Chapter 17: The first date

The next day, I was super nervous. It’s not like I haven't been on a date before, but it's been ages since the last one. I was so consumed by my work, that my private life, or to put it better, my love life was nonexistent. Work did its magic again; hence my morning passed by quick. During my lunch break, I gave Ethan a phone call, and we agreed to come and pick me up from my house at eight-thirty.

After work, I went straight to the gym to cool off a bit. Once home, I had a relaxing bath and then started getting ready. I paid extra attention to my hairstyle and makeup. The most difficult part was finding something to wear. Although I had a wardrobe full of clothes, nothing seemed appropriate to me. That’s why I called Izzie for help.

“Oh my! You have a date!” she yelled as soon as she heard my news.

“Yeah, that’s what I said,” I replied, rolling my eyes at her.

“Is it snowing there?”

“Izzie, it’s the middle of the summer! How could be snowing?!”

“Your last date was centuries ago, so I figured that something weird must have happened,” she shrugged.

I gave her a pointed look, but she seemed unbothered. “Oh, well, I think someone special happened. The man is sexy as fuck, he flirted with me and asked me on a date. How is it not snowing?” I exclaimed. I couldn’t believe that this was true.

“Oh, come on, Ophelia. Look yourself in the mirror. You’re drop-dead gorgeous, and hot men are always hitting on you; you’re just too blind to see them.”

“That may be a bit true,” I muttered to myself and paid a better look at my reflection. My dark locks were set in loose curls, my lips were painted red, and my eyes were glowing like two Sapphires.

“Now I’d opt for something elegant yet sexy. How about that black dress we bought during my last visit?” Izzie suggested, and I rummaged through my closet to find it.

I quickly put it on; it was a black, silk dress that stopped mid-thigh and hugged my curves perfectly.

“What do you think?” I asked Izzie and turned the phone, so she can see at the final look.

“I’d totally do you! You’re sexy as hell,” she complimented me, and I blushed a bit.

“Oh, shut it!” I chuckled.

“Put your 5-inch high heels and take that black clutch I gifted you for Christmas,” she instructed me.

Five minutes later I was ready. If it wasn’t for Izzie or my mom, I wouldn’t have a single dress to wear. My style was more casual, and I preferred wearing my jeans or leggings with tees or oversized sweaters. At work, I was supposed to wear my uniform, so dressing and getting dolled up it wasn’t in my daily routine.

I thanked Izzie for her help, and after she teased me some more, we hang up. I called my mom because I couldn’t stand watching the clock ticking. I told her that I was planning to go out, but I refrained to say with who. But I guess, it was meant to find out, eventually…

Three minutes before the agreed time I exited my apartment and went downstairs to wait for Ethan. He arrived on time with a beautiful yet expensive sports car. I got a bit intrigued about the way he acquired the car, but I didn’t dare to ask.

“You look ravishing, Ophelia,” Ethan said once he exited the car and helped me get into my seat.

“Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself, too,” I said while blushing. He was wearing a black suit, without a tie, the first bottoms of his white shirt undone.

He started the car and informed me that he had made a reservation in a restaurant. We had a small talk about our job; he was working in the homicides department. He seemed relaxed and not so full of himself, like when we met the previous day.

He parked the car in a familiar area. I was pretty sure that there was only one restaurant in that neighborhood, and once Rosa Bianca came into view, a small smile appeared on my lips. That was one hell of a coincidence.

“Rosa Bianca? Why did you choose this restaurant?” I asked; curiosity got the better of me.

“It’s one of my favorite restaurants. Haven’t you been here before?”

“Of course, I’ve been, many times, actually.”

He smiled at me and opened the door for me. Once inside the woman behind the front desk gave me a warm smile.

“Ophelia, what a pleasant surprise,” she said happily.

“Nice to see you, too, Jo,” I replied in the same tone.

“The place is packed, today. David is at the back, but I can call him if you want.”

“No, Jo, it’s okay. Actually, we have a reservation,” I said turning to face Ethan, who was observing our exchange with knitted eyebrows.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What is the name, please,” she said with her professional tone.

“Ethan Vitalis,” my date answered her, and Jo gave him a smile while eyeing him a bit more than usual.

“Sure, Mr. Vitalis, you’re at table nineteen,” she said, and a waiter led us to our table.

Some of the staff recognized me and gave me polite smiles and nods of acknowledgment. I tried to act as normal as possible.

“You’re on a first-name basis with the employees. I think you've eaten here more times than you want to admit,” Ethan remarked once we sat at our table.

“I was… working here, while I was studying at college,” I said and looked around me a bit awkward.

“That makes sense. What did you study at college?”

“Legal Justice.”

“And you always wanted to become a Police Officer?”

“Yeah, it was a decision that came somewhat naturally to me. What about you?”

“I started with Business studies and Management, but something happened and made reconsider my choices. So, I joined the Academy and you can guess the rest,” he said, looking distant for a moment.

