I checked the local events and found something I knew he would like: a concert called "The Fifths." Beethoven's Fifth Symphony for the first half, and Tchaikovsky's Fifth for the second.
He hadn't seemed all that enthused when I suggested we get together on Friday, but when I told him about the tickets he sounded like a little boy going to the circus.
He stopped by for me after dinner.
We shared a lovely kiss.
"Thank you so much for finding this concert. I know everybody knows Beethoven's Fifth, but I love the Tchaikovsky." He bubbled with excitement.
"I know how you can thank me."
A nice long kiss.
"Dinner at the dorm was vile tonight, but it
is
paid for."
"That's the curse of the food pass," I said
"I think they must have a special school to learn how to make food that bad. I've royally screwed up recipes that wound up tasting better than that."
"Well tomorrow we'll get you a respite."
"You sure know how to take care of a guy."
Yes, I did. I had no idea how I knew because I'd never gone out of my way to do it before. Maybe it's just instinct. Maybe I was finding a part of myself I never knew existed.
I got the tickets for Jeff. I knew he would love it, so I could endure it. I would be more inclined to go to a concert that featured metal instead of brass.
The Beethoven was familiar. I think it was made into some popular song a while ago. But the Tchaikovsky really got to me. It was passionate and energetic and every time I thought it was over, it kept on going. I hadn't the remotest idea I would like classical music.
Jeff was humming along and bouncing up and down in his seat. My friends, I gave in and used the closest word, would have found it worthy of ridicule. I found it endearing. I found it arousing. I took him home and had my way with him.
For the first time in my life, I had a man stay the night. I awoke to find him sleeping peacefully. I was assaulted by the intensity of the feelings I had for him.
This had to be infatuation. It was far too intense to be love.
I snuggled up against him and waited for him to wake up.
It didn't take long and I had my first encounter with what I had only been told about by the girls - early morning tumescence. I put it to good use.
I made us eggs and bacon. Wasn't I the little homemaker?
Jeff told me he had to go so he could study. He seemed uneasy, but I couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was I was feeling from him.
"See you later," I said.
"Yeah."
Enough with the "Yeah."
I picked him up at his dorm Saturday evening. God, he looked good.
No, he didn't. He didn't look bad but, objectively, he wasn't going to blow anyone away. But he looked good to me, and that was more than enough. Then again, maybe he did look good but suffered by comparison to the museum-quality specimens I had dated before.
We had reservations at The Brass Rail. It would have been quite expensive for Jeff. For me, it was cheaper than McDonald's.
"Nice place."
He was looking around as if he was a little surprised that a place like this existed in a college town and a little uncomfortable to be in it.
"Probably not what I would have picked" he said in a charming bit of understatement.
"That's the advantage of having different backgrounds. We get to share each other's knowledge and experience."
A waiter approached.
"Nice to see you, Miss Fine."
He put down a small Caesar Salad in front of each of us.
"Thank you, Arnault." He retreated.