Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. The word for this bit was 'undeniable', and it's actually late for the community as well… aheh… moving on.
PART THREE: YOU'VE GOT ME
Leaning against the wall outside 'Luigi's', he couldn't help but feel apprehensive. After all, other dates in the past hadn't been so much dates as… well, one night stands. And with one or two, that was being generous. Ray knew he should just get it together and stand tall and straight, wait calmly for her to get here. But he couldn't do that… shamefully, he had butterflies in his stomach, no matter how hard he tried to quell them.
Stupid nerves. C'mon, this is Abby… get a grip.
Trying his best to listen to his chiding thoughts, he looked around, and then down at his watch, pulling his hand from his pocket. It was chilly tonight, so, for a change, he'd put on a jacket. It was getting close to the time when they'd agreed to meet here, and he actually felt worse now. Furrowing his brow more in annoyance at himself than anything else, he stared down at his feet. He hadn't gone overboard with his clothing, and as such, was a cross between smart and casual; a happy medium… or so he hoped. He supposed he'd find out when Abby got there. He just hoped she hadn't got too dressed up…
Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't even hear the cab pull up just down the street, and the subsequent opening and closing of the door. Why he looked up, he supposed he'd never know, but when he did, he froze, and not because of the weather. His eyes found her walking away from the cab towards him, and, to be frank… he was a little thrown. He'd found her attractive enough in what she wore for work… now? Well, to say he was taken aback would have been an understatement.
She smiled at him, no doubt in amusement at his expression, and greeted him with a calm, "Hey."
"Hey," he managed after a few moments of collecting himself, and pushed away from the wall, looking down at her.
"I expected you to be late," she teased; that much was clear from the light in her eyes and the way she smiled.
"Very funny," he remarked, laughing softly. "Wanna go in? It's kinda cold out here."
"Big baby…"
Letting her go in first, he narrowed his eyes. She was more playful tonight than he would have expected… not that that was a bad thing, of course. He found it intriguing, not to mention amusing. He followed her in the door, where a waiter offered to take their coats when they got to their table. Ray gave his over first, the heat in the restaurant much more comfortable when simply in his jeans and grey button-shirt. He found himself watching Abby as she took off her jacket, and all but fell over his chair.
Okay, you're having a bad day… geek…
Straightening himself, he nodded his thanks to the waiter, who sat Abby in her seat, even as Ray sat himself down as well. Abby was wearing black pants with heeled boots – he knew she'd looked taller – and an elegant but not over-the-top white blouse with fine patterning on it. Summoning his voice as they sat there, he said to her quietly, "You look great." It was undeniable, and so, he'd gone for the old 'honesty is the best policy' tactic, hoping it would pay off.
Abby looked at Ray as if startled, and then laughed quietly, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Thank you." In a somewhat cliché manner he certainly hadn't expected, she came back with, "You don't look so shabby yourself."
Wait for it…
"For a change."
He couldn't stop the smile that came over his face, elbows on the table casually, with one hand scratching at the back of his head as he laughed gently. "I knew you were going to say that," he told her honestly.
"Am I that predictable?" she asked lightly, and he looked her in the eye across the table, even as the waiter brought their menus over. He prattled off a list of specials for them – with Ray wondering how they were supposed to remember all the ridiculously-named dishes – and then left them to browse and decide.
Abby looked deeply thoughtful and scanned her eyes almost critically over everything on the menu. Ray found himself watching her for a time, before he blurted, "Please don't tell me you're on a diet."
… You did not just say that…
Abby laughed, and looked to him. A very light flush came over her cheeks, he noticed, and she shook her head. "Not at the moment. Why?"
"I… I didn't mean that how it sounded." Ray pulled a face. "Sorry." Clearing his throat, he added, "I only meant that you didn't need it… I mean… well, so many… I'm going to shut up now." All but burying himself under the large menu, he groaned to himself.
Did you take some funky medication without my knowledge? You idiot…
But as he ducked there, he heard Abby's chuckle, and was pleasantly surprised to find there was no mocking there.
If nothing else, that comforted him enough so he could lift his head and browse his menu again.
Okay… take it easy. The night is young, and you haven't even eaten yet. If you can go another half an hour without making an idiot of yourself, you should be fine…
To Be Continued
