Dimitri paced the sidewalk, running his fingers through his hair. Sweat formed at the nape of his neck.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Pick up. Pick up. Pick up," Dimitri muttered to himself outside the restaurant. He was meeting Jasmine in about ten minutes.
"Hi, you've reached Meg Thebes. I'm - "
He hung up.
Three days. Three days he had been trying and trying to get in touch with her after running into her that morning in the drug store. She hadn't called or texted to let him know the results of her test. He paced the sidewalk. He decided to call her again. Straight to voicemail. He tried again. Voicemail. He knew she was deliberately avoiding him.
"Hi, Meg. It's me. Dimitri. I think you know why I'm calling. Please call me back. Bye."
He hung up and sighed heavily against the wall.
"Rough day?
He looked up.
"Jasmine! Hey!"
She was beautiful. She wore an off the shoulder white top with a gold necklace. She had on a black mini-skirt and boots. Her hair was up in a fancy bun. She wore gold hoop earrings. She looked breathtakingly beautiful. He was glad he had a date with her tonight to distract him from his thoughts about Meg.
He leaned forward and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"You just look a little stressed out. Is everything alright at the shop?"
He awkwardly smiled, trying to cover up is anxiety.
"Nah. I'm good. Ready to eat?"
She nodded. He put his arm around her and they walked into the restaurant together. Dimitri focused all his attention on his new girlfriend and their dinner date tonight. Meg would not cross his mind. Or so he hoped.
…
"And then my agent says that I've been one of the designers chosen for Fashion Week!" Jasmine exclaimed, ecstatic.
"Wow. Jas, that's awesome. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks! I've been working so hard on some new stuff lately. I feel like I've really earned it."
"You have. You have."
She looked at him curiously.
"Are you okay?"
Dimitri blinked a few times, wondering what she was getting at.
"Of course. Why?"
"You just seem a bit distracted."
She put her hand over his on the table.
"If something's bothering you, you know you can tell me anything, right?"
Dimitri saw her hand on his. He enjoyed her soft silky smooth skin. He just stare at it as if that gesture held all the answers to his problems and uncertainties.
"Dimitri, are you thinking of breaking up with me?"
His head shot up, looking her in the eye.
"What? Of course not! Why would you think that?"
"Well you're distracted, you keep staring off into space and you've only been half listening to me! To me those are all signs of a break up."
Dimitri put Jasmine's hands in his and brought them to his lips. She leaned forward.
"Jasmine, I am not – I repeat – not breaking up with you."
"Then what's going on? I'm worried about you."
He sighed.
"Really. It's nothing. Just some family stuff is all."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Nah. It's okay. I don't need to worry you with my family's issues."
She smiled.
"You wouldn't be worrying me. I care about you. I'm already worried!"
"I know. I know. And I appreciate that."
He smiled and kissed her on the mouth. He loved kissing her. She was an amazing kisser. But deep in his heart he longed to kiss someone else. He leaned back with a smile on his face as he slowly opened his eyes. She was smiling, too. Her dark brown eyes were practically giddy. She was definitely one in a million.
So why was he sitting her on a date with a knockout, but thinking about an equally beautiful girl who was already taken? Jasmine wanted him. She cared about him. She was more than interested in him. And she could play guitar. What more could he ask for?
Meg. He thought to himself. Meg. He could ask for Meg.