Auggie pulled the vegetables and cut-up chicken he'd prepared earlier from the fridge and sat them on the counter, then grabbed the pan and set it to warm on the stove. While it heated, he turned and leaned against the counter, watching Annie as she unpacked the box.
She obviously didn't know anything about manga, he thought, given the frown on her face as she arranged the large books on the table. But when she got to his other collectibles, the frown disappeared and was replaced by a small smile.
"Those go on the shelf above the computer."
Annie nodded and filled her arms with the various Superman figurines. Most were small, but she couldn't help but smile at the largest. Two foot tall and heavy, the piece was Superman, or rather, of Clark Kent, peeling away his suit to reveal the "S" on his chest.
She glanced over at Auggie, who'd begun dropping the vegetables into a pan. Looking back at the figurine, she thought he somewhat resembled the caped crusader's alter ego, with the dark hair, muscled body and thick glasses. Though she knew Auggie didn't have laser vision or the ability to fly, he certainly came her rescue last week.
When she was done, she joined him in the kitchen. "Mm, that smells delicious."
"My specialty," Auggie replied with a wink, grabbing a piece of carrot from the pan and popping it into his mouth. "So, I take it you like Superman, too, huh?"
"Yep."
"I figured as much. Brandon Routh, right?"
"Hardly," Annie scoffed.
"Ahh, old school, I like it."
Opening the fridge door again, he pulled out a bottle of wine and sat it on the counter. He rummaged in a drawer for the opener. "If you'll takea seat at the table, I'll bring everything over."
15 minutes later, her plate nearly empty, Annie picked up her half-full glass of wine and sat back in her seat, regarding the man across from her. "So," she said, "why did you think I wouldn't want to see your stuff?"
Auggie finished chewing before he answered, "Carl."
"Carl?" Annie asked. "Oh, the guy who works for you?"
"Yeah. He meant well," Auggie said. "He knew I'd never invited someone over before, so –"
"No one?" Annie asked, nearly choking on a mouthful of wine. "You mean you –"
"I've dated before, but –" Auggie shrugged. "Never really met someone who held my attention for that long, or she wasn't all that into me."
"Were they put off by –" Annie asked, not really wanting to fnish her question, but wanting the answer, all the same.
"If you're asking whether or not some of them bolted once they found out I'm half-blind, then the answer is yes."
"I'm sorry," Annie said.
"It's not your fault."
"No," Annie said, leaning forward. "I'm sorry you had to meet so many bubble-headed women."
Surprised at her statement, Auggie asked, "Bubble-headed women?"
"Yes, for being so shallow, they're bubble-headed. Stupid, to tell you the truth."
"Thanks," Auggie said with a genuine smile.
She returned it and continued sipping on her wine. When a few more seconds of silence passed, she put her wine glass down on the table. "So, then, what made you invite me up here?"
"Angling for compliments now?" Auggie smirked.
"Oh, well, no, not really –"
Auggie laughed at her stammering. "I thought it'd be obvious."
"Well, it was, until you said no one else has ever been here."
A flash of uncertainty crosses her face, and Auggie knew she wasn't just fishing for accolades. It's what intrigued him about her in the first place, and with that thought in mind, he decided to tell her. Picking up the bottle of wine, he refilled her glass and his own and slid his chair closer to her.
He took one of her hands in his and looked into her soft brown eyes. "Remember when you called, asking me to fix your computer?" he asked.
"Of course I do."
"I've met people upset about their equipment failing, but you seemed so sad. Then, when I got to your place, you were so distraught, that I almost wanted to pull you into my arms and make your sadness go away."
"Yeah, I was pretty pathetic, huh?" Annie said with a frown.
Auggie shook his head. "Not pathetic, no. Genuine and honest. And beautiful. I almost kicked myself when I got home and realized I hadn't gotten your number or left you mine. Then you walked back into my shop. And I knew I'd do anything to make you mine."
"Wow," Annie said.
"Now I'm the one who sounds pathetic, right?"
"No," Annie said, looking down at their entwined hands, his thumbs drawing small circles on her palm. "That's pretty much what I was thinking when we first met, too."
"Really?" Auggie asked with a smile. "You thought I was beautiful, too?"
"No, I mean –" Annie said before laughing. "You see, that's what I like about you. You make me laugh."
Auggie pouted, "That's it? I bare my soul to you, and all I get back is, I'm a comedian?"
Annie can see he's joking with her again, but she can tell, through his touch and the soft pleading in his eyes that he needed to hear this. If anything, she thought, to show him that those other women were the blind ones.
"From the beginning, huh?" Annie asked. "Well, on the phone, I thought you were a bit rude, but you did agree to come over right away. And then when I saw you – I mean, damn, Auggie, you do own a mirror, right? But you listened to me and calmed me down and fixed my computer and saved my work. And then –"
Annie sighed, "Auggie, I really don't know how to express all this. You're cute and funny and smart. I like being around you, and I want to be around you for a long time. Is that enough?"
His chest swelling with the emotions that she was conveying, if not her words, Auggie said, "For now." He let go of one of her hands to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "You had enough to eat?"
Annie nodded.
"Then bring your wine glass and join me on the sofa."
Auggie brought the bottle and set it along with his own glass on the coffeetable before heading over to the TV.
"Are we going to watch a movie?" Annie asked.
"Yep."
"Don't tell me, it's the original 'Superman.'"
"Nope," Auggie replied, sliding the DVD into the player before joining Annie on the couch. As the menu came up, Annie gasped in delight.
"I can't believe you have a copy of 'Amelie.'"
Auggie shrugged with nonchalance, "I'm full of surprises."
Sliding her sandals off, Annie tucked her legs under her and settles back, her head nearly touching Auggie's shoulder. He took the not-so-subtle hint and raised his arm so she can tuck into his side. "Did I tell you I've been to Montmartre?"
"I figured you might," Auggie said. "Tell me about it?"
As the movie played, Annie provided commentary – some informational, some silly – about the places she'd been that were in the movie. She also talked about the other places she'd visited in France, the cities, and how she'd walked the entire of Paris her first time there. She didn't want to miss anything and figured a bus tour or rental car wouldn't provide her with the same experience.
Auggie hung onto every word, living vicariously through her detailed stories. They'd continued to talk even after the movie had ended, and it was only when he'd reached for the wine bottle again that they realized they'd emptied it between them.
Given the late hour and Annie's apparent inebriation, she sighed. "I'm probably too far gone to drive home, huh?"
Auggie's bed in her peripheral vision teased her, and given her loosening inhibitions due to the alcohol and Auggie's proximity, she knew it was too soon to take such a step with him. The promise of their burgeoning relationship was way too important.
Auggie leaned down the few inches to where she was tucked into his side, his arm around her shoulder, and kisses her softly. He can see, though, in her eyes the same reluctance he was feeling to allow what was happening between them to go too far, too fast.
"You can take the bed," he whispered against her lips. "I'll sleep on the couch."