“But you’re content now, aren’t you?"

“Yeah, I'm very happy with my job. I guess it was the best decision I took back then,” he said with a sad smile.

I wanted to ask what happened to make him reconsider his decision, but my good manners told me otherwise.

We order a bottle of wine and a salad, while the waiter informed us that he would be back to take the rest of our order.

“Are you from around here?” Ethan asked when we were alone again.

“I grew up, went to school, and studied at college in this city. I can’t imagine myself living anywhere else, at least for the time being.”

“I grew up in a small city about two hours from here. When I wanted to make a fresh start, I moved here. I know how you’re feeling; this city is magical.”

“Welcome to Rosa Bianca. I’m here to tell you the dish of the day, in case you’d like to have something different from our à la carte menu,” a familiar voice said, and once I looked up I saw David standing beside our table.

“David?” I exclaimed surprised, and he leaned in to give me a kiss on my forehead.

“Hello, Ophelia. I didn’t know you were coming,” he said with an amused expression.

“Neither did I. Ethan made the reservations,” I said looking at the man who was sitting in front of me. “David, this is Ethan, a detective at the homicide department. Ethan, please meet David, he’s my mother’s husband,” I made the introductions after a few moments of awkward silence.

David’s face was all serious all of a sudden, and kind of reminded me of the expression my grandfather had when he first met him. I could totally understand how my mom felt when she brought David home to meet my grandparents.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” said Ethan, and the two men exchange a firm handshake.

“The pleasure is all mine. Ophelia hasn’t mentioned you before,” David remarked, and I became red from embarrassment.

“Probably because we met each other yesterday,” Ethan explained since I couldn’t utter a single word. This must be the most awkward first date ever.

“Oh, I see. Now, what can I get for you?” David asked and gave me an amused wink.

We ordered our main courses, and David left. Ethan gave me a questioning look; I had some explaining to do.

“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know that we were coming here. My family members can be a little overprotective.”

“How about you take things from the beginning?” he suggested.

“This is one of my grandfather’s restaurants. My mom started managing them many years ago. David was a new chef and they started dating. One thing led to the other and they got married.”

“So, he isn’t your dad?” he asked trying to find the right words.

“I’ve never met my father; my biological father. David has been the closest to a paternal figure I’ve had,” I replied.

“Did your father died or something?”

“Nope. He’s a jerk who broke up with my mother the moment he found out she was pregnant; he wasn’t ready to make a family. Anyway, I grew up with my mother and my grandparents. Then, David and his son, Christopher, came into my life. They’re my family,” I said with a small smile on my lips.

“You’re lucky. Unlike you, I had the perfect childhood with two very loving and caring parents, but then all hell broke loose. A terrible accident happened, and both were killed,” he said his eyes dark with pain, guilt, and something I couldn’t put my finger on.

“I had no idea. This must be horrible. I’m so sorry for your loss, Ethan,” I whispered, and without thinking twice, I grabbed his hand and squeezed it in a comforting manner.

He looked surprised for a moment, but then he fixed his gaze again on me. “It’s been so many years. I want to believe that I’ve finally started to find my own way.”

“Of course, you will. Always remember that they'll be with you,” I added trying to hold back my tears.

“You speak like you’ve lost someone close to you.”

“I hadn’t, but Chris did. He had a very difficult time accepting his mom’s death. That’s why you decided to move away from your hometown?”

He nodded, “I wanted to make a fresh start, and I don’t regret the decision I took,” he said, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

Something was bothering me. I had the feeling that Ethan’s story was more complicated than he said. But then again it was very soon to trust me and tell me more. I could always read his memories, although I’d prefer not to interfere with my supernatural staff into our relationship.

The rest of the dinner past by in a more pleasant atmosphere. We talked about our interests besides our job. He loved to exercise, and he used to play chess. He liked adventure movies or thrillers. He didn’t like cooking, but he was forced to learn the basics so he can prepare some healthy meals. I liked him more and more, and he seemed to enjoy my company.

 “This must have been the weirdest first date ever,” I said once I took the last bite of my delicious dessert.

“Well, I brought us to your grandpa’s restaurant, and I met your stepdad. I don’t think it was weird at all…” he said, and we burst into laughers.

He drove me back home, and we were listening to some all-time classic songs the radio played. The silence between us was comforting this time, not awkward. He stopped in front of my house, and that was my cue to go, or invited him in. I didn't want him to think that was another easy laid, and to be honest, I wanted something more than a one-night thing.

“I had a wonderful night, Ethan,” I muttered and turned to look at him. His eyes were a bit darker than usual and they wandered on my face to stop on my lips.

“Me, too, Ophelia,” he said, his voice a bit hoarser than before.

“So, I guess I’ll see you around,” I told him and opened the door to step out of the car.

“Ophelia,” I heard him whisper, and he grabbed my arm to pull me towards him. I turned around perplexed, and before I even know, his lips were on mine…