Edward´s Second Date
Edward sank back into his chair, a wave of embarrassment washing over him. The truth was, he had a secret that he hadn't shared with anyone, even Jasper. Correct that, especially not with Jasper, because it made him feel a little foolish.
Because on the drive over to the restaurant, he had tuned into a podcast playing basic Greek greetings. It was a strange choice, considering he couldn't utter a single word in Greek, nor could he understand what they were saying, but there was something about the melodic language that soothed his nerves.
Of course, that was not the only reason for his newfound calmness. Just a few hours earlier, he had indulged in an exorbitantly expensive back massage. It was all thanks to Jasper's recommendation. Despite the hefty price tag, Edward couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed. Jasper had a knack for finding hidden gems, and this salon was no exception.
His gaze shifted to his date, his eyes tracing her every move. She gracefully brushed back a few strands of her curled hair, revealing the dazzling sparkle of her earrings. Just like the last time they met, her hair seemed incredibly soft, tempting him to run his fingers through its silky strands. Of course, he would never admit that aloud; it sounded far too intimate and, perhaps, a little creepy. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but notice its silky texture.
Summoning his courage, Edward decided to impress his date with his limited knowledge of Greek. With a proud smile, he uttered, "Jeia sou," the only phase he could remember from the podcast.
Bella blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. She reached for her wine glass, taking a large sip to gather her thoughts.
Her reaction caught him off guard and Edward's confidence wavered slightly. Had his accent betrayed him? He was certain he had pronounced it correctly. After all, it was just a basic 'hey you.'
As Bella swallowed, she seemed to gather her thoughts, preparing to respond. But before she could say a single word, the waiter arrived, interrupting the changed atmosphere to refill Bella's glass.
"Thank you," Bella murmured politely, her voice barely above a whisper.
An awkward stillness settled between them, their eyes locked in a dance of uncertainty. Sensing his date's discomfort, Edward held his breath, allowing her the space to express herself.
"Actually," Bella began, her voice filled with a newfound resolve as if she had made up her mind about something. She sighed.
Edward waited patiently.
¨My Greek´s a bit rusty,¨ she finally admitted. She reached for her glass with a trembling hand and fidgeted nervously. She seemed a bit embarrassed by the confession, causing Edward to wonder if there was more to the story.
Before he could respond, ts the waiter approached with the menus, providing a welcomed distraction. Edward pretended to study the menu intently, even though he didn´t really need it.
¨What will you order?¨ Bella asked.
¨I´m not sure yet, Alice. The dish the people next to us ordered looks tempting. What about you?¨
Bella glanced sideways, her eyes widening with excitement. ¨Oh yes, definitely that. Whatever it is.¨
Edward chuckled and nodded to the waiter to take their order.
Amidst their ordering, a woman in a stunning red dress emerged from the staff room, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Edward couldn´t help but laugh as Bella questioned the spectacle.
¨That´s Lauren,¨ he explained. ¨She plays the piano every Saturday. We left too early last week.¨ He winked.
Lauren took her place at the grand piano, and a hushed anticipation filled the air. Edward watched her with interest but found himself drawn back to his date.
¨Speaking of which, how long have you been playing?¨ he gently asked.
Blushing, Bella confessed. ¨Oh, that. It´s also a bit rusty, I´m afraid.¨
Edward thought back to the car ride with his mother. Esme had been very, very positive about Alice´s capacities. How well her Greek was, and how exceptionally good she was at playing the piano. Why would his mother be so over-the-top positive? Normally, she wasn´t like that.
Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, their desserts, an assortiment of Italian treats like tiramisu and gelato, arrived. Bella frowned slightly, prompting Edward to ask what was wrong.
Bella leaned in, her voice becoming a whispered secret. ¨Did you know that my ex, Jacob, used to make something like a tiramisu? But with beer. He called it a beeramisu. Ever since then, I´ve had a tiny aversion to it.¨
¨Really?¨ Edward replied with a smile. ¨I once knew a Jacob during my studies. It´s not a common name around here. Perhaps it´s the same one.¨