Chapter 11

David’s second date with Callie was everything he thought it would be. They talked for two hours over enormous servings of Picanha, Fraldinha, Frango, and other meats at a Brazilian steakhouse where conversation and smiles flowed easily, and it was the first truly pleasant evening he’d had in a while. Callie was smart, vivacious, attentive, and sweet; and she was hanging onto every word he said. Still, for reasons he could not explain, it was a pair of dark, round eyes that haunted him as he walked her home along the crowded city street. He could not get them out of his mind, no matter how often she laughed at one of his silly jokes or nodded her approval and understanding at something he said. It was driving a wedge between him and the beautiful woman hanging on his arm, but he couldn’t help it.

“You seem a little distracted.” Callie elbowed him gently when they stopped at a crosswalk outside her building.

“A character flaw, I think.” How could I be so stupid? She’s obviously enjoying herself, don’t screw this up.

“Maybe not a flaw, but a sign.” The signal turned white, and the crowd swept them across the street.

“What do you mean?” he asked when they were safely back on the sidewalk.

“Well,” she shrugged, “maybe you’re distracted for a reason. Your heart is elsewhere. I don’t know where, and maybe you don’t either. I like you, David. But I won’t settle for someone who isn’t as interested as I am in our relationship. And I won’t waste time waiting for you to catch up.”

Women were smart. Or maybe it was just him. Sarah was smart for dumping him. His pen pal always knew what to say. Callie was smart for cutting him loose. “How is it women are so perceptive and wise?” He smiled, the chilly air driving an icy coolness down his throat and chest.

“You're perceptive, too. I’ve seen you stop twice tonight to help people who needed it – the woman who wanted directions and that guy who left his phone at the restaurant. You knew what I needed the day we met at the coffee shop. Don’t sell yourself short.”

“Well,” he said, stopping in front of her apartment building. “Maybe you’re right.” He sighed, looking her square in the eye. “And I wouldn’t want you to settle, either.” Can I not rise to the occasion for anyone? Even her?

“Am I right?” She gazed up at him, being several inches shorter than he was. Her soft eyes and smiling lips begged him to kiss her to prove he was serious. As much as he wanted to, his heart wasn’t in it, and she deserved better than that.

“I think so. You are amazing and deserve someone who would never let a moment with you be taken for granted. I have a bad habit of taking things for granted.”

“Things will change when you meet the right person.” She winked. “I had a wonderful time tonight – one I won’t forget. Thank you.” She turned slowly, and he watched as she walked through the door to her building without looking back.

Alone again, he walked off toward his apartment, ambling along a route he knew would take him by the coffee shop, so he could stop and ponder the blonde barista's power over him. How did she manage to unknowingly come between him and his date? It should have been impossible for him not to pay attention to Callie, captivating as she was. She was there in front of him; real, tangible, and interested in dating him. Lizzy was some stranger that worked at a coffee shop he visited. Whether she was single, married, lazy, or crazy, he didn’t know. He knew nothing about her. Maybe he should get to know her; he might put this ridiculous infatuation to rest. Or maybe she was worth getting to know.

There was the little problem that he sabotaged everything. He sabotaged his relationship with Sarah. He sabotaged his work. He sabotaged his date. He sabotaged his relationship with his parents. Maybe he should stay far away from Lizzy, in case she was a decent girl. In case he sabotaged that, too.

The cold air had turned his fingers numb, and the tip of his nose stung when he reached the coffee shop window. He didn’t see Lizzy from where he stood, so instead of lingering or going inside, he continued his trek home, meandering slowly through a crowd of people who looked as miserable as he felt. Is it just my destiny to be disappointed in life? He knew it would pass, it always did, but for the moment, his excitement had completely dissipated.

He took out his phone and texted Em.

The date ended badly. Back to square one. 😒

Hopefully, the emoji would make him seem less desperate. He laughed as he sent it, at how pathetic it was to get so wrapped up in one date.

I’m sorry. If it was dinner, I hope you at least got a good meal.

He laughed again.

Dinner was excellent. And so was the date. I’m the problem here – I always am. It was a waste of time.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Did you learn anything new?

He learned something; he learned how stupid he could be. He learned he could waste a wonderful evening with a beautiful girl. He learned his infatuation with a blonde barista was more intense than he thought.

I guess.

Then it wasn’t wasted.

If only that were true. But at least he had managed to not waste more time pursuing something that would wind up being wrong again. It was more than he had done for Sarah.

Are you always this optimistic?

My friends say I am.

He was glad when he reached his apartment, a welcome reprieve from the cold. He turned on the electric kettle and prepared a cup of chamomile tea before searching his phone for an audiobook to listen to while he caught up on the laundry he’d neglected all week. A message flashed across the top of the screen, and he opened it.

You still took a chance, and that’s admirable, especially after a breakup. And if you didn’t come away empty-handed, it wasn’t a complete loss.

Being empty-handed was subjective. He felt empty. But he had learned something else: he had to talk to Lizzy before he’d be able to get her out of his head.

You aren’t wrong. Have I told you thank you? If I haven’t, then…thank you.

It wasn’t a bad way to look at things, to see the benefit in them, however small and unexpected. Whatever he learned tonight was preparing him for something better. He could apply this elsewhere, too. Maybe his time as a financial analyst was just one massive step to the next level. Nearly ten years pursuing one career hadn’t been useless; he had learned a lot about himself in that time – his strengths, his weaknesses, and his ability to influence people around him. He could use this information wherever he landed next.