Chapter 9 - THE FIRST TIME I ASKED INSTEAD OF DECIDED
Grace left my employment in April.
I asked her to dinner in August.
Four months.
Nico said three was sufficient.
Enzo said six.
Mia said:
“Just ask.”
Most competent adviser.
I called Grace.
“Dinner Friday.”
Silence.
I closed my eyes.
“That sounded like an instruction.”
“Yes.”
“I’m apparently bad at this.”
“Yes.”
“Would you have dinner with me Friday?”
“Why?”
I stared at the phone.
“You all enjoy this.”
“Answer.”
“Because I like you.”
Pause.
“And?”
I sighed.
“Because when something happens, you're the person I keep wanting to tell.”
Silence.
Then:
“That was better.”
“So?”
“Yes.”
Our first date happened in the North End.
Restaurant I did not own.
Grace checked.
Enzo remained outside.
Grace also checked that.
“You brought security.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Fair.”
We talked about Daniel.
Not competitively.
He had been her husband.
Mia’s father.
Part of her.
I wanted to know him because I wanted to know her.
She asked about Nico.
I told her the truth.
“I failed him.”
“You were lied to.”
“I stopped looking.”
“Yes.”
Both true.
I appreciated her refusal to make me innocent simply because she liked me.
At the end of dinner, I walked her toward her car.
“Grace.”
“Yes?”
“Can I kiss you?”
She smiled.
“You ask now.”
“I’ve been receiving complaints.”
“From everyone?”
“Constantly.”
She stepped closer.
“Yes.”
The kiss was quiet.
No mafia war.
No hidden wall.
No child screaming.
For once, my life allowed something ordinary.
May you like
I discovered I liked ordinary more than expected.
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