Chapter 13 #2
“Sure, I’d love to, but where? I’m not due in Houston till the dinner dance in November. Are you going to be in Dallas soon?”
“Shit. I didn’t even think about that. No, no plans to be in Dallas anytime soon.
It’s pretty busy here, as you can imagine,” he replied.
“I’m sorry. I would just like to see you - I didn’t even think.
How are we doing to do this - I’m here, you’re there - we are both busy, plus I’ve got the girls.
I finally meet someone I actually want to date, and she lives in another city. ”
Bella felt a thrill go through her - he wants to date. Me.
“Jack, you’re a fighter pilot and an astronaut, I’m sure you can figure something out. Because I would very much like to spend time with you too.”
Jack felt his grin go a mile wide. She wants to date. Me.
“Hold on” - he looked at his schedule. HA! “I’ve got next weekend open - the girls are at a sleepover on Saturday night. I could drive up to Dallas, get a hotel room - we could have dinner someplace. What do you think?”
“I think it’s a date, Captain.”
The next week seemed to take a year to get through, and finally Saturday arrived.
Bella spent the day getting ready - she went to the salon to get her hair styled, then a manicure/pedicure.
It was now 6pm, Jack was due to pick her up at 7pm and she was standing in her closet wondering what to wear.
She’d already pulled out several dresses and quickly hung them back up.
She wasn’t sure where they were going, so wasn’t quite sure what to wear.
The only thing she knew for sure was the shoes needed to be fabulous.
She heard her phone ping in the other room and went out to see who it was. Jackie.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WEAR?
Why are you shouting at me?
BECAUSE I’M SO EXCITED FOR YOU!
I don’t know where we’re going, so I’m not sure.
Well, whatever you decide on make sure it’s something easy to get out of, wink wink.
You’re terrible, you know that?
Yes, that’s why you love me so much!
Laughing, Bella went back into the closet. Okay Bella, don’t over think - just pick something!
Jack arrived at 7pm on the dot, and Bella met him at the door. “Let me set the alarm and then we can go,” she said.
She had finally decided on dark fitted jeans, with a long sleeve black t-shirt - the logo for the band ‘Kiss’ spelled out in rhinestones on the front, and a pair of black Manolo Blahnik pony hair high heeled ankle boots.
A smoky eye and a light pink lip, along with a silver sequined Fendi baguette bag completed the look.
WOW — she is a babe!
"You look amazing, Bella — really. You've got the rocker chick look completely down — but then of course you do," he said.
Bella smiled, then took him in properly. Fitted jeans, a navy dress shirt untucked, the Breitling on his wrist, and a pair of —
Wait.
Is he wearing Dad shoes? Oh dear. He is.
New Balance sneakers. Dad shoes. In white. Unmistakably, undeniably Dad shoes.
Oh. That's unfortunate. Just don’t look down, Bella, you’ll get through this. But how can such a great looking man wear those shoes!?
Jack walked to the Uber, opened the door for Bella, then got in on the other side, and the driver pulled away from the curb.
“It’s great to see you, Jack. Where are we going?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t really know a lot of places here, and I didn’t want to ask you where to go, but I saw there was a Benihana not far from your place - I hope that’s okay?”
“I love Benihana, it’s perfect. This is going to be so much fun!”
Arriving at Benihana, they were escorted to the communal hibachi table they’d be sitting at and waited for their waiter so they could order drinks.
Jack ordered a Benihana Punch - some kind of potent rum concoction but it came in a collectable Buddha mug that you could take home, and he knew Piper would love that.
Bella ordered a Lychee Blossom Martini, and they settled in and sized up the strangers they’d be dining with.
Saying their hellos, they quickly turned their attention to each other, both of them nervous and trying not to show it — and both of them failing completely.
As dinner progressed, each of them laughed at the chef’s antics, especially when he flipped a prawn into Jack’s mouth.
They were genuinely having a great time, when they heard an “Excuse Me?” from behind them.
Turning, they found a clearly inebriated man swaying gently, clutching an enormous fishbowl drink in luminous blue. I think he’s had enough, Bella thought.
“Scuse me - are you that astronaut dude? That’s going to the moon?” he asked Jack.
“Yes, I am. How you doing, man? That’s a pretty big drink, maybe you should set that down before you spill it,” Jack replied.
“Nah dude, it’s cool. Hey, can I get a picture?” he asked, swaying even more, with his drink sloshing over the rim of the glass.
“Sure, but I’m on a date, can we do that after we’re done eating?”
“No, I’m leaving, come on man, it’ll just be a second. Here - hold this,” he said, thrusting his drink at Bella. Bella reached for it a half second too late — the drink lurched out of the glass and straight down Jack's shirt, his jeans, and those white Dad shoes. Oops.
Jack gritted his teeth and held his tongue - he wasn’t about to make a scene - NASA would not like that.
He looked down at his previously white shoes, now a bright blue - I guess these will be going in the trash - he took the napkins being offered, tried to wipe himself off as best he could, while saying “It’s okay, it’s all good.
” The man apologized, took his photo, and left.
“Well, that was interesting,” Bella said, the laughter finally bubbling over.