“Good.Now what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Well, my father seemed very excited about his date the other night.In fact, I haven’t seen him this happy since being with my mother.I am thrilled for him, though I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to sabotage this relationship like he has so many others.”
Kalliopi took a sip of coffee before responding.
“How so?”
“He has a really weird rule about dating no one past a third date.I can’t help but wonder if he came up with it so he wouldn’t get hurt after Mom died.Of course, I’m only speculating.But his dating life hasn’t been a dinner conversation, like ever, only it was the other day when we dined.He’s never talked about anyone he’s dated before, so the other day was a first.I’ve never met anyone he’s dated, either.He’s rarely brought anyone home.The few times he has, they’d leave before I woke up for breakfast.”
“He only dates someone for three dates?Like, that’s it?”
“Yeah.Just three.My guess is he’s still hurt about losing Mom.He’s probably afraid of getting attached.But I also think he doesn’t want me hurt either.It would’ve devastated me if he had dated someone and then they had broken up when I was a kid.”
“Well, I understand that.I mean, after I dated this narcissistic asshole last year, I haven’t exactly wanted to get back on the horse in any serious sense.Well, until now, if I’m being honest.”
Jewel’s eyes brightened.“Really?Okay, now you have to spill!”
“Okay, but I’m leaving out some parts because you are like half my age, and I don’t want to gross myself out along with you, okay?”
“Sounds perfectly fair.So, spill already.”
“Well, first, the guy knows my best friend on Milos and grilled her about all of my favorite things!So he gave me, well, basically a welcome basket at the place where I’m staying.He stocked the fridge with my favorite wine, got my favorite bath scents, you get it, right?”
“Oh, my God!That’s so romantic!No guy I’ve ever dated has done that for me.I’m so jealous right now!But continue!”
“So then he picked me up in a sports car, and I was weak in the knees because I adore sports cars, especially classic ones.I love cruise nights, and something tells me he does, too, because he told me he restored the car himself.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s always a fun date!And I’m a total fan of restoring cars.Dad taught me a thing or two about cars when he restored his.”
“Now we’ve got something else in common!I’m a gearhead thanks to my dad, too.”
“YAS, girl!”Jewel said as she high-fived Kalliopi’s hand.“So what else happened?”
“We went to shoot pool on our first date.”
“Pool?Really?Mr.Casanova didn’t take you to a Michelin-star restaurant?”
Kalliopi shook her head.“I told him I want to keep things casual while I’m here.I don’t like all the fuss on a date.Makes me feel like I have to perform when I’m at a fancy place.Beers, burgers, and a good bar atmosphere are all I require for a date.”
“Okay, so it sounds like this guy is ticking a lot of the boxes for you.”
Kalliopi nodded again.“He had, but work got in the way and we had to cancel the date after one game of pool and a beer.”
“Oh, that sucks!”
“Yeah.I wasn’t thrilled about that.But we still had an ‘Intraflix and Chill’ type of date that night, so I can’t complain.”
“Now that’s a nice way to end a date.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t have time to learn more about each other.I hoped we could do that on date two, but that’s technically on the back burner because of Zagan, too.I can’t help but wonder if we are doomed before we even start.You know, kinda like that three-date rule your dad has.I frankly haven’t made it past a third date recently.”
Jewel raised her coffee cup.“Here’s to making sure we all make it past date three sometime soon!”
Kalliopi clinked cups with Jewel just as Stan entered the cafe.
“Jewel?Good to see you, sweetheart,” said Stan.His eyes hadn’t met Kalliopi’s yet.
“Hey, Dad!This is my friend Kalliopi!”Jewel motioned in Kalliopi’s direction, and Kalliopi’s gaze dropped to the floor.
