Conrad
I am still at Maya’s place, and I realised it is after dinner time.
“We should eat. What do you have in? I can cook us dinner.” I ask.
Maya rubs the back of her neck, “Um, nothing much. I was supposed to go shopping at the weekend but didn’t have the energy.” She whispers.
“What do you mean you didn’t have the energy? Were you not feeling good?” I question, concerned.
Maya looks down at her lap, “Something like that.”
I am sure there is more to the answer than she wants to tell me. I won’t push because it is her choice what she tells me and what she doesn’t.
“Okay, well, we have other options. We can order in, go shopping or I can take you out for dinner?” I suggest.
I would like to take her out for dinner, as in a date, but I don’t think she will agree to go out for food, never mind as a date.
“Maybe order in?” she answers.
“We can do that. Do you want to order from the little Italian place we ran into each other, or do you fancy something else?”
“Hmm, Italian is always a good option. A nice pasta dish with bruschetta on the side.” She smiles.
“Oh, yes, I like the sound of that. Are you sure you don’t want to go out for dinner?”
Maya shakes her head, “No. We can’t risk being seen together, especially in such an intimate setting.”
“I understand.” I agree.
She is right; we can’t be seen together in public. If we were caught, we would both be in trouble, and Maya could possibly lose her job. We took a look at the online menu, deciding what we wanted, and I called to place our order.
“It will be forty-five minutes,” I say once I hang up the call.
“Not too bad. I don’t mind the wait because the food is worth it.” she smiles.
“It really is. It has become one of my favourite places.”
“Mine too,” She smiles, “I am sorry, I don’t have any wine or beer to go with your dinner.” She adds.
“No, it is okay. I am driving anyway, so I wouldn’t be drinking.”
I remember she mentioned at the ball she doesn’t really drink.
“I don’t keep alcohol in the house.”
“Yes, I remember you mentioning it at the ball you aren’t much of a drinker. Is there a reason, or do you just not like it?” I ask softly.
“Yes, to both. There is a reason, and I don’t like it. I don’t like how it can affect people.”
I can hear a shakiness in her voice.
“Bad experience with it?”
I shouldn’t be pushing, but a part of me wants her to open up to me.
“More than one. My parents were both addicts, drink and drugs.” She whispers.
“I am sorry you were raised in that,” I say softly, placing my hand over hers.
Maya jumps a little. The same way she did at the ball when I touched her. She moves a little further away from me, pulling her hand away from under mine.
She shrugs, “It is fine. It was a long time ago. You can’t change the past.”
Maya pretends like it doesn’t matter, but I can see the sadness in her eyes, the brokenness that always seems present in them.
“I am sorry. I shouldn’t pry. I won’t bring it up again.”
I don’t want to overstep, and she ends up telling me to leave.
Maya smiles softly at me, “Thank you.”
I wonder if she has always been this closed off or if it is just with me since we only met. I don’t know, but I hope she will let me stick around long enough to find out. Tonight, it could end in one of two ways: One, she realises I am a good guy, and she wants to keep me around, or two, the second I leave, she will decide she is done with me and cut off all contact. I would prefer it to be the first, but I won’t know until after I leave.
If she chooses, she wants nothing to do with me, I will try my best to respect it, but it may be easier said than done.
“Can I get you anything while we wait? Maybe your tee?” she snickers.
I chuckle, “Yes, I will have that back. It should be dry.”
I forgot for a minute I was shirtless. I have caught Maya looking at my bare chest and stomach more than once, but I didn’t bring it up because I didn’t want her to get embarrassed.
Maya stands from the sofa, “Do you want something to drink?”
“Water will be fine, thanks.”
She nods and disappears to the kitchen. She comes back a few minutes later with two bottles of water and my tee.
“It is dry and warm.” She smiles and hands it to me.
I get to my feet to put it on, her eyes dancing over me again. I bite my lip to stop from smirking and pull it over my head. I smile at the warmth touches my skin and sit back next to her.
“Better.” I smile.
“I have a question. It’s probably a little inappropriate, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. How many times a week to work out?”
A blush rises on her cheek when she asks. It’s a little random but not inappropriate.
“I have a home gym. I work out five mornings out of seven, sometimes at night too, depending on my mood.”
“Wow. It explains all of that.” She giggles, motioning to my upper torso.
I laugh at her reaction, “Yes. I always make sure to take care of myself and eat properly, too. I knew you were checking me out.” I tease.
Maya shakes her head, “I have no idea what you mean. I was not doing such a thing.” She protests.
“Okay, beautiful, if you insist.” I chuckle.
Maya blushes even harder and covers her face with her hand.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed, Maya. I don’t mind.” I say.
I am used to people looking at me in certain ways. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
“I shouldn’t be looking at you in such ways.” She whispers.
“Why not?”
“Because it is wrong of me.”
“No, it isn’t. There is nothing wrong about looking at someone you are attracted to.” I say softly and squeeze her knee.
Maya removed her hand and finally looked back at me. “I guess. Can we move on now, please?”
“We can do whatever you want, beautiful.”
Maya turned her attention to the TV, and I did the same. I will leave her be. If she wants to talk a little more, she will. I don’t mind a little silence as long as it doesn’t last for too long.