‘Desi, hello? Earth to Des?’ Oops I think I got a bit too caught up in my own world again.
‘Sorry, Chris.’ Coy giggle, always works. ‘I was just thinking this place is absolutely beautiful.’ I think I may need to save my butt here. There is no way I’m going to let him know I was trying to work out our astrological compatibility when I know nothing about astrology.
‘You’re a pathetic liar, Desi. I can see right through you.’
‘Yeah, right. What was I thinking then, smarty pants?’ He thinks he’s so smart. He has no idea what I was thinking.
‘You’re thinking that after dinner we should go for a walk around the lake or something like that.’ Oh, he’s good, he’s smooth.
‘Not what I was thinking, but not a bad idea either.’ Now I just have to get through the rest of dinner without getting caught up in a daze, spilling anything down my top, choking on my food, saying something really stupid or tucking the table cloth into my pants. That’s a lot of things I’m supposed to concentrate on all at the same time, while also trying not to stare into his eyes so much. They are so dark it’s almost haunting but at the same time, they have this cheeky little twinkle. God, my pasta is delicious. I may actually finish the meal.
We’re walking around the lake. After this dinner I think I should be jogging around the lake, over and over again. Pasta for dinner, a bottle of wine and we split our desserts – rich chocolate mudcake and profiteroles. I think I am going to explode. I can’t believe the button on my pants hasn’t popped yet.
‘So, now will you tell me how you got your hands on a purple rose?’
During dinner we talked about everything under the sun. His family, his work, my family, our school years, our hobbies our bad habits … you name it, we talked about it and we laughed so hard I think they were ready to throw us out of the restaurant for disturbing the peace. But he still won’t tell me where he got the rose from. My curiosity is killing me.
‘You can’t expect me to reveal all my secrets on our first date. What would we talk about on our, second date?’
Oh, yeah, and he’s so sure that there is going to be a second, is he? I mean, I’m not going to say no, but how the hell can he be so confident? That grin on his face tells me that he is enjoying every moment of this.
‘What makes you so sure that there is going to be a second date?’ I can tease. It’s my prerogative, but I hope there is going to be a second and a third and many more after that.
‘You tell me, Des. Is there going to be a second date?’
So the ball is in my court. Control has returned to me. It’s about time.
‘Ask me at the end of the night. I have to think very seriously about this.’
Chris had mentioned a second date during dinner and I told him the same thing. To ask me at the end of the night. This can’t be the end of the night. It’s only ten-thirty. The night has only just begun. I hope. What is he doing? He’s holding my hand. Fingers clasping mine. Intertwined. This feels wonderful. How can something so new feel so good? It can’t possibly last.
‘Well, I think I know what the answer will be.’ He’s just so sure of himself. Maybe I should tease him a little here, bring him back to reality. Swift turn, am now facing Chris. Lips pursed, one hand on my hips, because he’s got such a firm grip on my other one.
‘I’ll make you a deal then.’ I think my look should tell him I mean business. ‘You tell me how you got a purple rose and I’ll give you my answer.’ That’s a fair deal. A fair and mutual exchange of information.
‘I’ll make you a better deal.’ Oh, God, he’s got me by the wrists. So close to him, so close I can feel his heart beating.
‘What?’ What has happened to my voice? When did my larynx decide to go on holiday and leave me only with a squeal of a voice? Why am I having such difficulty breathing?
‘Tell me your answer and I won’t chuck you in the lake.’ He wouldn’t dare. Hang on a minute, how the hell did I go from standing firmly in front of him to being swept up in his arms? Although I’m definitely getting a good feel of his biceps now that he’s got me in this position. Nice!
‘You wouldn’t dare!’ Hands are clasped firmly around his neck. If I’m going in the water, he’s coming with me!
‘Wouldn’t I?’ Oh, jeez, he’s moving closer to the edge. ‘Come on, Des. Answer me.’
I can’t stop laughing. I must be insane. He’s threatening to throw me into Albert Park Lake in the middle of the night and I’m in hysterics. I hope my top is shrink proof. ‘Just remember whose car we’re going home in!’
