7. Sara

Chapter seven

Sara

"So? How did it go?"

Katie stops the car in the apartment parking lot, turning to me.

"It's a lot, actually."

"Well, tell me! I need the details."

"I mean, maybe inside?"

"Oh, come on, Sara! You can't go out on a date with that hot hunk and not have stories to share."

"We just went to dinner. It's not that big of a deal."

I'm kidding myself by saying those words. The date with Robert was magical, to say the least. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I went on a date that was fun. The few I've gone on recently were lame, and I wanted to leave before the end of the evening.

With Robert, I didn't want to. It's like I was whisked away to a magical world, one that consisted of just the two of us. I'd do it again, too, the second I got a chance, I think hopefully.

Katie practically sprints up the stairs to the door when we get home. I hobble up each step, this close to kicking off the heels. I know Katie likes them because they make me appear "tall and sexy," but these things hurt. The moment we get inside, I strip off the shoes, relieved to be back on solid ground.

She walks to the kitchen and pours two cups of hot chocolate, sitting them down on the table. "Here. Drink. You know what we do. Hot chocolate and spilling the beans."

I sit down, holding the cup in my hands. It's warm and inviting. There are even a couple of mini marshmallows in there.

"Yum, just the way I like it." But I'm so full from dinner that I can barely take even a sip.

"All right, let's cut to the chase. So, how'd it go?" she asks.

I pause, trying to find the correct words.

"Magical. I don't know how best to describe it besides that."

Katie whistles, taking a sip. "Magical, huh?"

"Yeah. And I found out that he's a billionaire."

Katie's hands nearly drop the hot cocoa with that one. She places it down on the table and then turns to me.

"Okay, you've got to be pulling my leg. A billionaire, Sara, really?"

"I'm not lying! He is," I insist. I mean, I saw it myself. I even heard it.

"Wow. How in the world did you get so lucky?"

"I don't know. Maybe the universe just wants to bring me some joy or something."

"Yeah. Give me a bit of that energy."

"You know I would if I could," I reply.

We both laugh, taking sips of our hot chocolate. I put it down, gazing into space.

"It's more than that, though. Sure, he's rich, but he's so down to earth. He doesn't act like your stereotypical rich guy," I explain.

"I see. Then it's more like a Bruce Wayne-type of experience."

I shake my head. "No, he's kind of quiet and doesn't really say much, but I can sense it. He's not a bad guy, just . . . ."

"Unapproachable."

"Not really. We had a great time. In fact, I feel like he actually likes me."

"I see. So, it isn't just payback for screwing up the order then."

"I don't think so," I reason.

The date was different from what I had imagined. We actually had a conversation, something I didn't anticipate whatsoever.

"He's just really cool, and well, the billionaire thing is nice, but it's not everything."

"Yeah, you've never been the money-hungry type."

"Course not! And I think he appreciates that."

Money is important, but it's not everything. For me, it's a part of life, but not the main character. It warms my heart to see his eyes light up, even so slightly.

"I don't know, it just felt so nice, like something out of a fairy tale."

"Careful now, don't go falling in love."

"Of course not!" I state, standing up, but I sit down a second later, realizing how passionate I feel. "It just was nice to realize he's not a bad guy."

"Yeah, I'm guessing under the surface, he isn't so bad."

"He's not."

Katie stretches her arms and yawns. I look at the clock, seeing it's nearly midnight.

"Still, though, it's amazing that you two hit it off like that. Maybe you guys will have a second date."

I pause, thinking about that. I'm not against the idea, but there are a few things to work out.

"I don't know."

"Come on, Sara, it's been a few years. You were eighteen when that happened."

"I know, but—"

"You've done the school stuff. You're working at the sanctuary. Maybe it's time for you to consider dating again?"

I want to. Deep down in the depths of my heart, if Robert called me right now and asked me out on another date, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. However, I know that won't happen.

"I'm not sure. He didn't seem like he wanted a second date."

"Okay, that's a total lie."

"How do you know?"

She turns to me and grins.

"Because when you got out of the car, I saw that dude smiling."

"No way."

"Yeah, dude was smiling. It was a small one, but I caught it. He likes you, hun, and he just stinks at showing it."

Maybe Katie's right. Maybe he likes me more than I thought.

"He's got an interesting way of showing it."

"Well, let him be interesting. But what matters is that you had fun, Sara. Did you?"

I nod. "I enjoyed myself far more than I expected."

"Well, boom! There you go. Maybe call him sometime during the week and ask him about what he wants to do next."

"Eh, maybe. I prefer just letting him come to me."

Katie groans, facepalming at my words. "I swear, you're going to miss every opportunity you have, you know."

"How is it missing? I'm just being prudent."

"Yeah, and prudency means you're not taking the chances you get."

"It also means that I'm not falling into traps." I retort.

"Ugh, true," Katie mutters, annoyed by my words. "Anyway, I guess you'll just wait and see?"

"Yes, that's just what I plan to do." I get up, yawning as I feel tiredness overtake me. "I'm getting a little bit tired."

"That, or you're trying to weasel your way out of continuing the conversation."

Katie laughs and stands up. She grabs the empty hot chocolate cups and sets them in the sink, then yawns a moment later, covering her mouth.

"Darn, you've got me doing it now too."

"It's late. I've got a shift first thing Monday, but I plan to go to the sanctuary and ride my horse sometime tomorrow."

"Okay, get some sleep. We'll talk more about your little crush in the morning," she replies, winking before she retires to her own room. The door closes, and I head to my room in the back. As I open the door and turn on the light, I see the twin-sized bed with a horse blanket over the top of it. Sure, the blanket's immature, but it's been something I've kept since I was a kid. It's helped me through a lot of difficult times.

Including my ex.

I get ready for bed; the usual teeth brushing is joined by some very unusual hair needs. I pull out the curls, hissing slightly as I brush through the hairspray. Guess I'll leave the fancy hairdos for very infrequent times! I crawl into bed a few minutes later and lie there, thinking about today's events and about Robert.

I shared something special with him. To say it's magical is an understatement. I've never felt this sure of my feelings this quickly before, and I want to indulge in them again. It was just one night, but the energy between us felt like something other than a singular date.

When I close my eyes and think about what happened, I realize that I want a second date so badly. He's perfect, really. Despite being gruff and uninviting at our first meeting, I know now that he means well. He's a total softie at heart if I've ever seen one.

But I'm prudent. As much as I want this to work out, there's a part of me that worries about the potential for this. Sure, it might progress, but can I fall in love again?

After what happened with the guy in college, falling in love and thinking that I meant something to him only to get rejected, holds me back. He acted like he cared about me and wanted something lasting. But then, a few weeks later, I caught him dating another woman.

It broke my heart, and since then I've hesitated to fall for anyone. I don't want that, especially since it means there's a chance of me making mistakes I don't want to make.

There's no need to worry about it now. It's not like Robert and I are actually together.

Sleep overtakes me, and as I close my eyes, my thoughts drift to what we could be and the potential for Robert and me to have a relationship.

It's unlikely, but a gal can dream, right?