“You pick it,” I urged, then let her hand go so she could peruse the wine menu.
Once a bottle of Pinot Noir was ordered, we were left alone to look over our menus.
“What’s good?” Serena asked.
“I’ve only been here a couple times, and I know you said you’re allergic to shellfish, so I won’t recommend that, but both the ribeye and petite filet were great when I had them.”
Once we knew what we wanted, we put our menus down and I reached for Serena’s hand again, eager to say what was on my mind, so I could get it out there and not have it weighing on me any longer.
“Rena, I know we haven’t known each other that long, and in the time we have known each other, we haven’t been able to spend a great deal of time together, due to work and other commitments, but I have to say, what I’ve come to know about you so far, I’ve really liked. I’m at a place in my life where I don’t waste a lot of time messing around. I’m older, more established, and I know what I want.”
I kept my eyes on hers, and when my tongue darted out to wet my lips, I saw her gaze catch and hold there. I smirked, hoping that tell meant we were on the same page. “What I’m trying to say, Serena, is that I want to see more of you, exclusively. There’s no one else I’m interested in, and I hope you can say the same. I want to get to know you better, and, hopefully, build something with you. What do you think?”