Chapter 7 #2
“Just to let you know, this time I won’t be able to stay at your place or have you stay at mine because Hermes wants to pick me up so we can see each other.”
“Two nights in a row? That man is crazy about you,” she stated.
“It’s just because it’s the first few days. I don’t think it will be like this later.”
“The novelty or ‘heat’ of the early days,” Serafina said.
“Something like that.”
“Well, we’ll talk about it later. Have a good day,” she said goodbye.
“You too.”
◆◆◆
The day at the office was busy, starting with a meeting that went on until after noon, and after grabbing a quick lunch, I had two more meetings.
I barely had time to respond to a message from Hermes asking how my day was going, and Serafina and I agreed that she would come by my place and then we’d go out to dinner at a restaurant.
Baco also wrote to check in on me because we hadn’t spoken in days, and we agreed to coordinate a time to see each other in the coming days.
I couldn’t leave the office until after seven in the evening, and I was truly exhausted.
I got to my apartment and the first thing I did was take a long shower, then I put on comfortable clothes and went to make a coffee and something to eat because I had barely eaten anything all day.
I was savoring my sandwich when my phone rang—it was Hermes.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Hello, darling. Where are you? Are you with your friend?”
“I’m at home because Serafina hasn’t arrived yet.”
“And have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Not yet, but we’ll probably go out to dinner. How was your day?”
“I had a complicated and exhausting day,” he said, and I could tell from his voice that he really was tired and also seemed worried, “I’d love to be there with you to forget about everything.”
“Are you okay?”
“I would be if you were with me,” he stated.
“Don’t do that, Hermes, you’re emotionally blackmailing me.”
“Did it work?”
“No, because we already agreed that we’d see each other later, though if you’re that tired, you should go rest and we can see each other tomorrow.”
“No,” he declared in his domineering voice.
“Hermes, I’m not sure how long I’ll be with Serafina. It makes more sense for us to see each other tomorrow.”
“No. I’ll come for you whenever you’re done and we’ll spend the night together. I need to see you, Delfina. I need to go to bed with you by my side.”
That confession took me by surprise and filled me with a warmth that sent shivers throughout my body. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but it was impossible not to harbor hopes about his love.
“You know you’re very, very stubborn, right?”
“Am I? I didn’t know that,” he said, and I could tell he was smiling.
“And what’s worse is that you easily acknowledge what you consider your virtues, but you don’t recognize your flaws.”
“Maybe I don’t have any.”
“Arrogant—there’s one for you,” I stated, and he burst out laughing.
“See, we’ve only been talking and you’ve already improved my mood a bit. I haven’t laughed since this morning.”
“Well, that’s not news. Let’s agree that laughter isn’t one of your characteristics,” I stated, and he laughed again.
“On that we agree, but with you I laugh quite a bit.”
“Are you calling me a clown, Mr. Darwich?”
“No, I’m saying that you make your optimism and joy contagious to me. You make me happy.”
Oh my God! That man had left me speechless. That phrase was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to me. If I had him by my side at that moment, I would have hugged and kissed him until he was breathless.
“Why did you go quiet?” he asked, concerned.
“Because what you said touched my soul.”
“I spoke the truth,” he affirmed with certainty.
“Thank you, that was beautiful.”
“Don’t thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you for bringing some light to my darkness.”
And now my jaw was truly on the floor. This man was romantic without even trying and said the most beautiful things I had ever heard.
“You’ve convinced me, I’ll see you later. Now I want to hold you, kiss you and…”
“Fu—”
“Hermes!” I exclaimed, interrupting him, and he burst into laughter again.
“I was just going to clearly state what we both feel. Why don’t you like that word?”
“Because I was being romantic and…”
“I already told you I’m not romantic.”
“I have my doubts about that, but let’s not start arguing over it. I have to go because I need to change to go out.”
“Don’t wear anything too sensual because they’ll devour you with their eyes. They’ll look at what belongs to me, and I don’t like that.”
And there he was again, the bossy and domineering Hermes. I decided to take it with humor and play along.
“I’m sensual even in an oversized t-shirt,” I joked, remembering what he had said when he saw me wearing one of his.
“On that we agree, which means I’m in big trouble. Don’t finish too late and let me know so I can pick you up.”
“I’ll call you.”
“Behave yourself and think of me.”
