Chapter 5

"So are you going to tell me anything about yourself," she persisted on. "Well what do you want to know," he asked her.

"Hmmm, like where you're from, your family, what you like to do for fun, etc. Stuff like that. I'll reciprocate the same about myself," she smiled broadly.

"Fine, well let's see… I am from California. I am an only child. I went to Stanford and got my degree there. I like to listen to rock music and go to concerts when time allows." He had noticed when he mentioned Stanford her eyebrows raised.

"Stanford, impressive," she grinned. "Yeah and I graduated Summa Cum Laude." She smirked. "Most impressive." Greg beamed with confidence now.

"So it is your turn."

"Okay, I am from Chicago area and I have one older brother. I went to UNLV for my degree. I wanted to live here ever since we came on vacation as a little kid, so that all worked out. For fun, concerts, obviously, when I can, and I love taking photos. I am really into nature photography. That is something I do a lot in my spare time. Overall I just try to enjoy my life because you never know when your time might be up."

Greg noticed her expression had become more reflective and wondered who she had lost in her life. Then his thoughts shifted to his case and how what she said was so true.

She noticed his smile fading and was about to apologize for kind of sounding gloomy and doomy, when the waitress arrived with their meals.

After the waitress left them, Eve broke the silence. "I am starving. I skipped breakfast today." Then she dug into her pasta dish.

"Yeah, well this is sort of my dinner, I guess you could say."

She glanced at him. "Oh yes, I suppose you sleep during the day time hours mostly."

"Yes, but I will probably stay up later today since I do not go into work. (Plus I probably will hardly sleep any tonight, he thought.) But I do have to be up early tomorrow morning anyway."

"Oh you have that civil trial tomorrow, don't you?" The second she saw his face grow pale she knew she should have kept her mouth shut.

He almost stuttered his response. "How do you know about that?" He was a bit alarmed now. Was she some sort of stalker?

She clearly saw she had to explain herself fast. "Listen Greg, sorry, I did not mean to blurt that out. I read the newspapers. I watch the news. I did not put it together until this morning that it was you who they were talking about with that civil case. I hadn't really paid attention to the name before until this morning when I read about it in the newspaper. I'm really sorry. I know it must feel like I am prying or something."

Greg did not feel so alarmed anymore, but still was uncomfortable and feeling slightly stupid too. How could he have not realized his case was all over the press after that fiasco he saw at his last court appearance? This one would probably be worse. He silently cursed, hating this whole situation with her knowing about what he had done. He felt guilty somehow.

Eve could see he was struggling with how to deal with her knowing about this. She could not keep it like this. What a way for me to ruin a date.

"Greg, I know I just sort of blindsided you on me knowing about this, but let me explain something to you. My mother was on the Chicago police force. She was a lieutenant and did her job extremely well. My dad, who was a salesman, always worried on nights when she would be late coming home. Then there was the one night, when the Captain came to the door. I was 14 years old at the time, old enough to understand what his coming to the door at that time of night meant. My dad did not try to push me away from hearing the news." She paused for a moment. Greg could see this was difficult for her.

"To make a long story short, she was killed in the line of duty, trying to protect another person, when she became a victim." She was somber now; the cheery woman who came through the door earlier was gone.

"I told you this so you can understand where I am coming from. I basically understand your job and what it entails. When I first saw about it in the paper, I could not believe the family was suing that CSI, well you, for wrongful death. I do not know the exact details, but I am sure you did what basically you only could do given the situation." Greg only just shrugged his shoulders. She was curious about his reaction.

"Do you think you could have done something differently?" He stared down at his food, picking at his fries. "I don't know. I guess not." He ran his hands over his face, frustrated.

She looked at him, knowing she had just blown any chance she had with him. Me and my big mouth. "I'm sorry. I just totally messed up everything. I am an idiot. I should probably leave now anyway. I have to be back to work soon." She started to dig in her purse to grab her wallet to pay for her meal.

Greg reached out to her and grabbed her arm. "Wait! Just wait a moment." His voice was calm as her eyes met his.

"This is weird for me. I have hardly really talked to anyone other than my annoying lawyer about my case and now here I am, talking to a virtual stranger about it." She glanced down at her hands. "I'm sorry. I really am."

"Please, stop saying that!" He chuckled. She looked up at him, surprised at his reaction. "I get that you are sorry. Stop worrying about it." He smiled at her now. They both felt some tension break free. She smiled back at him.

"Okay, no more 'I am sorry's'. Got it!"

"Good, now first off. I am sorry you lost your mother so early and tragically. I can see that you still clearly miss her." She nodded her head, acknowledging that.

"Secondly, I guess I am actually relieved that you can understand my situation. I guess somewhere deep down I was afraid that if you found out, you would be…I don't know…weird about it."

"'Weird about it?'" She laughed. Greg felt embarrassed. "You know what I am trying to say, right?" She smiled at him earnestly.

"Yeah I get what you are trying to say." She sighed and looked at her watch. She really did need to be leaving soon. He noticed her looking at the time. "You really do have to go now, don't you?"

She looked disappointed. "Yes I do, unfortunately. I wish I did not. This did not turn out the way I was hoping it would."

He gazed into her green eyes. "Me either, but it was a good different." Her eyebrows went up. "Really? A good different? Does that mean what I think it means?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Well if you think it means I am willing to try this again, then yes." She smiled. "You are willing to give this idiot another chance?"

"Well I think you are being a bit too hard on yourself, but yes I'd like to see you again." She was pleased. "I'd like to see you again too. So when is the next date?"