"Thank you, breakfast was delicious." I walk the good Doctor to my door.
"It was my pleasure, Celeste. Thank you for washing my dishes, I'm often left with the dirty work," He laughed ", I'll see you later tonight. I'll be here around six to pick you up."
"Oh, no! That's okay, I planned on walking."
"Really, it's of no inconvenience to me. I've planned not to drink tonight just to drive everyone home."
"No, seriously, it's just a few blocks down. I walk there all the time." I opened the door for him, but he kept looking at me, standing just inside the foyer.
"These streets grow dangerous at night. There have been over three accounts of assault on the street between here and the bar, according to the papers. For my own piece of mind, allow me to drive you."
"Instilling fear into my heart my heart to get your way? Fine, I accept." I said; my voice laced with a light tone.
"Thank you, and again, I'll see you at six." He nodded and walked out of my home without so much as a glance back. I shut my door, a smile I hadn't realized I'd been wearing still on my face. That was really nice of him.
As soon as I heard his car pull from my driveway, I grabbed my phone from the sweatpants and hit speed-dial number one.
"Will Graham."
"What the fuck was that?" I spit, putting the call on speaker and laying my phone on the counter.
"Hannibal has already came and left, I assume?" He laughs and I hear him sit down.
"Yes. We had breakfast. Scrambled eggs and sausage-"
"It's one fine scrambled eggs and sausage."
"Yes, it is one fine dish, but I'm not done so keep your mouth shut. We ate breakfast and drank a light pink breakfast wine out of tea cups. Tea cups, Will."
"Why are you putting so much emphasis on the tea cups?"
"Because it was sweet. So I ask again, what was that? Did you coach him to do that?"
"I did no such thing, 'Lest. I did give him the idea for surprise breakfast. I thought if you got to know him on a one-on-one level, you might be more comfortable." It was nice of him, really. But I still felt slightly betrayed; my closest friend trying to force a relationship on me.
"I know exactly what you're doing! You're trying to get me to like him in a romantic sense. I'm just not buying it, Will. Today was great, but he still weirds me out on this level… I can't put my finger on it."
"I think that's because you haven't spent the time with him like myself and Alana have. Give the man a chance, I can tell he's taken an interest in you."
"Bullshit, Will. And another thing-"
"No 'Lest, he said so himself. He finds you amusing and that's a lot for him. Come on, just give it a chance." Will posed a point; he would never make a liar out of himself to me. If Hannibal really said those things, maybe he wasn't as odd as I thought.
"I'm stacking this on top of the favors I've done for you."
"No, not this time. Do this for you."
"I don't want to do this for me, I couldn't care less about his tiddly ass feelings, Will. I can't get past that feeling… he's so fucking creepy on one level and sweet on another which makes for a dangerous combo."
"You said he was adorable earlier." I could practically hear his smile; he was right, I did say that.
"Pink wine tea cups, Will!" I screamed.
"And you found that adorable. So, here's my take."
"Will, you fucking promised me you would never pull that shit on me. Stay out of my head."
"You fear change. You've spent so long on your own, living life without a father figure in your life. You've never had a partner that didn't turn out to be a horrible person. You fear the pattern will keep repeating itself. You fear that actually enjoying Hannibal, on any level, will lead to unresolved issues, leaving you a washed up stereotype of a girl with daddy issues."
"Fuck you, Will." I went to slam the end call button, but he kept talking, and I was compelled to listen.
"You're too smart to let another man intrude on your happiness. That loneliness paired with your third wave feminist ways lead you to believe that perhaps you're just too good or not good enough for a stable relationship anymore. You have sex with different partners of both genders when it suits you without forming the emotional bonds of a relationship. You're denying this relationship because you can. Celeste, you called an esteemed man within the psychology field adorable, you did this because you like him. Do something for yourself, even though this started about me. Admit to yourself that you like him. I'll see you later at the bar, I'll buy your drinks to make up for this, I promise."
Will didn't even say goodbye, he hung up the phone and left me in tears. The problem with being friends with Will Graham was that he was always right. Enjoying Hannibal Lecter outside of this arrangement for the long term isn't feasible. It sounds pathetic and alluring; a man double my age being interested in me. Okay Will, you want me to be fluid? Go with the flow? I can do that.
Just let it happen. No biggie, right? Yet as the night approaches and I'm left staring at my reflection in the mirror, I find myself anxious. This is the only time I've ever wanted to skip out on a bar trip. I slap on the basic makeup, trying to hide the flush upon my cheeks.
Admit you like him - Will's voice echoes through my mind like a broken record. Admit you like him, let him like you. I give myself a good check out in the mirror, pumped to give myself a pep talk.
"He's smart. He's attractive in a non-conventional way. He does nice things for you. He looks hella fine in a suit, and those cheekbones are to die for. Get your shit together. Let this shit happen." That's all I can bring myself to admit, for now. I slip on a black muscle shirt and pull on my skinny jeans. I'm struck with an epiphany, pulling my black blazer with the golden buttons off a hanger and slipped it over. There; not to casual and not to try-hard. I've got this.
Before I make it out the door, I stop, eyes fixated on my form.
"You fucking got this. I'm Celeste Falton and I fucking got this.
With that, I fling open the door and walk to the Doctor's car.