He’s swinging me around. He’s insane. I tighten my grip around his neck. He wouldn’t dare.
‘I can deal with that. Answer me, Desi.’ Oh, hell, I think he’s serious.
‘This is not the way to get the answer you want.’ I’m yelling but I’m laughing. Why can’t I be angry? I must be just as insane as he is. ‘Put me down, please.’ If my hair gets wet it will curl and frizz and all that time with my trusty GHD will have been in vain.
He spins me around one last time and then lowers me down. Finally my feet are on solid ground. My legs may feel like jelly but at least they are touching terra firma. He’s still holding me so close, and tight; so close, I can feel his heart beating, I can feel his breath on my face.
‘Thank you.’ Please don’t let me go.
‘So what’s your answer?’ As if he doesn’t already know.
‘To what question?’ My brain must have fallen into a coma because I seriously have no idea what he is talking about.
‘Our second date.’ He’s whispering in my ear. Oh, boy. ‘Yes or no?’
‘What do you think I’m going to say?’ The guy threatened to throw me in the lake after all; I need to torment him a little bit. That’s fair.
He’s leaning in so close. This is torture, pure agony. Please kiss me, Chris, I don’t think I can wait any more.
‘Tell me. I have to be sure I’m reading the signs right.’ I hope this is as torturous for him as it is for me.
‘Yes.’ There, I said it, now please kiss me before I explode and do something very unlady like. ‘Are you satisfied now?’
‘Almost.’ God what does he want now? Blood to seal the deal? What? He’s leaning in closer, he’s there, he’s … Oh my God. Oh, wow! This is magic. Pure delight. I’ve been kissed before, but this – words cannot describe this feeling. If a kiss could lead a woman to orgasm, this is it. Oh, wow! His lips feel so smooth but powerful at the same time. His grip is so strong I think he may break a bone or two, but I don’t care, I do not want him to let me go, break as many bones as you want, Chris. Oh my God, this is … Hang on, he’s pulling his lips away. Come back. I’m not finished yet. I was just warming up!
‘So?’
Don’t ‘so’ me Chris, get back here and finish what you started. What am I thinking? This is only a first date. But I can’t help it. He looks so sexy grinning at me in the moonlight.
‘Are we agreed?’
Huh? Did I miss something? ‘On what?’ When did I agree to anything? Or am I suffering short-term memory loss from that amazing kiss?
‘Our second date. Der, Des … You know the lake is still within throwing distance.’ As if I am going to fall for that again.
‘Oh, that.’ Vague answer, grin on face. I think this tells Chris everything he needs to know for the moment. ‘I think we’re agreed.’ Now come back here. I want those lips. Oh well, if he won’t bring them to me, I guess I’ll just have to be the instigator. Oh, yeah.
----------9----------
‘Mind your own business, Ma.’ She won’t let up. I’ve had all of four hours sleep and she’s firing questions left, right and centre.
By the time we’d walked around the lake, Chris and I decided we needed to find a place to have coffee, which lasted for hours so I didn’t get home until three. I was exhausted but couldn’t get to sleep. It was like there was an instant replay going on in my head. I think I managed to doze off at about five and
nabbed a few hours before Effie dropped off her kids. Now I have to face my mother. The least she could do is let me have my coffee in peace.
‘Who is he, Despina?’
Okay, my mother is getting her hopes up. I think she’s planning my wedding.
‘He gave you flower.’
My purple rose. It’s sitting in a vase on my bedside table. I’ll let it dry out and keep it there forever. I never seriously thought I would ever get one.
I think I get my curious streak from my mother. This is killing her. I’ll give her a little bit of information that will only make her curiosity ache for more. I’m a bitch, I know it, but at least it keeps my mother on her toes.
