Page 10 of Please Don't Leave Me

I looked up their menu online so I wouldn't have to panic about what to order when I'm there. While on the website, I saw that there is a dress code, so he was setting me up to fail when he told me to wear whatever.

There's a knock on the front door as B grabs shoes for me out of her closet. She tosses them into my room and yells at me to hurry and put them on before running to get the door.

Still standing in front of the mirror in my room, I put them on and take a look at myself. We decided on a knee-length, emerald green, satin dress with a low-cut back that hugs my hips. The cowl at the neckline disguises my smaller boobs. My butt has always been one of my better features.

B slicked my hair up in a high pony and braided it. The makeup she did makes my eyes look big and bright. I put on the last of the jewelry she put out for me and make my way to the front door, where a man in a suit waits for me.

"Ready," I say, smiling and trying to act like being picked up by a strange man in a car is normal. "B, you have my location if you need to find me." One can never be too safe. And if this is a ploy to kidnap me, I want him to know that someone is going to come looking for me if I disappear.

I walkinto the restaurant and am immediately escorted to a table way in the back where Matt is already seated. Like a gentleman, he stands up to greet me with a hug. Heembraces me and then takes a step back, scanning me up and down. "You look absolutely stunning. I'm not going to be able to take my eyes off you the whole night."

"Thank you." I smile as he pulls out my chair for me. "This place is even nicer on the inside. I've walked by it so many times but have never actually eaten here."

"Well, I am glad I get to be with you the first time you experience it." He grabs the wine list from the table and asks, "Are you a wine drinker? They carry some very nice bottles here if you want to try some."

"That would be great. I'll let you pick since you seem to know what you're doing." I've never been a huge wine drinker, but I'll be anything he wants me to be.

When the waiter comes over, Matt orders a bottle of some sort of red wine that I've never heard of.

"So, how was the work stuff you had to do tonight?"

"It went well. I was just securing some properties in the area for future development."

I'm assuming he means for whatever company he works for. Matt and I didn't text much this week other than details for tonight. And I couldn't stalk him on the internet because I don't know his last name, so I don't know anything about him.

"What do you do for work?"

"I work in the restaurant and entertainment space. What about you?"

Ah, so that's how he was able to get this reservation. He probably has connections to all sorts of places in the city.

“I graduated with my architecture degree, and now I'm just working towards completing my experience hours before I start taking my licensure exams next summer."

"That's great. Do you like it so far? Think you chose the right career path?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm nervous about the exams, but I loved what I learned in school, and I'm starting to find more of what I like in my current job."

"So if you're able to take your exams next summer, then that makes you...25?"

I'm surprised he knows that it's typically a five-year degree instead of four. "I actually just turned 24. I was able to complete a lot of college classes in high school, so I got it done in four years instead of five."

"Impressive. And how do you feel about being with older men?"

We are getting right into it. "I've honestly never dated someone older than me, but I am getting a little sick of immature boys. So, I definitely see it as a plus." I want to ask how old he is, but that seems rude, even if he is clearly hinting at our age gap.

He smiles knowingly. "In the spirit of being mature, I always like to be very open and honest with the women I get involved with. So, if I may, I'd like to just lay out some expectations for you so you're fully aware of my intentions."

Finally! A man who knows what he wants, isn't afraid to ask for it, and has clear communication skills. Matt is going to be a complete breath of fresh air compared to my past relationships.

I nod and say, "Of course. I always appreciate honesty."

"That's what I like to hear." His smile fades ever so slightly. "I'm not looking for anything serious. I’m 34, I've been single for over a decade, and I know that the lifestyle I live works best when I'm not tied down. I tried to wrestle with that for several years and realized that it was not fair to the women I dated, so I just decided that long-term committed relationships aren't for me."

Well, that just took the wind out of my sails.

He continues, "If you are looking for something serious and don't want to continue with me, I completely respect that. But, if you're up for playing out a more revised role, then I'd love to have you on board. I'm just looking for someone with whom I can have a very casual relationship. We have fun together occasionally with no commitment and an understanding that it will never lead to more than that. I have a lot of events I go to, and it always looks best when a businessman has a date, so I like to bring women with whom I have formed a connection to make events less boring. Fun, Lou. It's just all about having fun. And at any point, if you want to terminate the situation, that is completely your call."

He's given me a lot to think about. On one hand, I have never done anything remotely close to this, so that scares me. On the other hand, I did just tell B that I didn't want to be tied down yet and that I just wanted to enjoy being single. Maybe this is the perfect situation presenting itself. Hot guy who just wants to fuck me and show me off; I guess that doesn't sound so bad.

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