Prompt: Phone
Stella glared at her cold Chinese food and wondered for the tenth time that hour why she didn't take Don up on his dinner invitation.
Of course, she knew why. They'd already gone out twice this week and somewhere in her crazy, screwed up mind, three times was just too much. Three times a week started being a commitment, a relationship, and it was just too early for that.
She was still getting used to going on a date with someone and knowing they weren't going to try to kill you at the end of the night.
She'd done the right thing saying no, even if it meant she was alone with cold, day old wonton soup.
She was digging into a fortune cookie as the phone rang, "Bonasera."
"Hi, Stella," she smiled as she heard Don's voice.
"Hi, Don, is everything okay?"
"Nothing work related, if that's what you mean. However, I am eating some very suspicious looking pizza because my date flaked for the night."
"That's horrible, what a bitch."
"Oh no, not at all. She's just a little nervous about new relationships. She's been burned in the past and she needs a little time to adjust."
Stella sighed, "Sounds like she might be more work than she's worth."
"Not possible," Don said firmly, his voice sure and strong, "She's…well she's something real special, someone worth fighting for, waiting for…as long as it takes."
"What if it's a really long time?"
"As long as it takes," he repeated again.
"Well, she's a really lucky woman to have a man like you waiting for her."
"Would you do me a favor and tell her that?"
"I'll pass along the message."
"Good, well, I better get back to my pizza."
"Right, have a good night, Don."
"See you tomorrow, Stella."
Stella smiled as she closed her phone. So, he'd wait for her. She wasn't sure she could ever express how much that meant to her. She didn't know how long it would take her to be completely ready, but she did know one thing.
Next time he asked her to dinner she was saying yes.