A few nights later...
"It's just the two of us here, Penn," Tom began, taking advantage of the rare quiet. "Let's talk about what happened."
Halley sighed before looking at Tom, "You said what needed to be said back then," she changed the subject, "Plus, aren't you with Sasha Cooper?"
Tom's face expressed confusion, "She and I haven't been together for years. She married a guy named Fletcher. How'd you even hear about us?"
She shrugged, "You'd be surprised how many girls in my class wanted to be with you and there are a lot of gossips," she revealed.
"Well, Sasha is not a factor in the you and I," he began again, "I didn't want that night to be a one time thing, but I was trying to be the responsible one. After that, you avoided me so I couldn't even start a conversation about us. But now, here we are, together. If that's not a sign, I don't know what is," Tom explained.
Halley's eyes grew wide, "Are you trying to tell me that if I'd been a grown up and not kept my distance we could have been a thing this whole time? I wish you'd written me a note on one of my essays or something," she ended with a joke causing them both to laugh, easing the tension between them.
"That's not a bad idea," he replied with a charming smile, "How would you like to take this conversation to a restaurant over dinner instead of over maps?"
Halley thought for a moment. She knew from the gossip that he didn't have a great track record for relationships but she also knew she'd been in love with him for a long time. She nodded, "I'd like that. I was only cold because I was defending myself from getting hurt again.'
"I know that," he stood and offered his hand, leading her out of command like he'd done from the bar months before. This time for a date and a possible future instead of a one night stand.
They chose a quiet Italian place that was still open and took their seats, each ordering a glass of wine.
"So, how have you been since graduation?" Tom began, deciding small talk was the best way to break the ice.
Halley looked down, hiding a laugh at his attempt at conversation. "It's been good. I was supposed to be stationed on the Michener after the celebration but it looks like my future is uncertain, for now. How about you? Are you ready to go down this road again? Some would say you could take this tragedy off since you've saved the world so many times already."
Tom took a deep breath reflecting on her words, "I guess you have a point but it's the James that still sails so I am invested. I'm sure I would be even if it was another ship. My place is on the sea and, for some reason, I keep trying to stay behind and have a normal life. Like being a teacher," he explained.
Halley reached across the table and placed her hand on top of his, "Tom, you don't have to explain that to me like I don't understand it. I haven't been posted on a ship yet but I already feel that desire to always be at sea. Trust me, I am not going to try and tie you down here with a family," her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She tried to cover up her deep reveal, "That is, if things got serious between us. Someday, I'd want a family I'm sure but being at sea is my current goal."
Tom laughed softly, grasping her hand, "We could be serious, don't be ashamed of your feelings. We're at war so we don't have the luxury for the slow burn because either of us could die tomorrow," he moved to her other point. "I have always wanted to do the family thing well but something won't let me. I couldn't tell you what it is but I'm only comfortable in my skin when I'm on a ship."
"Maybe we can figure out what keeps you at sea," she offered, but she was interrupted by the waiter, there to take their orders.
Tom and Halley ordered and each took a sip of wine before they began talking again.
Tom moved to change the topic from his ghosts, or whatever he was suffering from. "So, do you think we can go on a second date? Or, does the one night stand put us past all that and we can just start having sleepovers?" he asked with a sly grin crossing his lips.
"You know I'm not a prude, not that I have a problem with them," Halley began, "And you said there's no time so it seems like we should accelerate this thing between us, act as if the last three months we were together and pick up there. The question is, who's place?"
Tom smirked, "Based on my confession about loving life at sea then I think you can imagine my home is not very home like. My kids live in St. Louis so it's just me on the rare event that I actually go there. So, I vote for your place. Unless you're more like me then I think?"
Halley shook her head, "My place is furnished and decorated like a home because my mom set it up but I rarely spend any time there. But, for the purposes of us, I do think it's the place to choose. Do we go there after dinner or wait a few days to make sure this is what we want?" she asked.
"It's what I want," he admitted, "So tonight is just right for me. I'm not putting any pressure on you, though. If you need longer, just tell me."
Halley smiled as their food was set down in front of them, "I've wanted this since the first day I entered your class. I'm all in starting right now."
Tom leaned across the table, cupping her face in his hand as he placed his lips tenderly to hers.