“My name is Jill. Why did he call me Bella?”
Mike smiled and said “Bella is Italian for beautiful. Told you.” Jill blushed bright at that. They talked until the food came.
Jill looked at her dish after the waiter left and said, “Just so I know…what is this?” Mike said “That is tortellini pasta in an alfredo type sauce with shrimp. I think you’ll like it. I know it doesn’t look like much, but that is just the first course. We have two more to go.”
Jill looked up at him, with a tear in her eyes. “What?” Mike asked.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” she asked.
Mike looked at her and said “I ask myself the same question every day since you showed up. I truly don’t deserve you. Now, eat up, it tastes better warm!”
After a few bites, she looked up at him “This is truly the food of the gods. I’ve never eaten anything this good!” They began talking about the food, ignoring the elephant once more.
The second course was Chicken Parmesan which also amazed her. The final course was simple, just some Italian bread with peppers and oil. He had picked that knowing it was messy and knowing they would be full. She carefully dipped the bread, worried about staining her dress.
He asked if she was full, and she said “Bursting. I’m about to split this dress open”.
He laughed and said, “The waiter would take that instead of a tip!”
“What’s next?” she asked.
Smiling, he nodded his head no. “Surprises are more fun” he said.
When everything was paid and they were ready, they walked out to the waiting limo. They drove to a playhouse, where she looked up and saw “The Book of Mormon”.
“I didn’t know you were a religious nut” she said. He smiled, wanting her to get the full experience. Once the show started, she began laughing and never really stopped until it was over. He spent more time listening to her laugh than watching.
When it was over, they got back in the limo. “Now what?” she asked.
“What more can I do to make this night perfect?” he asked. She just stared at him. “What?” he asked.
“If this is how regular dates end, TV has been lying to me my whole life” she said. “In the movies, the limo ride home is usually where the girl gets her guy”. Mike just stared back now, not really believing what she was trying to say.
“Damn it Mike! Kiss me before I chicken out too!” she said. It started slow and gentle, but soon turned into full blown passion. Once they pulled back to breathe, he looked in her eyes. “Tonight we are on a date, and it will end spectacularly” she stated. “No going back, no regrets. I see how you look at me, because it’s the same way I look at you. Got it mister?”
He sat back, looked in her eyes, and said “I can’t understand it…but I’m going to roll with it.”
Once home, he opened the door for her and escorted her into the house. She looked up at him and said “Your bed is bigger than mine” with a smile on her face.
He looked down and said “We have all night for this. I’m going to take every second of this slowly, and I can promise you will enjoy it. Before we do anything, I have to say this. If I do anything you don’t like, don’t want, or you just want to stop just say so. I will never hurt you, that I promise.”