“Are you okay?” he asked as they stepped onto the sidewalk.
She blinked up at him, realizing she had slowed her pace. “Yeah. Sorry. These shoes are a hate crime, and my feet are their victims.”
He smiled, and she realized it was a bit crooked. She liked it because it made him seem a little less perfect. “Say the word, and we’ll find somewhere close. I promise, there is no suffering required for our dinner date tonight.” That simple consideration loosened something in her chest, making her feel a bit more relaxed about their date.
“That would be great, thank you,” she breathed.
He nodded, “I know just the place,” he offered, holding out his hand to her. She looked it over, trying to decide if she should take it or not, and decided that it was just a kind offer. Aliza reached for his hand, and he linked their fingers together. She wasn’t sure why that simple gesture made her entire body tingle, but it did.
They ended up at a quiet bistro a few blocks away, tucked between a bookstore and a closed flower shop. Candlelight flickered between them as they slid into a booth in the back of the restaurant, and for a moment, Aliza didn’t know whatto do with her hands. She began fidgeting with the silverware and dropped the spoon on the floor. Having half the restaurant turn around to find out who made such a racket was beyond embarrassing. She was blowing the whole night, but that shouldn’t surprise her.
“So,” she said finally, exhaling as she willed herself to leave the rest of her flatware alone. “I should probably tell you I don’t usually bid on men.”
“I’ll admit,” he said dryly, “that’s a relief.” She laughed and found herself relaxing a bit. He wasn’t interrogating her as most of her dates did. As soon as the guys who took her out sat down across from her, they’d start questioning her as though she were on a job interview. He wasn’t posturing. He just looked curious, like he genuinely wanted to know her.
Conversation came easier than it had any right to. They talked about safe things at first—food, the absurdity of the auction, and Dani’s excitement about her new job. Elias didn’t ask where Aliza worked and questioned her as though she were on trial. When she mentioned school, he didn’t make a joke about it, as most people did.
“That takes guts,” he said when she explained about going back for her graduate degree. “Knowing you’re not ready to go into the workforce, and doing something about it instead of forcing yourself into a life that doesn’t fit.” Her throat tightened. No one had ever framed it like that before. He made her life feel valid with just a few sentences, and for that, she was thankful.
As dinner stretched on, the questions deepened—favorite books, late-night habits, and things that kept them up when the world went quiet. Aliza found herself admitting things she usually kept locked away. Things like the fact that she felt behind when it came to living her life because she was afraid of choosing wrong and waking up ten years from now, resentful and stuck in a life she didn’t want.
Elias listened, really listened. He didn’t offer her advice with quick fixes or judge her in any way. When he spoke about his work, it wasn’t with arrogance. He told her about the long hours and the stress of his responsibilities. He even told her about the rule he’d made for himself about not dating anyone at the hospital because lines blurred too easily.
“I don’t want to be someone’s fantasy,” he said quietly. “I want to be me.” Something warm spread through her chest. Aliza had expected awkwardness, sure, but what she was surprised by was the easy conversation they had instead.
“Yeah, I heard that the nurses call you Doctor Daddy,” she said. His face turned bright red, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or feel bad for even bringing up his nickname.
“Yeah, I’ve heard about that. I hate the nickname, but if I make a fuss, they just say it more, so I try to ignore it. That name is one of the main reasons why I don’t date hospital employees,” he admitted. She wanted to say that it was a good thing that she wasn’t a hospital employee, but she refrained from saying those words out loud.
By the time dessert arrived—shared, because neither of them could decide on just one—Aliza realized she didn’t want the night to end, and that scared her more than the auction had. She had promised Dani that tonight was just going to be dinner and them parting ways, but a part of her hoped that wasn’t how things were going to play out.
Outside, the air was cold and sobering in the best way. They walked the few blocks back to the hospital, and Elias walked her to her car, stopping just close enough that she could feel the heat from him. She realized that her hand was still in his, and she pulled hers free to fish through her purse for her keys, trying to give herself something to do other than think about him kissing her.
“So,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “This part is usually awkward.”
She smiled softly. “Usually, but it doesn’t have to be since this was just dinner for a good cause.”
“What if I wanted it to be more?” he asked. “I’d like to see you again,” he continued. Her heart kicked hard against her ribs as she overthought what she should say next.
“I’d like that,” she finally said, surprising herself with how sure she sounded. He hesitated—just a second—then leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. It was respectful, controlled, and somehow more intimate than anything she had ever experienced.
“Can I call you?” he asked.
“Um, yes,” she said. “Give me your phone,” she ordered, holding out her hand. He smiled, pulled his cell out of his jacket pocket, and handed it over to her. She put her information into his contacts and handed it back to him. Elias pushed the call button, and her phone rang in her purse.
“Just checking,” he said.
“You thought that I’d give you fake information?” she asked.
He shrugged, “It’s happened,” he admitted. “I’ll give you a call in a day or so. I have a long shift tomorrow, but maybe we could do something this weekend, if you’re free.” She had no real plans, besides studying, but she wasn’t going to admit that to him. Aliza didn’t want to seem desperate, even if she was.
As she drove home later, Aliza replayed the night in her mind, a mix of disbelief and quiet excitement humming through her veins. She had good dates before, but this one was more than that. She never really bothered with serious boyfriends because she was too busy with school. Besides, most guys only wanted one thing from her, and she wasn’t ready to give that to anyone—not yet, at least.
She hadn’t planned on any of this though. She hadn’t planned on him. But for the first time in a long while, the uncertainty didn’t feel like something she needed to run from. It felt like a possibility—a good one.
Elias
He had spent the night debating about how long he needed to wait to call Aliza to ask her for another date. He decided that he needed to hold off for about twenty-four hours, but then, she was fair game. Maybe he was moving quickly, but he didn’t care. He liked Aliza, and he didn’t want to wait to see her again.
