kiss.

- So... Where are you taking me?

- If you weren't just out of work, I'd take you home... But we'll settle with Precious for now, have you been there? - I ask her.

- I did, and I love it.

- Let's go, then, love.

I, Chad Creston, open the car's door for her earning a cute smile that I've been aching to see since this morning and take us to the restaurant. The space it's full, but I have a reservation that I booked as soon as the place opened this morning so, when we go in, the lady at the door shows us to our table.

- Can I bring something to drink? - She asks while leaving the menu.

I turn to Alin.

- Will you join me? I'll have a Martini.

She smiles wide and nods.

- Both plain with ice, please. - I tell the waitress and she takes her leave.

There's a lot that I want to ask her, but I'm afraid that I'll scare her away with my questions. She seems particularly unavailable to questions about her private life, or maybe she did before because we were not acquainted... Well, we still aren't, but we'll never be if she's not able to talk about her.

- What's bothering you, Chad? - as if reading my mind, she interrupts my brainstorm, looking at me with amusement.

- What makes you think something's bothering me?

- For starters, you are great leading conversation and your quite, like the calm before the storm. - she giggles.

- Seconds, I know you have questions, I do too, so what's keeping you from asking?

- I have a lot of them, and honestly, I'm scared that I'll scare you away. - Now we both laugh a little, but I let my curious part win. - Your office, what is that you do for a living?

I try to start somewhere, even though that it's not the one thing I'm curious about the most. We take a moment to read the menu.

- I'm an engineer. It took me a while to get there, I finished my degree last year, after year away from school. We take part on small and original projects, that's my specialty. - I can see the glow in her eyes and I know, right now, that this woman it's proud about her accomplishments.

- So you are beautiful and successful. That takes me to another question... - she looks at me expectant. - Why have you been alone 'till now? Was it a choice of yours?

- How can I explain this to you?... - she starts but it's interrupted by the waitress that brings our drinks and asks us for our request.

We take the sea food platter.

- The woman that you've met yesterday and that you're meeting now isn't quit me. - When I look at her quizzically, she continues - Before this weekend my life revolved around my job, my house and my kids. I don't really have the time to go out, you know? This weekend happened because my mom went away and decided that she wanted the girls with her, but it's not something that usually happens. And it will go back to it, that's the real me.

- So, you're a full time mom and home fairy and entrepreneur. - I ask smirking. - No dating online or anything?

- Hell no, that's disastrous. I lose my temper before the first date. - she says and we both laugh. - Am I the one scaring you away?

- Do you want me to be honest? - I ask her.

- I wouldn't expect anything else.

- All my life I've dated party girls, so when I thought about settling it became a mess. Lilly was not one able to work, maintain the house and Ryan, and that's okay. I'm not that kind of man that would arrive from work and sit on the couch, I tried to to help, but things started to escalate quickly because she would want to go out with her friends and would end up leaving us for second. - she's looking at me sympathetically and I talk. I felt I could trust her and be me, with all my flaws. - It became a very difficult task to come home. She would go out occasionally first, but it became more regular and I spent more time alone with Ryan than I was supposed to. Our s****l activity? That was a joke.

- That sounds really... Out of place. - she says.

- How come? - I ask her, taking a sip form my drink.

- Well, supposedly, that happens the other way around. Or at least, that's what people think.

- I guess so... Don't get me wrong, I have my fair share of flaws and I know I ain't perfect, but I knew that wasn't right.

The waitress brings our food and we ask for some white whine. Conversation flows naturally and I learn that she's a fan of sea food, that though she's drinking with me she avoids alcohol and she's very careful with her feeding. I also learn that Neusa and Núria are two little rascals that love to take her to her limit but that she'd do anything for them. To be honest, the kind of education she gives them it's inspiring. The kids help her on basic tasks like, taking the dishes from the table, laundry, they make their own beds and swipe the floors!

Meanwhile, and because they are so small, they skipp Scholl sometimes, when mom's home.

I wish Ryan could have such an example of a mother. He spends to much time with my in laws and practically lives there. Lilly doesn't have what it takes to be with him full time, she loves the night too much.

- Am I talking too much? I feel like I'm talking too much. - she talks to me, embarrassed.

- Not at all, love. I like the sound of your voice and the fact that you talk with so much passion about your little girls. - I have to smile.