As if I could not do that, I’m always thinking about you! I thought.
“I will,” I affirmed, and we ended the call.
◆◆◆
Serafina arrived after nine in the evening.
She was so dressed up that I assumed I wouldn’t be able to convince her to stay home.
She was wearing a form-fitting black dress that looked gorgeous on her.
I had opted for a sleeveless pink silk blouse, a red satin pencil skirt with delicate oriental-inspired floral paillette embroidery, and gold leather heels.
I had styled my hair in a high ponytail with a tousled effect.
“You look beautiful, Seri!” I exclaimed when I saw her.
“And you look like an oriental goddess. That outfit is super sexy on you.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked, because even though I had dressed up, if she suggested staying home, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
“Looking as divine as we do, we have to go out and show ourselves off. Let’s go somewhere where we can eat and there’s live music. I know a really good place where you can even dance. You might have heard of it, it’s the pub ‘The Desire.’”
“I think you’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve never been. What’s certain is that I can’t stay out too late because Hermes is going to pick me up,” I clarified as I went to get the clutch where I planned to keep my things.
“That’s right, now you’re a girl with a controlling boyfriend,” she said, twisting her mouth in disgust.
“You’re jealous,” I stated.
“Maybe a little. I’m afraid Hermes Darwich will monopolize you and you’ll forget about me.”
“That will never happen. You’re like my sister and you know it.”
“Do you promise?”
“Word of honor.”
We arrived at the place Seri had suggested.
It was a pub with live music where you could also have a good dinner.
We chose a table with sofas near the stage and ordered food.
As soon as we sat down, I began telling her about my experiences with Hermes.
My friend listened very attentively without interrupting, which was unusual for her since she was always quick to offer her opinion.
“And that’s where we are, trying to understand each other and seeing what happens,” I concluded.
Serafina kept looking at me without saying anything, and her silence was starting to worry me.
“Are you going to tell me what you think?”
“If I tell you, you’ll probably say I’m wrong. But I’m going to tell you anyway,” she affirmed.
“I’m listening.”
“He’s in love with you.”
“You’re right, I confirm that you’re wrong.”
“See? I don’t know why you ask for my opinion if you won’t accept it,” she said, annoyed.
“What are you basing that on?”
“On everything you’ve told me. He said that since he met you, he’s broken all his rules.
He doesn’t believe in love, but he can’t sleep even one night without you.
He’s going to stay awake until you call him to meet up, and he’s jealous as a beast. If that’s not love, then I’ve been wrong about that feeling my entire life. ”
“I think it’s possessiveness more than love.
He’s a very dominant man who likes things done his way.
I’d be lying if I said I don’t hope he falls in love with me, but I don’t think he is right now, and it’s also possible he never will.
He was betrayed in a vile way, and he didn’t just close his heart—he’s as distrustful as a demon. ”
“He went through a really tough experience, now I understand him a bit better, but he can’t close himself off like that and think all women are the same.”
“Well, he does think that.”
“Then I wish you luck because it can’t be easy being with someone like that.”
“I assure you it’s not, but I have to admit that when he’s not in ‘suspicious mode,’ he’s sweet and romantic.”
“Darwich, sweet and romantic? That’s hard to imagine,” she commented with a mocking smile.
“I like being with him,” I affirmed.
“Because of the sex?” she asked directly.
“Sex with him is amazing, but it’s not just that. I like sharing everything with him. I like talking with him, even though most of the time we’re arguing about something. I like hugging him, I like sleeping with him, I like...”
“Okay, okay, okay, you like everything. You’re in serious trouble, Delfi!”
“I know that clearly. If this doesn’t work out, it will be ‘the heartbreak,’ and I might take a long time to recover.”
“And even knowing all that, you decided to take the risk.”
“I didn’t want to miss out on this relationship because I was afraid of getting hurt,” I confessed.
“You’re in love,” she stated.
“I think so, and scared too.”
“Love is scary, that shit hurts too much,” she declared, exhaling heavily, then added: “Enjoy it, Delfi. Whatever will be, will be, and if it doesn’t work out, I’m here to comfort you just like you’ve always done for me when I needed it.”
“Thank you for your words. I love you, Seri.”
“And I love you too. Let’s enjoy these hours together because I can already see that the times we can go out will be few and far between.”