Natasha couldn't believe herself. Not only was she out on a 3rd date, but she was enjoying her company. She was smiling and truth be told it was hard to stop. Her date, Justin, a 5' 10" chocolate toned man, all of 26, was smiling back at her too. To all in attendance at the Black Horse Grill & Pub it was apparent that they were into each other as well, giggling, joking and sharing long hand strokes and silent words across their small table. It wasn't always like this for Natasha. A little over a year ago, at only 24, Natasha went through a distressing divorce that turned her off to men, up until a few weeks ago when Justin walked back in her life.
On a run-of-the-mill day at her DMV job, he approached her counter and immediately recognized her. He struck up a conversation and asked if they could talk to each other later to catch up on life after school. Reluctantly, she agreed and they exchanged numbers. Her reluctance came from her divorce, agreeing to his offer came from her wanting to make amends. She wasn't all that good to him then. Justin always had his head straight and thoughts together except when it came to her and at the time, her head was only on getting what she wanted and playing games. After only 3 months they broke up and tried to remain friends, but when Justin headed for college the contact was lost, until now.
Justin called her the same night he got her number and wasted no time asking her out on a date. Being told by her friends that she needed to get out, she once again accepted his offer and he took her to see a local R & B trio named Flowers at a club called Lovenoise. She loved the music and thanked him for bringing her out. They only scratched the surface of any remaining emotion they shared from the past and the date ended more on a friendly note than anything. The next morning at work, Natasha received a bouquet a flowers from Justin, asking for a second date. She couldn't turn something like that down. Everyone at her job saw them and knew that something special was blossoming. Two nights later, they were at the fair having the greatest time. Justin won prizes for Natasha, they rode several rides together and shared a kiss under the moon, walking to his car. Natasha started feeling like herself again, ready to take control just like she used to. She asked
him
to the next date. Now here they are, loving life...together.
"So how do you like it?" Natasha asked him.
"The restaurant..." Justin started, "it's different. I've never been to a place like this. I mean, I've been out to eat in a lot of places but this is new. I didn't even know this place was here and I've lived here for years."
"Well I'm happy you like it. I love doing different things, especially with you."
She halted and blushed after saying that. It was pretty apparent as well since, being a lightly tanned Mexican-American; it was easy to see when color, especially red, came onto her face. Initially she put her head down, almost half embarrassed; she then lifted it again to look at Justin, grinning right at her.
"I love doing anything with you," he said to her. Her face became hot then. She was okay at taking complements but for some reason it wasn't as easy coming from him. Since they first met when she was 14 he's always been big on telling her how beautiful she is each and every day. There were random gifts given, just because and calls lasting for hours that mostly included Justin explaining his infatuation with her.
I've never met a girl like you before,
he always told her,
you're just special.
She felt the same tingle in her skin just thinking of those words that she used to years ago. This still didn't explain why he would want to involve himself with someone who played him so badly back then.
Natasha wasn't that great of a girlfriend. She used to watch the phone ring, looking at the caller ID as Justin called, left to hang out and flirt with other boys on a regular basis, leaving Justin wondering where she was consistently. Once questioned she wasn't any better as 'I don't remember, I was out' became her standard answer. It was all to get a rise out of him and really, just be young and stupid. She realized this now. She also realized how much she missed and adored him as well.
"So," Natasha started, "why did you ask me out again after what happened to us then? I would think you wouldn't want to see me again."
"Never that," he shot back, "On the contrary, I never wanted to leave you. I've always wanted to be around you. Even when we broke up, I thought of you all the time. I've even come back here on a few occasions and looked you up. I could never find you though."
"That's because my last name changed. I was married for 3 years and got divorced about a year ago. He was such an asshole, I can't believe it lasted that long."
"Damn. That explains a lot. So...are you good now?"
Looking him in the eyes and smiling again, she replied, "You know what? Before you came by a couple of weeks ago, I would have said no. But...I'm doing just fine now."
They both smiled at each other. Without much effort at all, the couple found themselves back in the mode they were in about 10 years ago. Everything felt the same all over again, the butterflies, the long stares and the constant hugs given each time they stood up for anything. Something deeper than they knew was planted all those years ago and it was blossoming right in front of them tonight. Both of their orders came soon after and a little laughter was had in between bites of food as Justin kept dropping pieces of ribs from his mouth and Natasha spilled Sprite down the side of her chin while trying to take a quick sip. Once they were finished, they debated on dessert and sat at the table, striking up another conversation about the past.
"You don't know how bad I wanted you back then," Justin said, speaking softly.
Natasha didn't know how to react to this statement. "How do you mean," she asked.
"Physically," he said. "The little bit of time we were together, did you never realized how much I tried to hold you, hug you, kiss you and never let you out of my sight? I'm not going to lie, I was obsessed with you. I just knew you were going to be mine forever."
Natasha tried to pretend she didn't know this, but it was something she tried to ignore in an attempt to play coy. Even after the breakup they shared an intimate kiss here and there and almost had sex at 17 when her parent's left one evening. If it weren't for the fact that Justin had a girlfriend who was Natasha's main rival back then, she would have jumped at the opportunity in every instance because as time went on, she wanted him more and more as well.
"I wanted you too," she said shyly. "You were that guy that I honestly wanted to lose my virginity to." A look of shock came upon Justin's face. "But, you were so busy with Jessica that I couldn't do it. I waited for you to end it several times and you wouldn't."
"So wait," he started, interrupting her statement, "so when did you lose it?"
"To be honest, about a year before I met my husband at 19. All those times you thought I teased you, I just didn't think I was ready. In some ways, I wish I would have just done it, just to see what would have changed. My ex-husband wasn't really that good either. I had only been with 2 other men before him but I still knew what I needed to be satisfied and that sure as hell wasn't it."