She stood up from the couch and looked at him. “Clever. You almost got me there.” She said. “But I will tell you more about it if you treat me to a nice dinner.”
She enjoyed having David around. It was like having a big brother, always protecting her back. She might have a brother, but he was more a bully than a protector. Besides, he was still too young to keep his sisters safe.
“Ok. You got a deal, but you have to tell me everything.” David said as he pulled out his card.
She knew she could buy anything she wanted with that card, but that was not her style. Her parents told them never to depend on anyone else, with regard, to their needs. They had to work for every penny they earned.
But this dinner did not count.
Besides, it was not like she would dent his wealth with one sumptuous meal. She immediately took the card and ordered their specialty in the fine dining restaurant near the hospital.
She was curious about that place but could not afford it. She would want to visit and have the dining experience, but she had no date. Truthfully, she did not want to date. Not yet, anyway.
She was still in her residency and then her fellowship. She had no time for relationships. Nevertheless, she had some short flings, nothing serious. And the feelings were mutual.
“Ok. So tell me.” David asked as soon as she dropped the phone back into her pocket.
.....
“Not so fast. The meal is not here yet.” She said as she calculated that it might take a few minutes to prepare and deliver it. “I will check on a patient for a few minutes and be back before the meal arrives.”
She handed his card back to him and exited the door. She remembered that she had promised one of the patients to check on her before she left. But she forgot because her mind seemed to be thinking of nonsense.
Fortunately, she did not take long since the patient was stable and sleeping soundly. At least she delivered on her promise as she returned to her sister’s room.
As she said, she was back in the room just in time for the arrival of their food. Soon, they were enjoying the delicious treat, laughing at a joke she had said.
“Wait! I think you forgot our deal.” David finally reminded her as he pulled the lamb that was supposed to go inside her mouth. “Remember... story in exchange for food...” He said, still holding onto her arm.
“Oh, yeah! I forgot about that because of all this damn delicious food.” She told him. “Wait! Let me have this one bite.” She told him as she pried her hands free from him.
Of course, he let her go and had a piece of his own as he waited for her to tell him her story. Or about this man that she accidentally met at the bar. She could not see anything wrong with fantasizing about him because she knew the likelihood of seeing him again was nil.
But yeah, she could not forget about him. Nothing happened to them except for kissing and a little making-out session on his couch. But he expired before anything more could transpire.
“He fell on the couch, snoring and all.” She admitted to him, not at all embarrassed about sharing her life with him.
Of course, she could not talk to her mother about this, nor her younger sister or brother. But Rosella was her bestfriend, and she somehow knew she could hear her story while she told them to her fiance.
She thought of him as the extension of her sister. She usually told Rosella about these things since she was the older one. And she was usually more sensible than her. But now, she only had David.
“And you think that he could be the one that got away. That is why you are hangup on him.” He concluded, giving her his opinion on the matter. “You could not stop thinking of him because he was such a good kisser.”
“You could be right.” She admitted, also thinking the same thing. “I am probably wondering if he was a good fuck.” She finished as she took another piece of meat into her mouth.
“You know you could use a little filter with your mouth,” David said, finding her personality so different from her sister’s. But he enjoyed it, liking her honesty.
Most women would never show their characters until it was too late. But she never pretended to be someone that she was not. She was candid with her findings, not afraid to say what she meant. She was true to herself.
“Don’t worry. I try to be a little subtle when talking to others. But I truly need your advice, so I had to tell you everything.” She had never confided with him about men before, but she was not sorry that she did.
Besides, if anyone knew about men, it was him. She heard from her sister that he was quite a Casanova before he met her sister. Luckily, he had changed his ways, or she would be the first to kick his ass if he hurt her sister.
“So, do you think I should call him?” Unfortunately, as much as she wanted him to be a fantasy, still, a part of her dreamed he could be real.
“Do you at least know the name of that guy? I want to have him investigated first just to be sure that he was not some serial killer.” David said, slightly concerned with her plans.
“There is no need for that.” She told him, shaking her head at the idea. “Of course, I know his name and a few things about him. I think that is enough.” Shamefully, she googled him and believed she read enough to like him more.
“I don’t think you should chase after this guy,” David hesitantly said. “If he remembered any of what happened to you and this guy liked you, I think he would come and look for you, despite what you said.”
Maybe David was right. After all, he had chased her sister to the end of the world to be with her. Until now, he was waiting for her sister to return. Maybe she should wait for something like that, a long and lasting love.