"Hey," Melanie said, breathlessly, not really sure what else to say. Not only did she suck at dating, but she hadn't been in the dating game for a long time now. She was nervous and didn't know what to say. How was she going to start a conversation without it being awkward?
"Hey, Melanie, and thanks for inviting me," Damon said, and hugged her. Melanie took in his cologne, a rich woody scent filling her nostrils. He smelt good, and he looked good. And after a few years of the single life, it felt good to be in the arms of a man. This was what she should want— a man. Nervously, Melanie pulled back, stepping out of the doorway to let Damon inside.
"I hope you don't mind. I brought this," Damon said, raising a wine bottle up. "It's white wine. I hope that's okay."
"No, it's fine," Melanie said, grabbing the bottle from him and carrying it into the kitchen. "It'll go perfect with the dinner I cooked."
"And what you cooked looks damn good," Damon said as he examined the plates on the dining room table. While he did that, Melanie looked through her drawer for a corkscrew. "You know, I was really happy when you called me. I wasn't sure if you were feeling me or not."
To be honest, Melanie wasn't sure either, and even now, she still wasn't. But what she was sure of was that she needed to do something after the realization of her growing feelings for Noah; what better way to get over her feelings than finding someone new. She wasn't yet sure if this thing with Damon would go anywhere, but it could be a start. He didn't necessarily check off all of her boxes, but she was now starting to realize that her check off list was holding her back, so much so that it gave her the opportunity to fall for someone she shouldn't. When Melanie realized her feelings for Noah, Damon was the first person to come to mind, and yesterday, she called him up after her last class and asked him if he wanted to have dinner.
Usually, on her first date with a man, they would go out to dinner at a restaurant. But this date was different for her. Melanie wanted something fun, something new, something sexy and less serious. For the first time in her life, she wasn't dating for marriage, but for fun. Damon seemed like he could be that guy for her. He was handsome and seemed kind enough. According to Abigail, a good fling could take her mind off everything else around her. And though Melanie's way of life was by not following her friend's way of life, for the first time, she was taking her advice. But then again, Melanie would have to see if they would even get that far tonight. Flings and one-night stands had never been her thing.
"No, it's not that," Melanie said reassuringly. "I'm just not that forward." Which was the truth. When it came down to her work life, she took life by the hands itself, but when it came down to romance, she wasn't the same way. It wasn't something she could necessarily control in the way she could control work.
"You're the shy type," Damon said, grinning as though it was a good thing.
"I'm not that shy," Melanie said, finding the corkscrew before she grabbed two wine glasses and headed over to the table. "I'm more so reserved."
"If you say so," Damon said as he took the seat across from her. In front of him were homemade mashed potatoes, fish, and chopped broccoli.
"Let's eat," Melanie said, smiling.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Damon said jokingly as he dug into his food. They ate in comfortable silence, maybe slightly uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before he spoke.
"So, what made you choose psychology?"
"Originally, when I went to college, I had a pre-law major," Melanie said, chuckling as she thought back on her first year in college and the dreams she had come with. "I thought I was going to be this kick-ass lawyer, but I took a psychology course, and the moment I took it, I was fascinated. There was just something about learning about the human brain and how it related to our actions and the choices we made that was interesting to me. By the end of my first semester, I changed my major and never looked back."
"It's really hard to imagine that you would have possibly been a lawyer."
"It's hard for me to imagine too. I wanted to do it because my father was a lawyer. I kind of wanted to follow in his footsteps, but then, eventually, I found my own path."
"Was he disappointed?" Damon asked, and Melanie gave him a look that caused him to laugh. "I'm guessing that's a yes."
"My dad was devastated when I told him I was changing my major. Till this day, I still don't hear the end of it even though he's retired himself. I really wanted to be a lawyer, but I kind of realized I was never passionate about it. I just more so wanted to please my father by doing it."
"I'm glad you found the right path," Damon said. "Sometimes, people don't find it until way later in their life, the things they really want."
Melanie nodded in agreement, for a second, wondering what her life would have been if she had become a lawyer. She was certain she would have been well off, but she wouldn't have been happy, and that was definitely not something she would want to trade in this lifetime ever.
"What about you?" Melanie asked. "Always had a thing for cars?"
The rest of their conversation went like that. Back and forth, tossing out questions to get a feeling of one another until they made their way from the dining room to the living room where they both sat on the couch drinking the rest of the wine Damon brought.
This was nice. Damon was nice. This was what she needed— a nice man in her life to take her mind off everything else. But something was missing. She couldn't put a name to it, but though the date was going nice— they were having conversation, avoiding awkward pauses, laughing and having a good time— something was missing. What was it?
"Are you going to the next game?" Damon asked.
"Huh?" Melanie asked, coming back to reality from her own thoughts.
"The next hockey game," Damon elaborated. "It must be awesome having one of your students be the star hockey player. Noah will be going places soon. Maybe he'll shout you out when he goes pro."
That's what was missing. Melanie tried to tamp down the uncomfortable feeling in her chest just hearing his name. For the past week, she'd been doing her best to create distance between herself and Noah because she needed to. She needed to draw a line in the sand for good. It's what was best for them both. Melanie was sure of it.
"Are you going to be at the next game?" Melanie asked flirtatiously, insinuating that she would only go if he did. Damon smiled, catching on to her hint as he reached over and grabbed her hand, caressing it within his own.
Melanie was determined. She would not let her feelings control her.
