His Perspective – Mr. E
There is something to be said about victory even if viciously obtained. The man was tormented by his desires yet he reasoned it was the woman's fault if she did not walk away. Bella was supposed to be here already, the man thought, checking his phone. He was a few minutes early but already impatient.
"I'm here. Just waiting on you, beautiful."
The man texted as he watched for her. Standing there, the man often wondered why he could not do whatever he wanted. He had been hurt by life. It was part of living. The man thought of why should he deny himself the pleasure of this and after all, he was paying for the dinner. He had gotten over his pain, Bella would get over this, in time, too.
"Sorry," Bella was rushing up to him. "It took me a moment to find a place to park," she explained herself, looking flustered.
The man wasted no time, placing a kiss upon her cheek. They were quickly shown to a table and the man insisted that they needed to start with cocktails.
"So, your mom is Italian," Bella brought up from one of their previous conversations. "Any traditions you celebrate because of her?" Bella smiled as she wound her pasta around her fork.
"There was a deli by our house growing up," the man answered. "She would often get us salami and prosciutto each Sunday morning," the man smiled as he recalled the memory.
"That sounds wonderful," Bella smiled, thinking about if she would ever have a family like that one day.
"Any good family traditions for you," the man asked which had Bella conflicted. Her family could be a difficult subject.
"My father was more of grabbing sugar donuts on a Sunday type of guy," she confessed, smiling though as she remembered it, though.
There would always be something of not having to make a meal, the act of generosity, that brought warmth to Bella's heart. It felt similar to how the man had invited her out for this dinner.
"Okay to walk to a bar after this," the man asked, watching her.
Bella knew it was a dangerous offer. Drinks usually led to liberation. But she did not want the night to end.
"I would really like that," she responded back.