‘So did I,’ she whaled.
‘I love you for more than the feeling Emma. I know I was an absolute dick in the past. I want to know you forever, I want you in my life forever, I am sure of that I can tell you,’ I said, reaching out for her hand, squeezing it tight, her tears made my eyes well but I gulped them back.
We sat in silence for a full minute in the car, it felt like a lifetime.
‘I’m sorry. I’m just, really anxious about going to your place, more than I like to admit,’ she finally said. ‘I have so many emotions running around my body right now.’
‘Would you like me to take you back home?’ I asked.
Emma took a deep breath and sat up in the passenger seat. ‘No, I still want to come. I want to come to your place. I need to come to your place. I want to see what it feels like to be back there.’
‘Are you sure?’ I asked again.
She smiled and reached for my hand. ‘I’m sure. I’m sorry, it just, I can’t explain it, this fear coming down here, it took over me.’
‘Are you hungry?’ I said, looking at the time. It had just hit 6.20 p.m. and we were about thirty minutes away from my place.
‘I am starting to get a little hungry.’ Her voice softened and she placed her hand on my knee, looking right at me with apologetic eyes.
‘I think I’m going to take us straight to dinner,’ I said, leaning in to kiss her forehead, lingering my lips there a little longer, I started the car and drove back onto the highway.
The rest of the car ride was silent between us as together we listened to my mate’s new released beats through the car speakers. We pulled up outside an old brick building painted white. From the street, the building lacked signage, but the restaurant didn’t need it, the mystery was a part of its character as it built its customers on loyalty and word of mouth. It was my favourite authentic Italian place that I used to visit regularly. I couldn’t remember the last time I came here. I knew Emma would love it.
‘Are you ready for the best pizza you’ve ever had in your life?’ I said, Emma gazed into the glass doors of the building in front of us, curious.
‘The best pizza, I have ever had in my life. That’s a pretty big call to make,’ she said. Her energy had changed; she had cleared her tears and she seemed happy again.
‘That’s how confident I am about it,’ I said, flashing her a cheeky smirk. We both hopped out of the car at the same time. I put my hand around her waist as we walked around the front door. It looked the same as the last time I was here. The ceilings were high, but the restaurant was dimly lit and moody. A large bar stood in the middle of the open restaurant. Black tables and chairs took up the floor space and private booths were in each corner of the large square space. The back wall was an open kitchen and you could watch the Italian chefs cook their woodfired creations.
‘Hey guys, how can I help you today?’ A tall thin waiter walked up to us as we stood at the door; Emma was still looking around taking the whole place in.
‘Hey man, we don’t have a booking but do you have any booths free?’ I asked.
‘Back left is now reserved for you guys,’ he said so casually as he walked us to a booth at the back of the restaurant.’ The seats were black leather, I loved the layout of the place, it was sexy and moody. There was weird art on the walls that I appreciated. I didn’t understand some of the designs and shapes, but they were fun and different. Emma looked around at awe of them, all hung up in different corners of the restaurant before sat down in the booth opposite me.
‘I’ll come back with some menus.’ The waiter said as he sat a bottle of water with two glasses on the table and hurried off again. Emma was smiling, I knew she would love it here.
‘I asked a waiter once years ago what some of the pictures were meant to be and he had explained to me how each piece was done by an abstract Italian artist,’ I said.
‘Abstract is something I’ve been looking at maybe playing around with next, they’re amazing pieces,’ she said, her dimples gleamed.
The waiter came back over and passed us some menus.
‘Can I get you guys anything to drink?’ he asked.
‘Let’s get a bottle of champagne,’ I said.
‘What are we celebrating?’ she asked.
‘Since when are you someone who needs a reason to celebrate.’ I winked at her.
I turned to the waiter. ‘Get us a bottle of whatever you recommend.’
‘Certainly,’ he said as he scurried off to the bar.
‘What’s your go-to pizza?’ I asked Emma.
‘I don’t know if I have a ‘go-to’ anything,’ she said, ‘I like to mix it up, too much of the one thing gets boring.’ I wasn’t surprised by her answer, Emma was never predictable. Although she was structured, disciplined, and smart, she was refreshing and new.
