This is my first time posting a story I've written and would appreciate feedback! I am not a professional writer, so there might be some errors in formatting.
Enjoy!
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*Ding* The sound of her text alert going off had May immediately reaching for her phone, hoping it was from him. Since David had started texting her a few weeks ago, she found her face lighting up every time one would come through from him.
It had started out as just friendly banter between the two former co-workers, but lately had seemed like maybe it was turning into more? Like, maybe he was actually interested in her? But she was afraid to take things too far without more of a signal from him, because good goddess, what if she was wrong?
It was David. "Go out to dinner with me?", the text read. She hesitated before responding. She wanted to accept so badly, but she knew she probably shouldn't. She felt like they'd been casually flirting for a while, but she still worried she was wrong. This would be the first time they'd gone out together; seen each other in person since their almost daily texting started.
"I....I don't know. Are you sure?" She finally replied.
His response was almost immediate. "Absolutely. I've been wanting to ask you for a while, but was afraid I'd read things wrong and you'd say no. Looks like I was right after all. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to make things awkward."
She quickly typed back, "No, it's not that at all. I thought *I* was reading things wrong and maybe you were just, I don't know, feeling sorry for me? That maybe you were just trying to "help" me, but I was taking things too far? I suck at reading signals. The irony of it all is, I need direct, honest communication, but I suck at giving that out first because I'm afraid of looking stupid. Of just being seen as another bored, lonely, middle-aged woman chasing after something out of her reach." She sent her reply before she chickened out of being so honest, then almost immediately responded again with "Um, sorry for the novel?"
Five minutes went by and still no response. May threw her phone on the couch. "Ugh! Why am I so stupid?! I knew I shouldn't have been that open. He always hated emotional communication, why would David be any different?" She growled softly to herself as she stood and paced the living room, referencing her ex-husband Graham. Who, in retrospect, she *knew* was a bad choice from the beginning. But like most women, she'd been sure that some tender loving care and the joy of marriage would transform the callous asshole into a loving partner. And just like all those other women, she'd been wrong. So, so wrong. She'd been a maid, cook, financial planner, scheduler manager, groundskeeper, handyman, sex toy, but never a partner. After all, what was it Graham had said to her at counseling when asked to describe what he loved about her? Oh yeah, "I love how you do everything for me." And that had been it. 19 years and that was all he had come up with.
But she didn't think she'd been wrong about David. He seemed to actually care. He made her feel heard, special, and acknowledged her emotions as valid. It probably helped that they had both experienced some shit in their pasts that helped them to understand each other in a way that people raised in normal, loving homes never could. He seemed genuine. But as she remembered all too well, she'd been wrong before.
Another chime from her phone had May almost falling into the couch in her rush to get to it. As she read through his return novel, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"No need to apologize, I'm happy you were open with me. I don't want you to hide your feelings. And for the record, I don't see you as just a "bored, lonely woman." I mean, yes I'm sure you're lonely. I am too. But that's not all you are to me. You've become a friend, the person I enjoy sharing my thoughts with. You have this way of letting me know you're sorry for what I went through, without making me feel like you pity me. I asked you to dinner because I want to see where this can go."
May gave a happy squeal as she typed back, "Ok then, I accept. I'd love to go out with you." David almost immediately responded with the details, and told her he'd pick her up tomorrow at 5:00pm.
May barely slept, imagining how everything would go, but finally managed a few hours, with images of a man with soulful, dark eyes filling her dreams.
The next day, she took herself out to get her hair and nails done and buy a new outfit; a red skirt that was just barely not indecent, a black v-neck top, and black heels. She wanted everything to be perfect.
She had just finished redoing her makeup for the third time when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to see him standing there. The first thing that popped out of her idiotic mouth was, "I forgot how much shorter I am than you." May immediately clapped a hand over her mouth and turned bright red. David chuckled and said, "I did too. It's been awhile. And also....there's that easy blush. Ready to go?" May nodded and followed him out the door, hoping she could avoid sticking her foot in her mouth anymore during the evening.
Everything at the restaurant went smoothly. She was afraid maybe it would be awkward at first, but their conversation flowed as smoothly as it always did. A few times she thought she felt his leg brush hers under the table, but she dismissed it as an accident. As the check came, however, she felt his hand land gently on her bare knee. She slowly looked up at him as he said, "I've been having a great time and I really don't want the night to end yet. Do you maybe wanna come back to my place and watch a movie or something?" Her heart leapt into her throat and all she could do was nod.
They arrived at David's and he poured them both a glass of wine as she sat on the couch and removed her heels. "So, what movie are you thinking?" David asked her. "Um, maybe a horror movie?" May suggested.
"Great choice!" They agreed on 1408 as they both loved psychological thrillers.
As they settled on the couch, May was unsure of how close to sit, so she scooted over a few inches. David looked over at her. "What are you doing? Come here, get comfortable." Before she could stop herself, she scooted over and laid down with her head in his lap. David froze and she looked up at him, suddenly feeling bold. "What? This is comfortable." He laughed softly and May slowly felt him relax.