‘His name is Chris, Mama, and I’m just getting to know him.’ And those lips … yummy yum yum. ‘I’m not coming home after work, so don’t keep me any dinner, okay.’ That’s just enough to drive my mother insane. She’s getting ready to fire off a series of attacks. I can feel it; she’s formulating everything in her mind. I better head for my room before she figures out which burning question she wants to ask first.
Too late. She corners me and starts firing. ‘Where you meet him? No tell me one them damn bars you go.’
Mum’s ultimate nightmare is that I get serious with a guy that I meet at a bar. That’s where I met Denny. I can’t figure my mother out, she so desperately wants me to get married and settle down that she would let Thia Maria try to proxy me off with Ape Man but it would be a fate worse than death for me to meet someone at the bars. I wish she would figure out what she wants. I need make her happy, at least a little bit.
‘He’s Katerina’s koumbaro, Ma.’ That is all I am telling her – just enough to allay her fears. I can already see her relief that Chris is not a bar bum. I don’t want to sit here and have a deep and meaningful with my mother about Chris. I don’t think she would appreciate a detailed description of his kisses.
‘I gotta get ready to go, Ma. I’m going shopping before work.’ Ah, the joys of starting work at midday. I get to make an emergency dash to the shopping centre in search of something fabulous to wear tonight. We haven’t made definite plans about what we’re doing, but I know that I’m seeing Chris again and I have to look good. Actually, I have to look downright amazing.
‘Wait a minute.’ Great, my mother wants to get all maternal on me. It’s not a good time right now. ‘Tell me something about him. What do you know about this boy?’
I know he’s got the best lips I have ever tasted, okay mother? Somehow I don’t think that’s what she wants to hear.
‘Not much, Ma. I’m finding out more about him tonight.’
Can I go now? There are only a few shopping hours left before I have to start work.
‘Slow, slow, eh, Desi.’
Hang on, I’m now officially confused. My mother, who has been hassling me to meet a guy and settle down since I turned twenty-one, is now telling me to take things slowly. Okay, who is this woman standing before me and what has she done with my mother? And can I keep her?
‘Relax, Ma. I’m not running off to elope with the guy. I’m just getting to know him.’ I don’t understand my mother and I don’t think I ever will. ‘Can I go now, Ma? I’ll call you from work, okay?’
I’m about to rush out the door when I glance at my mother and realise that she doesn’t look herself. The kids are screaming around the backyard and she looks so exhausted as she runs after them. She looks like she hasn’t slept in days. I wish Effie would just decide to raise her own children. I think I might have a chat with Mum about it tomorrow. Then I remember – tomorrow is the day my darling yiayia is coming home! Cool, not only have I got the day off work but I get my yiayia back again. Life is definitely on the up for Desi Delagiannis.
‘Desi? Earth to Desi?’
Who said that? What’s going on? Who was rude enough to bring me back to reality and disrupt that wonderful fantasy that I was in the middle of, where Chris was kissing me and slowly laying me down? Okay, given that I have only been out with this guy once, maybe it’s a good thing someone interrupted me, especially given that I am at work trying to arrange my team’s upcoming training. I don’t think they need training in the ups and downs of Desi Delagiannis’s love life
‘What?’ I think I just bit someone’s head off. Well, they shouldn’t have interrupted me when I was deep in thought. ‘Sorry, Elaine, what’s up?’
‘Phone call – he sounds gorgeous.’ There’s no way that Elaine would describe one of our customers as gorgeous. It must be Chris! I hope I’m not blushing.
‘Thanks.’ Why is she standing right beside me? No way is she listening to this phone call. ‘I can handle it, thanks.’ Good thing she gets the hint and walks away.
‘Desi speaking.’ I have to be professional just in case it’s not Chris.
‘Hi beautiful.’ I’m melting.
‘Hi. How are you?’ I hate small talk. It should be outlawed. I am just no good at it. Why the hell is the alarm on my computer beeping? Damn, meeting starts in fifteen minutes. Okay, I can have some fun before I go fall asleep in the meeting.
‘Pretty good. Trying to concentrate on some client demands.’
‘Trying, huh? What’s swaying your concentration away from clients?’
‘You.’
My cheeks are on fire. Thank God these aren’t video phones.
‘I’ve been avoiding real work and scouring the real estate listings for Ricki and trying to gather up the courage to go into another staff meeting. Someone kept me out until the wee hours of the morning and now I can’t concentrate.’ Laughter. God his laugh is amazing. But he probably has the privacy of his own office, not a desk in the middle of a call centre, so he doesn’t have to watch out for everyone else. At this point in time I really hate my job.
‘What time do you finish work tonight?’
We went through this last night. Don’t tell me my amnesia is contagious and he’s now starting to forget things.
‘Eight. You still want to meet up?’ He better not be cancelling on me.
‘Of course. I thought maybe you would want to come to my place and we could get some take-away and a movie or something.’
Huh? What? No. We can’t do that. You’re not supposed to do movies and take-away with a person until at least a month has passed. This is something you do when you really know someone, when you’re comfortable with them, when you’re a couple. Chris and I are not a couple –not yet. Besides, what does this mean? A night in, on a second date? What does he expect to happen tonight if I say yes? No way am I jumping into bed with him on a second date. There is no way that I am putting myself on the line like that.
‘Chris, I …’ Oh, God, how do I put this without blowing him off? I don’t want him to think that I don’t want to get to know him or that I’m not attracted to him, but I can’t just jump into bed with him, no matter how tempting it may be. ‘I don’t think that would be a really good idea.’
‘Desi, relax, sweetie.’
Oh, that voice is so soothing.
‘Nothing sordid, your virtue is safe with me.’
Smart arse.
‘Just some take-away, maybe a movie and talking. I swear I shall keep my hands to myself all night.’
In a minute he’s going to tell me that he swears to God and hopes to die and will stick a needle in his eye. But I wouldn’t want him to completely keep his hands to himself. That would be no fun at all. But I can’t, it’s too soon! Isn’t it? I’m so confused. How dare he confuse me when I barely know him. How dare he cause my heart to go thump and my stomach to do spin cycles after only one date. How dare he mess me up so quickly. Doesn’t he know that he should wait at least a few weeks before messing with someone’s head like this? What to do? What to do? Good Desi is telling me no, don’t go, keep Chris at a distance, but Bad Desi is there in the back of my mind whispering, go for it, just do it and enjoy the moment. I wish Bad Desi would shut up. No, I wish Good Desi would take a flying leap out of the nearest window and really let me
enjoy the moment. I think I should just lock myself in the nearest monastery and stop listening to the voices in my head. They always get me into trouble anyway.
‘Okay, your place tonight. Give me your address.’ Go away Good Desi and let me write down what he is telling me. My conscience is clear. It’s just going to be a quiet night at Chris’s place, just getting to know each other, and nothing else. It’s way too soon for anything else.
‘I will be a perfect gentleman, Des. What time do you reckon you’ll be here?’
Don’t be too much of a gentleman, Chris. Just enough, a little bit will do. I better not lose this piece of paper, better stick it into my diary. At least he doesn’t live too far away.
‘Well, barring any disasters at work I should be there by about twenty past eight.’ If anyone causes any disasters at work, not only will the shit will hit the fan but, their heads will be right up there, too.
My computer beeps again, telling me I have five minutes to get to my meeting. I also have to call my mother. I just want to check up on her, make sure she’s okay. Something’s not right with her. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know it’s something. ‘Chris, I gotta go, I have to get ready for my meeting.’
‘Yeah, I guess I better do some work, too. See you tonight, babe.’ Click and he’s gone. Did he just call me babe?
‘Hey Ma.’ Took her long enough to answer the phone. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing, Despina mou.’ Yeah right, from the sound of her voice there is a hell of a lot more than nothing going on.
‘You okay, Ma? You sound funny.’ The kids are all yelling at each other in the background and I’ll bet any money that Dad has done his usual trick and locked himself in the bloody greenhouse so he won’t have to listen to it all.
‘What time is Effie picking up her army tonight?’
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